The Best Little Jewelry Boutique in Athens
Skaras Jewels in the Pagrati neighborhood is an ideal mix of classic and contemporary
ATHENS — With all due respect to Plaka, the most picturesque but also most clichéd district in Athens, there are more interesting shopping options in this vast metropolis.
My odyssey to find the perfect gold chain for a friend* began with my need to replace a battery in my vintage Jean-Paul Gaultier Art Deco-style wristwatch (you may have spotted it in some of our pop-up videos). The expert jewelers at locally-owned Skaras Jewels, located at Spyros Merkouri 74, were quick to get Jean-Paul up and running.
Then I browsed. In addition to a solid selection of international brands, Skaras, which has been in business for seven decades — the store location in Pagrati is new — features designs by Greek jewelers such as Anastasios Creations, Apostolos, and GEO Jewelry Galerakis. There are rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, and charms for every occasion, or even none at all — for who after all can resist the gleam of gold?
*okay so, the friend is me. I mean, one can only spend so much time in a Mediterranean country without one. When I told a Greek friend of mine who is much larger than me that in this age of manufactured gender ambiguity (thank the discredited American Democratic party for that) I wanted a gold chain to enhance my intrinsic “alpha male” elements, he just laughed, but the last laugh will be on him, because I get to browse the beautiful range of sparkling metallic offerings at Skaras.
I reminded my friend — we’ll just call him Aristotelou — that in Greece, even the prime minister wears bracelets — and nobody would accuse Kyriakos Mitsotakis of being a beta male. It’s a pity, really, that more American guys don’t sport some tasteful jewelry — you cowards! — and no, sorry fellas but wedding rings don’t count — though, if you’re in the market for one of those, Skaras has you covered there, too.
Our advice, of course, is to not get married: relationships come and go, but as the Greek gods and goddesses and all great shoppers know, diamonds are forever.
IN OUR BLACK BOOK: SKARAS JEWELS
21 1234 7883
info@skarasjewels.com
74 Spyrou Merkouri,
PO Box 116 34 , Athens
See the map
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday-Wednesday: 10:00-14:30
Tuesday-Thursday-Friday: 10:00-14:00 & 17:00-20:00
Saturday: 10:30-14:30
Or even none at all