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How to Shop for Jewelry While Traveling with 1stDibs Private Client Jewelry Specialist Despina Leontiadis

This article is the third in a series spotlighting travel and design intel as part of Indagare’s new partnership with 1stDibs, and offers insights and inspiration from three of the company’s leading voices.

Despina Leontida, Private Client Jewelry Specialist for 1stDibs, inherited her love for jewelry—and her appreciation for travel—from her mother. Growing up, she often witnessed her mother putting on all her jewels even if she was just going to cook dinner in them. Much of their time bonding was, and still is, spent scouring estate sales on Long Island together. Before heading off to law school, Despina took a seasonal position in the fine jewelry department at Barneys New York. From there, her career path changed, in what she calls a happy accident, culminating in her joining the 1stDibs team in the summer of 2019. Below, we talk with Despina about how travel has inspired her work, what she always brings home to commemorate a trip and how she selects pieces for the private clients she works with at 1stDibs.

Indagare members receive 20 percent off their first purchase on 1stDibs (up to $375 in savings), when they sign up for a 1stDibs account below. In addition, they’re welcome to an exclusive consultation with a 1stDibs Private Client specialist. These in-house experts serve as private concierges, providing assistance with all manner of bespoke requests. Learn more at 1stDibs.com.

“I try to visit my mom’s hometown in Euboae, Greece every summer. It’s a small beach village in the southernmost tip of the island that overlooks the Petalioi Islands (one of which was once owned by Paloma Picasso) with a local population of six to seven people during the off-season. Time moves slowly—days start late with a freddo (iced) espresso on the beach followed by a big lunch always accompanied by an authentic Greek salad (no lettuce!) and a very long midday nap. No one ever appears to be going anywhere. The stillness of life in the village allows me to indulge in all of my creative pursuits that get swallowed up in the bustle of everyday life. I read more, I paint more, I embroider more—and I always take my renewed passion for my hobbies back home with me. This clarity inspires me to be the best version of myself in my work and day-to-day life.

Also, as a born and raised New Yorker, it is my obligation to mention New York City here. It astounds me that I still get goosebumps when I drive over the Williamsburg Bridge and catch sight of the skyline sprinkled with thousands of glimmering window lights on apartment buildings filled with millions of people from all ends of the earth. I am inspired by the depth of diverse perspectives here.”

Travelers to England make a point of visiting the Crown Jewels. Are there any museums or exhibitions in Greece that travelers should see?

“The Acropolis Museum and The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum, both located in Athens.”

Do you have an all-time favorite travel memory?

“Taking the final cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain to watch the sun set behind Rio de Janeiro. Christ the Redeemer was barely distinguishable in the distance. Things like that make you feel quite small. Travel should always be humbling.”

How do you immerse yourself in a destination?

“I try to learn as much of the language spoken there as I can before visiting. I’ve been learning French for my trip to Morocco and the south of France this July and brushing up on my Portuguese before my trip to Lisbon. Trying to communicate in the local language is my way of showing my gratitude. I find that people respond warmly even when they hear a simple hello in their language.”

Related: On Scandinavian Design & Top Finds in Copenhagen & Stockholm: 1stDibs Editorial Director Anthony Barzilay Freund

“A print from a local artist, a magnet for my fridge collection (I find them nostalgic and endearing), a flashy pair of costume earrings and a vintage gold charm. I like the pieces in my apartment and the jewelry I wear to tell stories. I also make an effort to shop sustainably. Many clients I work with feel particularly inspired after acquiring new pieces on a trip, and I’ll often work with them upon their return to keep adding to their collections. A client may commemorate a recent trip to Italy by purchasing a dramatic red coral pendant or a recent trip to Cyprus by purchasing gold ear cuffs.

For those inspired by antiquity in Greece, a reworked ancient owl coin necklace might keep Athena’s wisdom close to them, even upon their return. For the jet-setters who can’t quite choose how to commemorate their trips, I always suggest compass pendants or bracelets. I like this one and the inscription on its back: ‘There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.’

I’ve worked with several clients who also create custom pieces and engrave them with dates of travel or meaningful symbols after each trip, almost like having a passport. I always suggest clients purchase a gold chain bracelet or necklace to start their charm collections and mark their trips in a meaningful way, too.”

Related: How Indonesia Inspires 1stDibs Interior Designer Tom Stringer

What do you look out for when shopping abroad with unfamiliar vendors?

“For jewelry, I pay close attention to clasps or hinges to get an idea of quality and how something will wear. If I’m searching for authentic gold or silver pieces, I look for stamps or markings, which differ from country to country. Stones can be a little more difficult to identify or authenticate on the spot, so I am more likely to search for those with a more familiar vendor or one suggested to me. As a Private Client Advisor, I do a lot of work on behalf of my clients. I’m able to work with sellers directly to examine pieces more closely to see what will align with my client’s needs.”

Lightning Round: Despina's Top 10 Pieces

  1. Lalaounis Greece Gold Collar Necklace
  2. Zolotas Gold Village Brooch
  3. Earrings in 18kt Rose Gold with Amethyst, Rubies, Peridot & Diamonds
  4. Pendant with a Special "Amphora" Hand-Sculpted Coral, and Diamonds
  5. Snail Shell Bracelet Engraved with VVS 0.99 Cts Diamonds
  6. Zolotas Two Head with Ruby Eye and Two Emerald Bangle
  7. Van Cleef & Arpels Fish Lapis Lazuli Tiger's Eye Yellow Gold Bracelet
  8. Maria Kotsoni Contemporary 18k Gold White Diamond Question Mark drop earrings
  9. Art Nouveau White Diamond Garnet Turquoise Yellow Gold "Octopus" Cocktail Ring
  10. Whimsical Ilias Lalaounis Hammered Gold Wings Motif Earrings
Indagare members receive 20 percent off their first purchase on 1stDibs (up to $375 in savings), when they sign up for a 1stDibs account below. In addition, they’re welcome to an exclusive consultation with a 1stDibs Private Client specialist. These in-house experts serve as private concierges, providing assistance with all manner of bespoke requests. Learn more at 1stDibs.com.

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