Golden era

In 1969, the Greek goldsmith-jeweller Ilias Lalaounis opened his headquarters near the Acropolis in Athens. Drawn to the mythology of his home, Lalaounis’ bold, warm, 22ct-gold designs referenced ancient narratives and Hellenic symbols, and were crafted using traditional goldsmithing techniques, such as hand hammering, weaving and filigree.

By the early 1970s, his designs were appearing on style leaders such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Elizabeth Taylor, as women ditched formal gem-set styles in favour of organic-looking, hand-worked