The heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.
Lito Goes Graphic with ‘Infinite’ Jewelry Collection
The latest offerings from the Greek jewelry designer are a vast departure from her signature motifs.

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.
“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
Lito’s Infinite collection will be available at select retailers this fall. For more information, visit Lito-Jewelry.com.
The Latest

The 10-carat fancy purple-pink diamond with potential links to Marie Antoinette headlined the white-glove jewelry auction this week.

The Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The historic signet ring exceeded its estimate at Noonans Mayfair’s jewelry auction this week.


To mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.

The gemstone is the third most valuable ruby to come out of the Montepuez mine, Gemfields said.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

Founder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.

If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.

The top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.

Gizzi, who has been in the industry since 2001, is now Jewelers of America’s senior vice president of corporate affairs.

Luca de Meo, a 30-year veteran of the auto industry, will succeed longtime CEO François-Henri Pinault.

Following visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minister sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.

The “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.

The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.

The New York Liberty forward is the first athlete to represent the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand.

Take a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.

The one-day virtual event will feature speakers from De Beers, GIA, and Gemworld International.

The California-based creative talks jewelry photography in the modern era and tackles FAQs about working with a pro for the first time.

Al Capone’s pocket watch also found a buyer, though it went for less than half of what it did at auction four years ago.

The foundation has also expanded its “Stronger Together” initiative with Jewelers for Children.

Assimon is the auction house’s new chief commercial officer.

The De Beers Group CEO discusses the company’s new “beacon” program, the likelihood diamonds will be exempt from tariffs, and “Origin.”

The Danish jewelry giant hosted its grand opening last weekend, complete with a Pandora pink roulette wheel.

Industry veteran Anoop Mehta is the new chairman and independent director of the IGI board.