Konstantino is the trade name of the Greek-American jewellery designer Konstantinos Sklavenitis, whose eponymous brand was established in 1989 in Athens and has been distributed in the United States, Canada and Europe since the early 1990s. The house specialises in oxidised sterling silver and 18-carat gold jewellery executed in classical Greek and Byzantine motifs, with cabochon-cut coloured stones, pearls and decorative enamel work. Although based in Greece for production, the firm's principal market and visibility have been in the United States since the late 1990s.

House style

Konstantino jewellery is most distinctive for its combination of darkened oxidised sterling silver, used as the structural base of most pieces, with applied 18-carat yellow gold ornament. The contrast between the matte black silver and the polished gold is the signature visual character of the brand, and is reinforced by the use of granulation, repousse, and chased decoration in the manner of Mycenaean and Byzantine prototypes. The collections include rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets and necklaces, with motifs drawn from Greek mythology, Eastern Orthodox iconography and classical architectural ornament. Cabochon-cut stones, including peridot, garnet, blue topaz, amethyst and labradorite, are bezel-set into circular or ovoid frames and frequently bordered with twisted wire.

Production and distribution

The firm's production is centred in Athens, with a workshop employing traditional Greek goldsmithing techniques alongside modern casting, polishing and finishing equipment. The brand maintains its own retail flagship in Athens and distributes internationally through department stores and independent jewellers, with substantial presence in the United States through Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and a network of independent retailers. In Canada, distribution is through selected independent jewellers in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The brand has not generally pursued the haute joaillerie market, occupying instead a designer-jewellery position at price points typically between 200 and 5,000 US dollars per piece.

Trade position

Konstantino sits within the broader category of designer-led ethnic-revival jewellery alongside Lagos, John Hardy, David Yurman and Slane and Slane in the United States market. Its commercial distinction is the explicit Greek heritage and the consistent use of the oxidised silver and gold combination, which has given the brand a recognisable visual signature across collections. For estate work, Konstantino pieces are stamped with the brand mark and the metal fineness, and pieces with intact oxidation and fully attached gold elements retain value better than pieces in which the patina has been polished away or the gold elements have been lost. Cleaning of Konstantino jewellery should avoid both ultrasonic and abrasive polishing, since either will remove the deliberate oxidation that defines the brand's appearance.