6 Goddess-Worthy Jewels That Evoke Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey
Striking, timeless designs that bring the beauty of the ancient world past Homer and Christopher Nolan
The word “goddess” describes a spirit and an aesthetic that, in its modern mythical spin, has brought fresh style inspiration to both screen and street this summer via Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Ancient Rome borrowed heavily from Ancient Greece, only to be reimagined by the neoclassicists and countless cultures in between. The result is a rich jewelry landscape blending an eclectic yet cohesive sensibility rooted in antiquity, frequently making use of buttery high-karat gold that beautifully echoes relics found in museum cases. While some pieces bear a more direct antiquarian influence, others seamlessly incorporate materials and methods that came along many centuries later. Here are some favorites that are perfect for Penelope, Circe, or Nausicaa.
1. Helen of Troy Disc Earrings in 18k Gold, Large Version | Lalounis
Lalounis’s Helen of Troy designs go right to the source: the ideas display direct admiration for the treasures that Heinrich Schliemann unearthed on one of the many layers that he excavated in Anatolia in 1871, which included the so-called Mask of Agamemnon. The earrings hit a versatile midpoint between bold and delicate.
2. Green Tourmaline Tempus Bracelet | Prounis
New York-based fine jewelry house Prounis is known for taking direct inspiration from The Odyssey’s home era, as seen in this one-of-a-kind bracelet, with star elements such as glowingly yellow matte 22k gold and cabochon tourmalines set in substantial, elegant bezels.
3. Monete Necklace | Bulgari
This 18-inch rose gold chain from Bulgari has a 2,000-year-old coin as a pendant. It is part of the label’s Monete collection, which places imperial Roman coins in contemporary settings.
4. Phoenician Multi-Strand Beaded Necklace | Gurhan
Samantha Morton’s Circe would absolutely reach for this 24K gold beaded necklace from Gurhan. It artfully utilizes a variety of semi-precious stones prized from Homer’s era to today and a striking mix of shape for its beads.
5. Endless Knot Earrings | David Webb
Lapis lazuli has played an extensive role throughout the history of human craftsmanship in defining what the color blue can do and be, from King Tut’s mask to its necessity for the pigments used in Mary’s robe in medieval and renaissance images of the Madonna and Child, to its continued presence in the modern jewel box. Case in point: the carven knots on this masterful pair from David Webb, stunningly set off by 18k gold.
6. Golden Blossom Vine Necklace | Irene Neuwirth
Leaf shapes reminiscent of the laurels given to champions and generals are echoed with exquisite daintiness in this akoya pearl-studded 16-inch piece from the Los Angeles studios of Irene Neuwirth. There is a matching bracelet available, too.