Jewellery brands from the regional scene I’ll always invest in again

Jewelry often transcends the role of a mere fashion accessory. We wear a favorite ring because we believe it brings us luck, we never take off that gold bracelet that has long since changed color because it was a gift from our grandmother, and we put on a crystal necklace when we need a fresh dose of good energy. Beyond aesthetics alone, the importance of jewelry lies in the story that only we know and in the emotional value it carries for us.

The regional jewelry brands we selected for our list are well aware of this special bond we have with jewelry, of the fact that we inscribe into it happy moments, memories of loved ones we do not want to forget, or seek a talisman to protect us from straying off our path. While they have embedded narratives we want to connect with into their creative work, these brands have uncompromisingly placed craftsmanship quality and aesthetic value on a pedestal, creating striking and unique pieces worth investing in.

Kalyss

The jewelry brand Kalyss, founded by Karlo Hečimović, emerged from the author’s fascination with crystals, which was sparked during his travels in Mexico. A designer and photographer who swapped the streets of Zagreb for Berlin in 2017, he felt an immediate energetic connection with crystals at that time. He carried them in his pockets wherever he went, and his first pieces of jewelry were created out of pure personal need. “When I could not find anything that fully matched my vision, the idea of creating my own jewelry was born,” he explained in an interview for Vogue Adria. While crystals undeniably possess aesthetic value, their true allure lies in their energy and properties.

Kalyss was founded in 2020, at a moment of global transformation, when Hečimović found in crystals a kind of extension of his personal development. Since then, he has been creating visually evocative jewelry pieces that captivate through a bold interplay of colors, forms, and different types of crystals, combined into unexpected compositions. “The Winter 2026 collection is an expansion of the previous one, in which the pieces were imagined as sunken treasures of a lost civilization. In the new story, that civilization rises again to the surface and lives its new life in full splendor. All pieces are handmade, mostly one of a kind, and each carries the idea of a modern artifact, a relic that awakens memories of a timeless era,” Karlo explains.

Elird

Elird carries the spirit of Sarajevo’s Baščaršija, yet its roots reach all the way to Istanbul, the city where Ena Mulavdić and Ebrahim Mohammadian met. After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo, Ena was drawn to the Bosphorus city by a desire to deepen her knowledge of industrial design, while Ebrahim came to Istanbul from his native Iran to pursue painting and sculpture. Although they come from different countries, cultures, and professional fields, they united this entire spectrum of experiences within Elird. “That diversity is not an obstacle but a strength that enriches our work. It is a constant source of inspiration and a richness we nurture and take pride in. Through the shared creative process, different perspectives and ideas merge into a harmonious whole. Each of us brings a unique approach, techniques, and an aesthetic shaped by culture, history, and professional background,” Ena explains.

Ena’s and Ebrahim’s jewelry feels almost phantasmagorical and alchemical, yet it disarms not only through aesthetics but also through an astonishing level of meticulousness and a rhapsody of traditional craftsmanship techniques woven into it. Composed of miniatures synergistically connected into a whole, it is created using as many as thirty different artisanal techniques, giving it the impression of an artwork whose era is difficult to decipher. “Using knowledge and skills from different crafts allows us to create unique, high quality pieces with lasting value. It is important to emphasize that such an approach is not only aesthetically appealing but also carries deep social and economic implications. Supporting traditional crafts strengthens the local community, empowers artisans, and preserves cultural heritage,” Ena concludes.

Related: Bazerdžan – a concept store in Sarajevo’s Baščaršija with a mission to preserve tradition

Jovana Djuric

Much like Kalyss and Elird, Jovana Djuric also sees far more than decoration in her jewelry. For the Serbian designer, who moved to New York after studying sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Belgrade in search of new opportunities, jewelry is deeply intertwined with symbolism, energy, and meaning that transcend ourselves. “My jewelry always communicates with the body and gives it a new, extended dimension. I want that connection to be even more conscious. I want those who wear it to feel a deeper connection with their hands, with their essential nature. I want to remove everything that is not essential,” says Jovana, whose love for jewelry grew out of her love for sculpture.

After two years of living in New York, she enrolled in jewelry design at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology, and her fascination with metals and the process of their transformation through shaping led her to create her own pieces. Before launching her own brand in 2014, she worked for the fashion house Givenchy and for American designer and sculptor Robert Lee Morris, known for organic forms and futuristic creations, and one of the pioneers in understanding jewelry as an art form. With her own brand, Jovana finally found what feels closest to her, jewelry that reflects both her aesthetic and her spiritual journey. The Horus ring, reminiscent of a bird’s claw, is one of her most recognizable pieces and perfectly illustrates her philosophy, jewelry that is not merely an ornament but an extension of the personality and personal experience of those who wear it.

Related: Jewelry as a tool for change and self-return

Photo: Courtesy of Jovana Djuric

Lapidarium

Under the name Lapidarium stands a collective composed of Croatian and international authors: Isabelle Bianchi Marchesseau from Nancy in France, Zagreb based artist Irineja Ćubela, young designer Karlo Krekić, academic sculptor Silvijo Hrnčir, Zagreb designer Mara Fabijančić Borovčić, artist Smiljka Franić, Adrian Nokaj whose focus is men’s jewelry, and finally Zagreb goldsmith Mario Nokaj. Lapidarium represents a unique platform in Croatia whose mission is to create modern jewelry collections using traditional and contemporary techniques and materials. The jewelry store, showroom, and workshop, as well as the entire Lapidarium concept, were born out of Mario Nokaj’s love for jewelry. Lapidarium collections are created spontaneously, unburdened by time, and are most often inspired by nature as the main motif. Within each collection, each author is free to incorporate their unique signature and the inspiration that guided them in the creative process.

Sanda Vidmar

Sanda Vidmar is one of the most prominent jewelry designers in Slovenia. She launched her brand in 2020, when she decided to leave the corporate world and mark the year as a new beginning by turning a former hobby into a profession. “I started working with silver jewelry several years ago, and I acquired most of my practical knowledge at workshops under the mentorship of contemporary jewelry designer Martina Obid, MOM Jewelry, in Ljubljana,” says Sanda, adding: “She taught me that every piece of jewelry is an expression of personality and self expression, that precision and persistence always bring rewards, and that finding inner peace within one’s surroundings opens the door to new creative possibilities.”

Sanda Vidmar’s jewelry combines contemporary aesthetics with craftsmanship, often bringing to life unusual yet striking forms that do not go unnoticed. Beyond aesthetic appeal, it is important to Sanda that each piece carries a story, something that allows you to form an emotional connection with her jewelry. “Every piece of jewelry I design carries personal meaning and, I hope, inspires the person who wears it to trust their own voice, to have the courage to follow their instincts, and to accept and love who they are,” the designer concludes.

Photo: Courtesy of Sanda Vidmar

Little Wonder

More than fifteen years ago, Split based designer Selma Štrkljević Mravak founded the brand Little Wonder. Although she graduated in art history as well as Italian language and literature in Zagreb, she always wanted to create with her hands. Choosing a completely different path proved to be the right decision, as from the founding of the brand to today, Selma has exhibited at prestigious events such as Milano Jewelry Week. In 2014, she was selected among 49 designers from 21 countries to participate in the exhibition Complete Parts at Shin Gallery in Manhattan, and her work has been published in numerous international and domestic publications.

Over the years, Little Wonder has become well regarded among jewelry lovers and recognizable for its aesthetic, featuring handmade statement necklaces, bracelets, and earrings crafted from 925 silver, gold plated brass, semi precious and precious stones, silk, cotton, and leather. “Little Wonder jewelry is intended for confident women who are not afraid to experiment with different styles, yet often choose basic outfits accented with striking details,” Selma explains.

Povezano: The jewelry that brought our childhood memories back to life

MONOI

Two architects, siblings Marko and Maja Bačanin, founded MONOI in 2018, now one of the most prominent jewelry brands in Serbia. The brand emerged from a need for jewelry that is timeless, high quality, and suitable for all occasions. Their love for simple, clean forms shaped jewelry that combines geometric precision with contemporary minimalism, creating the aesthetic for which MONOI is recognized today.

All MONOI jewelry pieces are handmade in a family owned workshop in Serbia that has been producing precious metal jewelry for more than thirty years. Every step of the process, from recycling silver and gold to shaping metal plates, is carefully controlled to give the material the structure required for the recognizable MONOI design. This approach allows for the creation of jewelry that exudes simplicity while remaining aesthetically expressive. “We believe that good design should last longer than a single season and should not be dictated by trends. The challenge of transforming the simplest geometric shapes, such as a square or a circle, into statement jewelry resulted in the distinctive style of the MONOI collection. Focused on minimalist aesthetics without compromising comfort, we have developed jewelry that can be worn on any occasion,” Marko and Maja explain.

Aleksandar Zabunović

The fashion brand Aleksandar Zabunović is an established Serbian label founded by Aleksandar and Milica Zabunović. His sense of fashion was shaped and refined during his studies in Vienna, where he also worked as a fashion photographer for renowned fashion magazines. After several years of developing his own collections alongside a full time job, upon returning to Belgrade he launched the brand together with Milica, which soon became recognizable for feminine garments, timeless elegance, and precise tailoring that withstands the rapid changes of fashion trends. The signature motif and primary source of inspiration is the orchid, a symbol of elegance and rare beauty, and this extraordinary flower also lies at the heart of the Aleksandar Zabunović jewelry line, consisting of handmade floral pieces with 24 karat gold plating and baroque pearls. “More than just a flower, the orchid embodies elegance, sophistication, and extraordinary allure. We are inspired by its delicate yet resilient nature, reflecting the philosophy at the heart of our brand, where strength meets grace,” the brand explains.

Photo: Courtesy of Aleksandar Zabunović