NIKOS IOANNOU & SONS LTD is acknowledged to be the largest and most prestigious competitor among historic Cypriot Jewellery art makers.

“Praise must nevertheless be earnde; it is never bestowed lightly.”

The founder Mr. Nikos Ioannou is a jeweller and silversmith with 51 years experience.

The story of the company begins on 18^th December 1961, when Mr. Nikos, then a skilled jewellery craftsman who spent 17 years working around the island, decided to go ahead with his ambition and open his own jewellery business. The first shop was situated in the centre of Nicosia. There, working in a small loft, he produced jewellery on his own, for a small number of clients. Only two years later, to meet rising demand, he employed ten craftsmen in an underground workshop, and 4 girls working on filigree technique in a workshop in his home village, Dhali.

Great attention to detail, quality, and customer satisfaction, yielded a fast growing business with good reserves. This made it possible for the opening of a second larger shop in Nicosia in 1969, followed by a big fully equipped workshop in 1971 employing 20 experienced craftsmen.

Six years later in 1975 he opened a very prestigious shop in the newer, market area of the capital, where he also displayed some Cypriot antiques.

In 1977 he gathered some of the ‘strong’ jewellers in Cyprus to form the PANCYPRIAN GOLDSMITHS & SILVERSMITHS ASSOCIATION (PA.G.S) PA.G.S., was formed to fight the local monopoly of the gold market. Members up to this day benefit from cheaper gold and equipment, a benefit which reflects to the customer.

In 1980 he moved to his next target market, Limassol. A growing number of regular customers from abroad visit the shop yearly, and so do Cypriot clients coming from the south-west location of Cyprus.

A year later in 1981 he opened the one and only Jewellery shop in the Cyprus ‘Hilton’ Hotel which has made him known to the rest of the world, through hundreds of satisfied customers, mostly politicians and VIP’S.

His personal interest and love for the Cypriot art culture led to a large collection of old Cypriot jewellery, artefacts and antiques in his private gallery.

In 1992, through his personal efforts Mr. Ioannou managed to collect from many honoured donors, several pieces of jewellery and equipment, used since the beginning of the 18th century in Cyprus for jewellery making. Along with his own collection in 1992, he made one of his life long ambitions come true - the opening of the “Cyprus Jewellery Museum” situated in Nicosia of which he is the founder and president.

More recently Mr. Nicos was the main influence behind the idea of an Assay office in Cyprus where jewellery and silverware would be stamped for authenticity, thus eliminating fraud.

A little later he restored one of the most precious buildings of Nicosia which hosted the ‘Samuel Elementary School’. There he made an exclusive ancient and historic Jewellery gallery where he displays unique pieces for a selective clientele from time to time. Every year at the same gallery the "Annual show of Young Jewellery Students" also take place and is hosted by Mr. Ioannou.

The last few years he has kept himself active in the benefit of jewellers after being elected the president of the "Pancyprian Association of Goldsmiths and Silversmiths".

For the year 2000 he joined his forces by including in his collection 'Damiani Jewellery' and 'Perle Utopia' south sea pearls, of which he is the sole agent for Cyprus.
Year 2000 has also been marked by the opening of a brand new workshop to cover the company's needs.
By the end of the year 2000 the growth of the company lead to new reform and the application for listing to the Cyprus stock exchange. For 2001 a new bigger shop has been opened at teh most exclusive area of Limassol.

The company's target for the future will be to market its exlusive jewellery abroad.