Papayani is a Greek name. It was my grandmother's maiden name. It can be translated into English as "PappaJohn."

My name is Connie Langan, and I design and make all the jewelry you see on this site. We are located in California, east of San Francisco in the Bay area.

My grandmother’s name was Mary Papayani until she got married.

My grandmother grew up Greek in the mountains of Albania. Her family herded sheep and goats. She got married at age 13, and went to live with her husband's mother. She packed her things, including her doll, and moved in with her in-laws.

Her husband sojourned to the United States, and later, in 1923, she joined him.

Her name was now no longer Papayani, it was Goulis. The Goulis family had eight children, the youngest of whom was Helen, my mother.

One of my grandmother's pieces of jewelry was a ring from the old country. It was a miniature of an ID bracelet with a flattened curb chain.

The inscription on it was in Greek letters.

I have recently created a replica of it, without any inscription. The original is gone, with no pictures of it. The ones I have made are from memory.

My mother, Eleni Goulis (now Helen Westcott) in 1937.

As the designer for Papayani jewelry, my goal is to create in precious metals and stones the intriguing lines, symmetry, and durability of classic Greek style. 

I use ancient metalworking techniques to fabricate timeless pieces of lasting appeal. Enjoy your visit.