By Daisy Tinker
Grecian jewellery designer Nikos Koulis is having a moment. His fashionable jewels have appeared in fashion magazines around the world and boast famous fans including Giorgio Armarni and Daphne Guiness, who was recently photographed wearing a pair of feather earrings from his Paradise Room collection.
Greek born and bred, Koulis often references the ancient islands in his designs, mixing traditional symbols with a luxe, rock-chic aesthetic. However, his most recent collection, entitled Phaedra's Box, has transitioned from this signature look. Unlike a number of Koulis' other collections, which drip with precious gems set into ornate designs, Phaedra's Box is understated and elegant. Flowing yellow gold chains are reworked into necklaces, earrings and rings that slink up the finger and frame the neck. The most decorative piece is a shield-like ring encrusted with a white diamond cross, but this in itself looks modest compared to a number of his more flamboyant designs.
These intricate jewels encapsulate two current jewellery trends - along-the-finger rings and ear cuffs - and adorn the body in unusual ways, a theme that runs throughout Koulis' jewels. A yellow gold ear cuff sits behind the ear, the delicate chains free to flow with the movement of the body, while black rodium, yellow and rose gold rings span the full length of the finger and bend fluidly so that they feel like a second skin. With no shortage of cool factor, Koulis is quickly making a name for himself beyond his home country. Alongside his showroom in Athens, his jewels are now stocked by high-end retailers in both the UK and US.
