Akra

Akra is a handmade jewelry workshop and shop in Abanotubani, the old bath quarter of Tbilisi, a few steps from the sulfur baths and the Meidan Bazaar. It has been at 13 Abano Street since 2018. Two Georgian crafts share one bench here: natural stone set in silver, and minankari, cloisonne enamel. Minankari is one of the oldest Georgian crafts: a drawing is outlined in thin silver wire, then fired in a kiln again and again until the color reaches its full depth. Both are made on site. Every piece passes through one pair of hands from beginning to end, from choosing and cutting the rough stone to setting it in 925 sterling silver. Each stone is worked on its own and the setting is built around its shape, so no two pieces are alike. The workbench stands in the shop itself, so visitors can step in, watch a piece being made and talk with the maker. Rings have an open band that adjusts across US sizes 5 to 9 (EU 49 to 59), and necklace cords are shortened or lengthened on the spot, so there is no size to choose in advance. A custom piece takes 7 to 10 days. Every piece carries a two-year warranty, and after that the workshop still repairs its own work with no time limit.