KAYAS is a boutique in Mykonos Town that hosts one-of-a-kind pieces created by the Mignot jewellers, each carrying the family traditions and expertise of three generations. It was founded by Alexander Mignot and his now-wife, Tzima Tsitampani, on the island of Mykonos, and named after their beloved labrador. 

Alexander is the oldest of the Mignot cousins. Although he worked in jewellery production at some point for his family, he chose a different path and focused on becoming an artist. When he met Tzima—who had transitioned from architecture to swimwear design and was dreaming of opening her own boutique—they envisioned a space where art meets fashion. And that’s exactly what they created. KAYAS became an Atelier hosting art, fashion and soon enough Jewellery as Alexander invited his brother and cousins to join, bringing their Mignot Jewellery creations into the space.

Tzima worked closely with Alexander’s family and, over five years, slowly learned their craft and family jewellery traditions. Today, KAYAS proudly showcases the Mignot family brands alongside Tzima’s own creations.

The Mignot pearl jewellery have a delicate yet strong balance of some of Earth’s greatest treasures. Pearls strung with vigour onto high quality hand rolled leather. The jewellery are mostly made with Tahitian black pears and some are with White and Gold South sea Australian pearls. We mostly. work with fine Ocean pearls and sometimes use Akoya fresh water Japanese pearls - also high quality but more affordable.

THE PEARLS

Black pearls are known for their extraordinary range of colours, created by the volcanic mineral-rich waters in which their oysters grow. From shimmering silver and deep grey to iridescent blues, greens, pinks and purples, each pearl reveals its most vibrant hues in natural sunlight. Peacock pearls, in particular, display all the colours of a peacock’s tail, making them some of the most sought-after.

White and Gold South Sea pearls—cultivated in the pristine waters of northern Australia—are revered for their exceptionally thick nacre and brilliant natural glow. White South Sea pearls have a soft, luxurious lustre with shades of silver, ivory and cream, while Golden South Sea pearls range from delicate champagne tones to deep, rich gold.

Pearl lustre is the measure of how brightly a pearl reflects light, and it is this luminous radiance—unique to each gem—that makes every pearl truly one of a kind.

THE LEATHER

Our jewellery is strung on kangaroo leather that is hand cut and hand rolled. Kangaroo is the hardest leather because of its cross etched fibers (the only animal with this type of skin) so it’s extremely strong and durable. The leather is used in its natural state, untreated and this is why it appears in many shades of brown, depending on how much the leather has been worked on. Ultimately, with time the leather will look darker, almost black, and it will become soft and mould on your wrist or fall better on the neck. 

THE CARE GUIDE

To preserve your pearl’s rich lustre, avoid wearing them in chlorinated pools and keep them away from direct contact with perfumes or deodorants. The chemicals and acidity in these products can damage the surface of the pearl. If you accidentally spray them, simply rinse gently with clean water and wipe with a soft cloth.

Pearls thrive when they are worn. Avoid storing them away for long periods, as they benefit from natural light and the skin’s natural oils, which help maintain their glow. You’ll notice they shine even more after time spent in the ocean — pearls are happiest in seawater.

Regarding the leather, condition it monthly with a small amount of pure karité (100% shea butter) when not worn daily. When worn often, the natural oils from your skin are usually enough to keep the leather moisturised.