Sami Zeira has always had an eye for aesthetics. It was this gift that first inspired him to take up photography, but it was during a visit in the 1990’s to the beautiful Greek isle of Santorini that he truly discovered his calling as an artist. Sami’s fascination with the work of the tireless, local goldsmiths was the inspiration for what is today the designer’s magnificently rich line of 22-karat gold and diamond jewelry. Influenced by the Classical Period (2500 B.C. to Twelfth Century A.D.), Sami weaves the past with the present by making a contemporary line of jewelry on which he boldly applies the ancient technique of gold granulation.   Sami’s jewelry line is elegant without being ostentatious. Among his stunning pieces of fine jewelry is a pair of delicately-crafted, drop earrings, with an ornamentation of gold granules covering the egg-shaped surface, gracefully accented with faceted, round diamonds. Always one to keep the jewelry connoisseur happy, Sami recently developed a white gold alloy on which to fuse his signature gold granules. The combination has produced dramatic pieces featuring a striking color contrast in the yellow-on- white gold jewelry. Mesmerized after his visit by the beauty, skill and mastery of the Greek goldsmiths, he returned to New York City where he began intensive training in the classical techniques of jewelry-making at the renowned Jewelry Arts Institute. Later in 1998, Sami also studied with the highly regarded Dutch-born jewelry model maker Fed de Vos. With the master model-maker, he learned how to create precise geometric shapes and unique organic wax forms that could be cast in gold and fused with granules. “I love a challenge, and for me it means combining the classical techniques in jewelry-making with my newer methods, and applying them to a timeless, yet contemporary design,” says Sami. Over the last five years Sami has gained a private clientele of loyal collectors, who have continued to buy his jewelry. “What fascinates me about Sami’s jewelry is the meticulous manner in which he finishes each piece” says Maria Markowitz. “I have a pair of earrings with the most exquisite openwork design on the back of them that you can ever imagine.” While collectors have sought Sami’s jewelry at private shows, the designer provided a rare opportunity for the jewelry collectors when during the 2002 holiday season he made his pieces available to the public at the venerable East Hampton jewelry store London Jewelers. Today, as the demand for his hand-crafted jewelry increases, Sami Zeira looks forward to the next phase of his work by making the jewelry line available to a select group of fine jewelry retailers.