Refined Character: The Ancient-Meets-Modern Allure of Dionysios Fine Jewels

Dionysios is the ancient god of wine, fertility, and revelry, but it’s also the name of a wonderful Greek designer whom I want to introduce you to: Dionysios Dionysopoulos. As the founder and creative behind Dionysios Fine Jewels, he has curated a brand that fuses ancient Greek symbolism and motifs with the essence of modern city living and all that it requires (comfort, style, versatility, to mention a few qualities). To me, the Dionysios signature is all about warm, soulful jewellery that’s characterful without being overtly historical or too starkly modern. The balance that Dionysios has managed to achieve is very impressive and makes for really beautiful and elegant pieces. Let’s take a closer look at some of the brand’s highlights… 

Although Dionysios Fine Jewels was formally launched less than a decade ago, Dionysios Dionysopoulos’ background in jewellery goes much further back. He began pouring his heart and soul into jewellery-making at age 17, working at the bench in busy workshops during the daytime and dreaming up his own unique creations at night.

His career continued for thirty years, but there was always that thought in the back of his mind that things could be different if he just branched out on his own. He had all the necessary goldsmithing knowledge and technical expertise, so all it would take was a leap of faith. In 2017, the abundance of unfulfilled jewellery ideas led Dionysios to create his own brand, focused on exceptional craftsmanship, originality, meticulous details and a drive to “awaken the senses and inspire the heart,” according to the brand’s website.

The ethos behind Dionysios Fine Jewels is all about quality, which it prioritises over quantity in its tightly curated collections. Its inspiration stems from Ancient Greek art, history, murals, and artefacts, as well as simple everyday things like modern architecture, city parks, nature and even the pattern on the pavement. As long as these things can be interpreted to fit the aesthetics of the brand, Dionysios is open to including them in his output. I think what’s most exciting is the blend of ancient inspiration with modern sensibilities, which is what gives the brand its perfect balance of old and new. “This can sometimes be a bit tricky,” Dionysios tells me about merging both influences. “When inspired by ancient history, we isolate elements from it, and then we try to add something more or even sometimes take away from it. This way, the design suits the modern style whilst also giving off an ‘older look’.” 

Personally, I think this is best exemplified in the repeating circular motifs in the Kalypso collection and the rippling waves of yellow gold in the Zoforos range. Regardless of which collection you are drawn to, there are some unifying principles that allow pieces to be mixed and matched and dressed up or down depending on the occasion. The dominating palette of 18k yellow gold, diamonds, and the occasional burst of warm-hued minerals and enamel makes pieces versatile for the average woman.

Personally, I am drawn to undulating wave-like rings in the Zoforos collection, either set with diamonds or oval-shaped emeralds for a pop of colour, and the interesting construction of the circle earrings in the Athena collection. “I am a lover of emeralds and, secondly, precious stones like sapphires and rubies, always embellished with natural diamonds,” Dionysios says. “We also use mother of pearl, turquoise, lapis lazuli and malachite.” Many of these bright mineral shades can be found in the Theros collection, which includes carved, marquise-shaped hardstones that mimic the ‘evil eye’ in bracelets and pendants.

When asked about his most popular collection, Dionysios is quick to point out the Ariadne collection, which is inspired by the eponymous goddess with power and divine authority over labyrinths. The range features pear, marquise, and princess-cut emeralds and marquise-cut rubies coupled with brilliant-cut diamonds. Highlights include an elegant long-line necklace with kite-shaped rondelles of 18k yellow gold, tipped with diamonds towards the centre, and sunburst-effect earrings that shine with diamonds and emeralds in confident circular shapes. 

So, who is Dionysios designing for? He explains: “She’s a woman with a lively character, who is modern, and who cares about her looks. She is a woman who feels free to express herself through her accessories and, of course, she has a sense of aesthetics and loves jewellery that makes her look and feel exceptional and unique.” 

One of Dionysios’ character traits is a seemingly endless supply of inspiration and fresh ideas. His “never-ending catalogue of jewellery designs” is something that puts his brand in good stead for the future. Most recently, he has created a collection inspired by Ancient Greek history and, more specifically, the myth of the 12 primary gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus. Now, his goal is to grow Dionysios Fine Jewels internationally and showcase the brand’s mythological collections to jewellery lovers all over the world. Hopefully, this introduction to the brand on KaterinaPerez.com will be one small step towards achieving this global ambition.