Where to buy a replica of ancient Minoan bee pendant

May 5, 2009 7:37 AM

Jewelry filter: Looking to buy a replica of the ancient Minoan bee pendant found near Knossos, Crete. Preferably gold, preferably under $200.

My girlfriend and I visited Crete last year and she really liked the ancient golden pendant with the two bees. I was hoping to get her a replica for our anniversary, but the only ones I've seen have been either really cheap, crude silver replicas or pretty expensive gold ones (like over $600). Anyone know if there's a middle ground somewhere? I'm guessing custom jewelry would be more expensive, not less; is this a good assumption?

posted by crookedgrin to clothing, beauty, & fashion (6 comments total)

So the gold-plated replica here isn't what you want?
posted by sciencegeek at 7:50 AM on May 5 [1 favorite]

The Hellenic Ministry of Culture has an on-line shop here. I can't find something like the pendant you want, but you might try contacting the Knossos museum shop directly.
posted by Dr Dracator at 7:53 AM on May 5 [1 favorite]

Have you checked out the Metropolitan Museum of Art store?
posted by musofire at 8:00 AM on May 5

My first thought was the Met store, but they only have a Faberge Bee
posted by misterbrandt at 8:22 AM on May 5

Jewelry maker here. Don't expect to pay $200 for a solid gold bee pendant. It's just too little money to pay for the gold and the labor, plus a seller's markup somewhere along the line. Buy the gold plated one (for $20!!), it looks good, looks like they've really tried to make it like the original, and you'll give a little money to a good cause. The only other cheap option is to try and find a second hand one somewhere, where the money for labor is taken out, but you'll probably drive yourself crazy trying to find such a thing.
posted by davoid at 8:49 AM on May 5 [2 favorites]

Davoid: Fair enough. But what if I were able to supply the gold? Would $200 or less be at all reasonable for labor alone?
posted by crookedgrin at 11:09 AM on May 11