AuctionsJun 26, 2026
‘Hogback’ Diamond Ring Finds a New Home A ring set with “hogback” diamonds, an early stone cut dating to around the 16th century, sold for more than $20,000 at a U.K. auction.
IndependentsNov 14, 2016
Meet a Retailer: Kultia Jewels
Greece is known for its proliferation of talented jewelers; now meet its coolest fine jewelry e-commerce site.
Pictured left is Marina Manolopoulou-Vassiliou, the founder of Kultia Jewels. On the right are rings by Elena Votsi, one of the designers sold by the online retailer.
Athens, Greece--Marina Manolopoulou-Vassiliou was born and raised in Greece, and the e-commerce site founder marries the best of her country’s ancient culture with a distinctly global, modern point-of-view.
This is in part because she's lived and worked throughout Europe and the United States.
She earned her MBA at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and worked in both London and Athens for years in strategy consulting before completely shifting focus to pursue her personal passion: jewelry.
Now, Manolopoulou-Vassiliou is a champion of Greek fine jewelry design in particular. In 2013, she launched Kultia Jewels, a fine jewelry e-commerce site that also operates boutiques in various Greek luxury hotels.
“I thought there was a need for good representation of independent designers,” said Manolopoulou-Vassiliou of creating her company. “Coming from a country where jewelry is really important and the heritage is so strong, I felt it would be a great opportunity for me to start representing these designers.”
Heritage is an undeniable foundation of all things related to Greek jewelry, and it’s the reason most Greek jewelry designers give when asked about the abundance of talented designers from their country.
“If you go to any museum you can see that jewelry was part of the everyday life of the Athenian people and the Greek people in antiquity,” Manolopoulou-Vassiliou said. “We have people now who have been working as craftspeople for many, many years.”
She credits design house Lalaounis for making Greek design an international success.
“Lalaounis has been there forever and has kept it alive. In the last century, (Ilias Lalaounis) revived jewelry making. And then a lot of the younger generations were inspired by Elena Votsi.”
Currently, Kultia Jewels carries about 22 designers. A little more than half are Greek, including brands such as Votsi, Elena Syraka, Ileana Makri and Lito.
But Manolopoulou-Vassiliou doesn’t limit herself to her countrymen and women. She also champions “mostly European up-and-coming designers,” she said.
She stocks designers she would wear herself. When asked to pick a favorite, she admitted that she had a few, though she “tends to love all of them.”
Her first choice was Votsi, and partly for sentimental reasons.
“She was one of the first designers who helped me to start Kultia and supported me,” Manolopoulou-Vassiliou explained. “From the younger generation I definitely admire the work of Ioanna Souflia. She’s using the Greek marble as her inspiration and creating really unique pieces.”
Manolopoulou-Vassiliou also said that she greatly admired Italian designer Carolina Bucci because her jewelry “is so easy to wear and layer.”
As for the e-commerce fine jewelry business in general, true to her holistic approach, Manolopoulou-Vassiliou is dedicated to combining traditional and new retail practices.
“It’s getting better and better,” she said of the e-commerce element. “I still find that people need to have experienced a piece, so that means that maybe it’s something they’ve seen before so they buy it online, or they buy things online if they know what to expect (from that designer).”
“E-commerce is amazing for discovering new designers,” she continued, “but Kultia has the benefit that we have physical locations, so people usually try to see the piece in person before buying it, though not always.”
However, Manolopoulou-Vassiliou acknowledged that there are limitations to shopping for fine jewelry online.
“I think it will be easy for pieces up to $5,000 or $6,000. Beyond that point, it happens, but it’s much less.”
For more information about Kultia Jewels, visit Kultia.com.
Manolopoulou-Vassiliou also said that she greatly admired Italian designer Carolina Bucci because her jewelry “is so easy to wear and layer.”
As for the e-commerce fine jewelry business in general, true to her holistic approach, Manolopoulou-Vassiliou is dedicated to combining traditional and new retail practices.
“It’s getting better and better,” she said of the e-commerce element. “I still find that people need to have experienced a piece, so that means that maybe it’s something they’ve seen before so they buy it online, or they buy things online if they know what to expect (from that designer).”
“E-commerce is amazing for discovering new designers,” she continued, “but Kultia has the benefit that we have physical locations, so people usually try to see the piece in person before buying it, though not always.”
However, Manolopoulou-Vassiliou acknowledged that there are limitations to shopping for fine jewelry online.
“I think it will be easy for pieces up to $5,000 or $6,000. Beyond that point, it happens, but it’s much less.”
For more information about Kultia Jewels, visit Kultia.com.
More on Independents
The Latest
CollectionsJun 26, 2026
Strength Is Sharpened Into Beauty in Kris Averi’s ‘Prism Thorn’ RingThe rainbow version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, features angel-cut, octahedral lab-grown sapphires designed to be worn as armor.
MajorsJun 26, 2026
Rembrandt Charms Debuts ‘Charms That Give Back’The new initiative donates a portion of the proceeds from select charms to charitable causes.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
TrendsJun 26, 2026
Bernard James Celebrates Knicks’ Win with RingThe Brooklyn-based jeweler created a limited-edition version of its “Aura” eternity band, set with gemstones in the team’s colors.
Weekly QuizJun 25, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJun 25, 2026
ICA Names Brandee Dallow as CEODallow will lead the International Colored Gemstone Association, effective July 6.
EditorsJun 25, 2026
Out & About: How Jewelers Mutual, SCAD Are Tackling the Bench Jeweler ShortageSenior Editor Lenore Fedow headed to Savannah to learn more about the 10-year, $10 million partnership between JM and the art school.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
CollectionsJun 25, 2026
Mejuri Experiments With SteelIts new capsule jewelry collection features gold-finished stainless steel pieces designed for a maximalist look without a luxury price tag.
Events & AwardsJun 25, 2026
Watches & Wonders Announces 2027 DatesThe week-long event in Geneva is slated for April 2027.
SourcingJun 25, 2026
Annie Doresca, Mark Smelzer, Sara Yood Join Gem Legacy BoardThe three industry leaders bring financial, communications, and legal expertise to the nonprofit’s board of directors.
ColumnistsJun 24, 2026
The Revenue Hiding Between Your Counter and Your Online CartJewelers are missing out by not offering this one key add-on at the online point of sale, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsJun 24, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers, Jewel Boxing’s Latest Drop Is On-TrendThe fourth collaborative collection from the retailer and jewelry content creator focuses on gemstone charms and strands of colorful beads.
Events & AwardsJun 24, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026This year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards will feature two new categories.
SourcingJun 24, 2026
Columbia Gem House To Offer Alexandrite Melee OnlineThe collection features traceable alexandrite from Brazil in calibrated sizes that is sorted by grade.
MajorsJun 24, 2026
CaratLane Names New Chief Sales OfficerDhaval Raja has been appointed to the role.
CollectionsJun 23, 2026
Francesca Villa Goes ‘On the Road’The capsule collection looks to vintage trunk pins that echo the spirit of speed, freedom, and the mythology of the American road trip.
SourcingJun 23, 2026
New Paraíba Tourmaline Source Reportedly Discovered in EthiopiaSSEF issued a notice about the potential new source of the sought-after gemstone, citing “credible reports” from trade sources.
MajorsJun 23, 2026
Etsy Says ‘Shop Other Jeffs’ This Prime DayAs Amazon Prime Day kicks off, Etsy is encouraging shoppers to support small businesses.
Events & AwardsJun 23, 2026
AGA Announces 2026 Scholarship WinnerCole Winward is the recipient of 2026 AGA Gemological Scholarship.
EditorsJun 22, 2026
15 Pieces of Jewelry That Brought Us Joy in Vegas Whether they evoked nostalgia, wonder, or laughter, these jewels put a smile on our faces.
Events & AwardsJun 22, 2026
Plans Announced for New Trade Show in BaselScheduled for April 2027, Basilia will be the first watch and jewelry trade show held in Basel since the collapse of Baselworld in 2020.
Events & AwardsJun 22, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
WatchesJun 22, 2026
Snoopy Inspires New ‘Flying Ace’ Ball WatchThe beloved beagle dons his aviator outfit for the new Engineer Master II Snoopy Flying Ace timepiece.
AuctionsJun 18, 2026
Paraíba Tourmalines Sell for $3.4M at Sotheby'sThe recent high jewelry auction, which also featured the sale of a 10-carat blue diamond, was “a celebration of color.”
CollectionsJun 18, 2026
Michelle Obama Wears Almasika Earrings Symbolizing Feminine PowerShe wore the “Le Cauri Endiamanté” earrings, our Piece of the Week, in the Obamas’ first dual portrait for the Obama Presidential Center.
PodcastsJun 17, 2026
Episode 6: Las Vegas 2026-Trends, Traffic, Broken BathroomsCouture’s Michelle Orman joins Amanda Gizzi and Michelle Graff for this special post-Market Week episode of My Next Question.
