PASSIFLORA : Your inner archaeologist will come to life with this necklace in 24-karat gold from Yaakov Hillel’s Passiflora collection. It features an intriguing mix of luxurious pure-gold beads and a colorful array of variously shaped trade beads that were dug up at ancient ruins from around Turkey. The bold necklace fastens with a hook clasp.
Although his family has traditionally worked in textiles in their native Turkey, Yaakov says he “eventually decided to use my design experience in a new field and jewelry, so much a part of life in Istanbul, seemed like a natural extension to me." Using techniques that date back to height of the ancient Anatolian culture, Hillel's jewelry is all hand carved, hammered and finished by hand. While his designs are made by the best artisans that can be found in Istanbul, they aren't perfectly symmetrical.