Whether working to a commission or his own jewelry designs, Kulukundis delights in sourcing superb old stones for his work and treating them with respect. A fine stone may require refining and repolishing to maximise its potential, but the skill is to do so without losing its soul.

A Janus Creation can take anything from a few weeks to several months to complete, depending on its complexity. Combining creativity, ingenuity and master craftmanship of the highest level, the design process is an intricate affair, with each jewel created entirely by hand.

A deep understanding of the architecture of jewelry is required to translate a sketch into a completed jewel. Designs are finessed using CAD (computer-aided design), and a wax model is often created to show how the finished piece will look.

The design finally approved, work begins with the precious metal mount. It can take a master goldsmith days or even weeks to fashion the mount for a piece of jewelry, depending on the number of individual elements required. Next, comes the setting process. Enormous care and attention is given to each individual jewel’s setting. No matter how fabulous the gem and its mount, a badly set stone will always diminish a work’s overall appeal. Janus Creations’ gem-setters are master craftsmen who specialise solely in setting stones; such is their skill level. Lastly, another master craftsman – a specialist polisher – will polish the completed jewelry design. Constant quality checks are made during the entire process.