We get a lot of questions about our packaging. Some of the packaging we use is displayed below. Typically we'll put band rings into small pouches, but larger rings, necklaces, super-expensive things & birthday gifts automatically find their way into boxed packaging. 

We're also careful to be as "green" as possible - we've cut our paper consumption by 1/3 recently with the "tape-down" method shown in the video :-)

We've updated our "History of the Cross" page with information about Konstantinata / Martirika / Filakta 

(to which many of you may respond ... "huh?"). :-)

Sometimes it's the little traditions cultures maintain that can be the most amazing. We've been selling (and you've been buying) the little round pendants with crosses and "ICXC NIKA" in them for years but we've finally gotten around to explaining what they are all about and giving them their own place in the store (sorry for it taking so long)!

So drop by the "History of the Cross" page and take a look - especially if you're just procrastinating at work today and looking for something better to do than that silly TPS report :-).  

We've introduced a new "buy now, pay later" payment option.

Several customers have asked us for Lay-Away or 50/50 payments — we think this is a great way to serve them in an organized fashion. In general, due to our suggested crafting times - we felt like this would be a good thing to offer.

You can view all payment options after shipping at checkout.

Please note: If you finance your purchase with Affirm, your first payment is due approximately two weeks after your purchase is finalized. Please note that due to extended delivery times, your loan payment(s) may be due before you receive your purchase.

For the past 17 years we've partnered with the Damaskos family to bring you some of the finest gold craftsmanship in the world. His pieces are extraordinary, but perhaps the most magical thing is how they get made (entirely by hand and without molds). Most gold designers switched from hand-made to mold-made productions in the 1990's when labor costs started exceeding gold prices. Damaskos stubbornly refused to follow this trend and managed to scoop up some of the best remaining craftsmen in the wake of mass-layoffs, making him one of the few remaining designers of purely handmade gold jewelry in the world.

But there are other endangered forms of art worth fighting for, and one in particular is micro-mosaic.

For at least 10 years I've been looking for somebody that does genuine micro-mosaic well enough to pair with Damaskos gold. At first I looked in Turkey but they were using a less detailed (lower resolution) technique. Then about 5 years ago I finally found an artist in Venice who looked promising at first ... but it didn't work out. These "talent findings" had proven to be so far-and-few-between that I began thinking the art might be lost.

Finally, back in January I found Luigina Rech ... who is by all accounts; the "real deal". In 1974 Luigina began studying under the Master Vincenzo Renzi, mosaicist of the Vatican Studio and her works have found their way into private collections around the world since.

We look forward to presenting our first Damaskos | Rech production in the next few weeks, along with more details about her and her craft (and hopefully some video). These pieces will not be inexpensive, so ownership might not be for everyone but we can all enjoy the art! 

Wow!  We just got busy! Traffic to our store has tripled over the last 2 months.

Athena Gaia appreciates and takes pride in our history of committed, repeat customers.  We are also excited in the sky-rocketing number of new customers who have turned to our company for their jewelry purchases recently.  All we can say is a sincere thank you for your patronage.  You are supporting family businesses that work diligently to bring you the very best products available. From our designers, and ourselves, to all our new visitors:  Welcome to Athena Gaia & the world of Greek Jewelry! 

Something else has been hitting the store lately, too.  Our friends at Al'Oro have been hammering away (no pun intended) at a new line of incredibly artistic 14k gold crosses.  Whenever people think of gold from Athena Gaia, they usually associate it with high end, museum quality Damaskos' designs.  While these stunning Damaskos pieces are priced for value, we also desire to offer beautiful pieces in the $1,000 or less range, and Al'Oro has obliged.

A close friend of ours recently complimented us for being just as proud of our lower cost designers as we are of the higher ones.  For our new shoppers, please know this is a core philosophy at Athena Gaia, and a value held by our designers, as well.  There are no corporate study groups to guide us and no investors to placate.  We're just a smart little business with very smart customers ... which is just the way we want it!

We are a family business that works with other family businesses. So Joanne and I are constantly "on duty" and my son Tommy helps with packaging and video work when the need arises, but this post is a "shout-out" to our photo crew: Andrea Saavedra (instagram) and of course; "Model M"! 

Photo shoots happen about twice an month and are lots of fun. This time "M" asked if she could get her hair colored so we took her to a very nice place in NYC and put it on our tab. We thought it would just be a nice "refresh" but got way more than that - she looks great! Andrea's workload was lightened so she was freed up to offer styling and posing advice which really paid off!

Maybe it was the Spring weather, but we all felt a release from the COVID doldrums and found ourselves hoping the same for all of you, no matter where you may be. We're anxious to break free of the restrictions and find liberation and happiness, but most importantly; we enjoy taking care of the people who help us bring "Athena Gaia" to you. Family is important to us & including these two has been easy and rewarding - so thanks Andrea - and thanks "M".

We've been working with the ever-lovely "Model M" for almost a year now, and have recently added New York based hair and makeup artist Andrea Saavedra (instagram) to our team. Andrea's experience, confidence and easy going nature have been showing off with amazing results!