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Lito Goes Graphic with ‘Infinite’ Jewelry Collection
The latest offerings from the Greek jewelry designer are a vast departure from her signature motifs.
A 14-karat rose and yellow gold bracelet with opal from designer Lito’s new infinite collection. Lito Goes Graphic with ‘Infinite’ Jewelry Collection
Athens--Despite Greece’s small size, it can sometimes feel like there are as many talented jewelry designers as there are idyllic islands within the country’s borders.
Athens-based Lito Karakostanoglou is the creative force behind fine jewelry brand Lito, which is carried by stores like Twist and Broken English and online at Net-a-Porter.
The brand is known for several signature motifs: a requisite evil eye, which is, despite the symbol’s ubiquity, one of the most hauntingly unique pieces of jewelry out there; its original scarab wing collection; and the hive range, which features rose-cut diamonds grouped into hypnotic patterns that most closely resemble strands of DNA.
Lito’s latest offering for fall 2016, the Infinite collection, is a far cry from Karakostanoglou’s typically intricate designs.
Rendered in 14-karat gold and diamonds, with the exception of one show-stopping bracelet that features a large opal, Lito has veered towards basic but impactful shapes with Infinite.
Two views of Lito’s 14-karat yellow and rose gold bracelet with cabochon-cut opal ($6,180)
“It’s all about simplicity,” explained Karakostanoglou. “It’s bold in its simplicity.”
“It’s all about simplicity,” explained Karakostanoglou. “It’s bold in its simplicity.”
From left, a 14-karat yellow gold hoop earring and 14-karat rose gold hoop earring ($3,470 per pair)
A 14-karat rose and yellow gold cuff ($1,770)
Lito’s 14-karat yellow gold earrings ($2,070)
A 14-karat yellow and rose gold earring ($1,000)
From left, a 14-karat rose gold lariat necklace ($730) and 14-karat yellow gold lariat necklace with diamonds ($2,930)
A 14-karat rose gold and diamond ring ($4,240)
“It’s all about simplicity,” explained Karakostanoglou. “It’s bold in its simplicity.”
Karakostanoglou has a circuitous design process, involving much experimentation and trial-and-error, but Infinite was originally inspired by the different shapes of vintage watch faces. She began creating similar shapes by laser-cutting gold, leaving a small hole in the center to represent the point where a watch’s hands are connected.
From there, she played with the various laser-cut shapes--ovals, rectangles, hexagons and octagons-- layering a rounded square with an octagon for an architectural, layered earring, or attaching an oval and circle to a cuff for a bold statement piece.
Karakostanoglou created various delicate lariats, pavé diamond-laden rings and a particularly stunning octagon hoop earring that is deceptively light for its size.
To maintain an element of playfulness, which is the connection among the collections of Lito’s oeuvre, Karakostanoglou experimented with combining yellow gold and rose gold in a single piece: a yellow gold-shaped circle, sitting next to a rose gold rectangle on a bracelet and so on. The unlikely color combination is subtle but provides an interesting visual depth to the pieces.
“The collection is very Cycladic, very minimal, very connected with the sun and the light, and how the light is reflected in those shapes and how you play with the two different colors,” Karakostanoglou said.
The designer’s favorite piece is the choker version of the opal bracelet, which she designed especially for the upcoming “Vanity” exhibit at the Mykonos Archaeological Museum. The exhibit will highlight Greek jewelry from ancient
to contemporary times, and feature 12 of today’s most prominent Greek designers.
Lito’s Infinite collection will be available at select retailers this fall. For more information, visit Lito-Jewelry.com.
Lito’s Infinite collection will be available at select retailers this fall. For more information, visit Lito-Jewelry.com.
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