Up and coming Greek designer Lito launches in the UK with a treasure box filled with feminine delights

By Ase Anderson in London

'Unique' and 'mesmerizing' are just two words that come to mind upon seeing Greek jewellery designer Lito Karakostanoglou's avant-garde pieces.

The designer describes herself as a "modern age pirate" who travels the globe - from India to Mexico, Japan to Africa - in search of magnificent stones and unusual materials.

Her Treasure Box collection sums up precisely why everyone is talking about Lito. Living up to its name, it combines colourful gemstones with an intricate honeycomb pattern that renders each piece a one-off.

Lito says she was inspired by beehives to create a nest of little cells that "snuggles" the stone. "White diamonds appear and disappear on movement. One cannot really tell how, or where, this glow comes from, but it certainly has a magic effect," she adds.

Launching in the UK for Spring/Summer 2014, an edited selection of Lito's jewels is currently available at MyWardrobe and will also be stocked by Net-a-Porter this season.

Originally trained in marketing management and advertising, Lito, who is self-taught in jewellery design, first started welcoming customers to her 'Open Studio' in Athens in 1999.

Following a move to Paris where she studied sculpture and life drawings - and also created jewels for Kenzo and Jean Paul Gaultier's couture and prêt-a-porter collections - she returned to Athens to reopen her shop seven years ago.

Her 'Cabinet des Curiosities' atelier-boutique in the centre of Athens is full of wonders, each piece reflecting the designer's sensitive yet bold view of the world.

The designer's work is also showcased in Olivier Dupon's book 'The New Jewellers,' an anthology of rising talent in the field of jewellery creation across the globe.

Lito earring in pink gold, set with an oval-cut lemon quartz.
Lito yellow gold ring with a 15ct octagon-cut heliodor beryl and brilliant-cut rubies.
Lito pink gold ring with a 14.5ct marquise-cut amethyst and brilliant-cut tsavorites.
Lito pink gold ring with a 15.5ct pink fancy concave-cut amethyst, white rose-cut and black brilliant-cut diamonds.
Lito pink gold ring with a 15.5ct oval concave-cut amethyst and white rose-cut diamonds.
Lito pink gold ring with a 3.5ct oval cabochon rose quartz and orange brilliant-cut sapphires.
Lito pink gold ring with a 15.5ct pink fancy concave-cut amethyst, white rose-cut and black brilliant-cut diamonds.
Lito pink gold ring with a 2.5ct green pear-cut amethyst, coral dahlia and blue brilliant-cut diamonds.
Lito pink gold ring with an 8.2ct octagon-cut aquamarine and Tahitian pearl.
Lito yellow gold ring with a 7.5ct square-cut citrine, brown brilliant-cut diamonds and orange brilliant-cut sapphires.
Lito yellow gold ring with a 4.5ct baguette-cut lemon quartz and orange brilliant-cut sapphires.
Lito yellow gold ring with a 5.00ct dichroic oval cabochon tourmaline and green brilliant-cut diamonds.