Honorary Mention - 36th Panhellenic Jewelry Design Competition “Water: Flowing Hues, Drops of Luxury”

I am proud to share that our jewelry design "Pigi" (Πηγή) received the 4th Honorary Mention at the 36th Panhellenic Jewelry Design Competition, organized annually by the Panhellenic Federation of Silversmiths, Goldsmiths, Jewelers & Watchmakers (POVAKO), with the support of DETH-HELEXPO.

This year's theme, "Water: Flowing Hues – Drops of Luxury," explored the relationship between water as a natural element and contemporary high-aesthetic jewelry design.

The project was developed in collaboration with my colleague Eleni Tsitnogianni, under the guidance of our professor, Panagiotis Kyratsis, whose support throughout the creative and design process was invaluable.

The Concept

Our objective was to design an elegant and timeless piece of silver jewelry that highlights the femininity of the human body through fluid, harmonious lines and reflective surfaces.

Inspired by the perpetual movement of water, its droplets and natural ripples, we wanted the jewelry to interact with the body rather than simply rest upon it — delicately embracing the female form while maintaining a strong and expressive visual identity.

The collection combines a contemporary design language with subtle references to Ancient Greek mythology. In particular, we drew inspiration from the Nereids, the mythological sea nymphs associated with the beauty, movement and serenity of the sea.

Through this reference, we sought to reinterpret their qualities through the image of the contemporary woman: dynamic, refined and ethereal.

The result is jewelry conceived not simply as decoration, but as a contemporary symbol of feminine energy, elegance and inner flow.

"Pigi" — The Source

For the competition, we developed two silver jewelry concepts focusing on two areas of the body: the neck and the waist, both chosen for their ability to express the balance between strength, sensuality and vulnerability.

The awarded piece, the choker "Pigi," meaning "Source," focuses on the neck as a symbolic point from which voice, thought and inner strength emerge.

From antiquity to the present day, the neck has represented a passage for expression and communication — a physical and symbolic channel through which one's voice and truth are released.

The form of the necklace is inspired by water droplets converging toward its center, representing the meeting point between a woman's internal flow and her external presence.

In this sense, Pigi becomes a contemporary talisman: a tribute to the female voice that dares to speak, express itself and lead.

Recognition

Receiving the 4th Honorary Mention in the 36th Panhellenic Jewelry Design Competition was an important recognition of the research, experimentation and conceptual thinking behind the project.

More importantly, it reinforced our belief that jewelry can extend beyond aesthetics and become a medium for storytelling — connecting material, body, symbolism and cultural memory within a single object.

I am grateful to Eleni Tsitnogianni for our collaboration and to Professor Panagiotis Kyratsis for his guidance and support throughout the development of the project.