As the hip hop music culture has exploded in recent years, hip hop mens diamond jewelry is now seeing its glory days among the fashionistas. Hip hop artists, like 50 cent and Jah Rule, like to sport the latest and greatest in jewelry, and their fans race to emulate them. What was strictly a Black phenomenon in its formative years has now gone mainstream and lots of white guys not necessarily dressed in the saggy baggy denims became iced out. Mainly the conservative “suits” would sport iced out dog tags at work and play, a radical departure from previous business attire. The big princess diamond stud Hip Hop look ultimately went mainstream as well because of it’s square masculine good looks and widespread availability in all sizes and price points.
Recognizable names in the fashion world, like Prada, have produced and marketed hip hop men’s jewelry. For guys who aim to dress to impress, glitzy “bling” helps create a pulled together look. Some designs feature just a few well placed diamonds while others are literally encrusted with the rows and rows of pave and bead and bright set diamonds. With this type of jewelry the attitude is the bigger and bolder the jewelry, the better.
Diamonds are synonymous with luxury and class, and diamond hip hop jewelry was created for men of all ethnicities who want accessories that make a statement. Hip hop jewelry that is covered in diamonds is called “iced out” and always is a great contrast against a dark skin color. The diamonds are usually mounted in precious metals like gold and platinum. For those who like the look of diamonds but can’t afford the price tag, there are plenty of budget-friendly bling that incorporate diamond substitutes like moissanite, cubic zirconia, and YAG.
Hip Hop mens jewelry is now also incorporating black diamonds in the mix showing the contrast between black and white diamonds while creating some great styles, especially for white guys who are so pale that white bling doesn’t show up that well against their skin unless it’s contrasted with black bling.I have seen the black diamonds show up in mainstream designers like David Yurman and to a lesser extent , John Hardy. These are not the obnoxiously sized blinged out designs available on 47th street . They are rather , the more gentlemanly iced out interpretations of these fine jewelry designers.
Although it must be noted that Hip Hop Jewelry has influenced more than just the blinginess of mens jewelry. The overall scale of men’s watches has seen a major increase in the last seven or so years and this can be attributed directly to hip hop jewelry’s penchant for massively sized jewelry and watches for both sexes. Men’s watch cases have increased from an average diameter of 38 mm to 41mm. This may sound like an insubstantial amount but remember we’re talking overall diameter here which translates to a 20 to 30 percent overall size increase.
Thus there are many jewelry and watch trends that have taken direction from Hip Hop Jewelry and Hip Hop Culture. The bottom line thus being that Hip Hop Culture sells otherwise Jewelry designers would not have embraced the hip hop context without being assured that the dollars would show up to chase their otherworldly creations.
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