My Greece Jewelry Purchases

[goldie_locks]

I’ve been on vacation in Greece for two weeks and have been both impressed and overwhelmed with the amount of jewelry shops. In particular, I’ve seen a ton of CS jewelry. Our last stop is Crete and there are several actual workshops selling silver and gold where you can talk directly to the jewelers who are making their pieces right there. I wish I’d been more prepared to purchase jewelry here before I came (and also hadn’t already blown my jewelry budget a couple times over this year ). After some debating (and input from my ever patient husband), I picked up these three pieces from three separate jewelers - two of them CS pieces, so I’m listing them here.

 

[Bluegemz]

How exciting! Your pics didn’t attach ....

 

[goldie_locks]

My first purchase was actually picked out by my husband who loves the blue color of the lapis lazuli. We had not seen much of it until Crete but it’s very much a favorite of the jewelers here. This is a lapis necklace with a gold plated silver bead.

 

[goldie_locks]

Second purchase, which I came upon very much by accident in a tiny little shop off a small walkway. I was admiring the moonstones and opals when the star on this ring caught my eye. She actually had about 6 star ruby rings of varying size, color and asterism strength. She said she’d purchased the stones 20-30 years ago. This was a the least expensive of the bunch, probably due to the bluish purple color and the fact that it was set in silver instead of gold. The star is very strong in the sun and direct indoor lighting and I personally like the lavender color to it. She called it a star ruby, but I suppose it’s really more of a sapphire (if it’s even corundum). For the price I didn’t get or expect a certificate.

 

[goldie_locks]

Final purchase was an 18k gold and silver bracelet to pull together my white jewelry with my new gold tone jewelry - both the gold plated stone on the lapis necklace and the warmer hue of my new spessy ring (which I posted about a couple weeks ago). I love that it is a clearly handmade piece.

 

[737liz]

That bracelet is minimal perfection!

 

[elle_71125]

What beautiful new jewelry. I love the necklace. It's just that perfect blue.

 

[leslie1956]

Love your jewelry purchases in Greece, especially that lapis necklace!

 

[chatoyancy]

Those pieces are very pretty! The gold and silver bracelet is unique in a cool way.

 

[goldie_locks]

I love the lapis too . Because I don’t see it most of the time I’m always a little taken aback by how blue it is when I catch a reflection of it. Here are pics of the star ruby/sapphire this evening.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I love your new pieces. Lapis lazuli is beautiful and you have done well to add this to your collection. I also find your star sapphire ring to be very pretty and I think it has a nice presence on your hand.

 

[Bluegemz]

I love the lapis too . Because I don’t see it most of the time I’m always a little taken aback by how blue it is when I catch a reflection of it. Here are pics of the star ruby/sapphire this evening.

LOVE the pieces, but ESPECIALLY that Star corundum! What a bold and beautiful stone. It looks amazing on your hand!

 

[lilmosun]

Wow...beautiful finds...I've always wanted to go to Greece and now this is further incentive

 

[Arkteia]

Where in Greece did you buy them, Goldie Locks? In Delphi, the touristy place, the prices were not so low. I would like to visit Greece again, they have uncovered new ruins in Messenia.

 

[goldie_locks]

Where in Greece did you buy them, Goldie Locks? In Delphi, the touristy place, the prices were not so low. I would like to visit Greece again, they have uncovered new ruins in Messenia.

I ended up making all of my purchases in Chania Old Town (island of Crete). I looked a lot in Athens and Santorini but it all looked like the same stuff and I wasn't sure about quality/source/pricing (especially in Sanrotini)/etc. What convinced me to buy in Chania was that I met the jewelers/crafts people in person in their shops and they were clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about their own pieces and stones (where they came from, etc.). They also clearly had their own style - in the other places there was a lot of gold, diamond and standard precious stone (sapphires, rubies, emeralds) jewelry in the byzantine and greek locks styles, whereas in Chania, there was a much more handcrafted/modern style to the jewelry with unique stones. The websites aren't great, but here's two of the shops that I purchased from - the shop where I bought the star corundum unfortunately does not have a website:

http://almeida.gr/en/shop/ (lapis necklace)
http://www.antoniou-chania.gr (gold and silver bracelet)

 

[partgypsy]

Wow I love your picks. The lapis necklace is my favorite!

 

[MegWeddingIdeas]

Final purchase was an 18k gold and silver bracelet to pull together my white jewelry with my new gold tone jewelry - both the gold plated stone on the lapis necklace and the warmer hue of my new spessy ring (which I posted about a couple weeks ago). I love that it is a clearly handmade piece.

Im in love with your bracelet! is that a brushed finish???