Marcus Platrides

Etherial Jewellery

Jewellery maker

©Marcus Platrides

Art, metal and rock

Marcus uses the lost wax casting method
Etherial was recognised at the European Business Awards
His jewellery pieces are inspired by diverse cultures

When Marcus Platrides was 11 an AC/DC cassette gave a new perspective to his life. Though he initially studied economics and politics, a visit to Crazy Pig Designs in London was enough for him to make a career change to rock jewellery. The low demand in Cyprus led him to Europe. The civil war in Sri-Lanka closed his supplier there. Yet he never gave up. He returned to Cyprus and invested in online retail which has been growing ever since. In his work he uses old-school manufacturing techniques, passed down to him by Master Tsolakkis, combined with modern raw materials and tools. His exclusive pieces of jewellery are inspired by Cyprus’ ecclesiastic, religious, Roman, Byzantine and templar history and have been awarded with various international prizes.

Interview

©Marcus Platrides

©Marcus Platrides

How did an Economist end up a jewellery maker?: Destiny! When I was 11 I bought my first AC/DC cassette. That was a turning point in my life. In 2004 I visited Crazy Pig Designs in Covent Garden where I met Armand Serra, the father of Classic Rock & Roll Jewellery. That was when everything in my life aligned.
Do you master any specific techniques?: Yes. The lost wax technique, one of the oldest but by no means simplest casting processes. It is based on a hollow wax model created from a flexible mould. This is how highly delicate and intricate shapes and impressive works of art are created.
How is your craft linked to Cyprus?: Cyprus has a very culturally rich history with influences from Romans, Crusaders, Venetians, Lusignans, Ottomans, and Britons. I am inspired by Christianism, Masonic Societies, Heraldry, the Crusades and the Roman Empire. A constant battle between good and evil.
What is little-known about your craft?: That the gold and silver you are wearing as jewellery was created during supernova explosions billions of years ago in outer space before the Earth was even created. It arrived on Earth inside asteroids which crashed on our planet when the Earth was still very young.

Marcus Platrides is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2007