Hip hop has grown from a few guys with turntables in the Bronx rapping over the musical versions of hit records, into a multimillion dollar world-wide industry. With the rise of hip hop has come the demand for hip hop jewelry. Like anything else, if the demand for hip hop jewelry is strong enough, there are bound to be imitators and profiteers willing to take advantage of a less than knowledgeable consumer-people who don’t know a diamond from a cubic zirconium or platinum from sterling silver.

Each year, hip hop lovers spend millions on hip hop jewelry. The sad truth is many of them are buying fake hip hop jewelry. Fake hip hop jewelry has been around for a long time. During the early days of hip hop, the stupid thick rope chain and giant pendants were cool. Hip hop heads saw their favorite rappers rocking fat gold chains and thought for sure they were rich. Heads wanting to imitate their musical idols, rushed to the jewelers to have chains and medallions made. When they realized what it cost to buy a 30 inch long, two inch thick rope chain with a three inch diameter pendent, many decided to go with the electroplated version instead. A new industry was born: fake hip hop jewelry.

Things are not that different today. Hip hoppers want everything to be icy-laced with diamonds. One danger with this trend is the risk of robbery. Rappers, including the Notorious B. I.G., confessed on wax to having had early careers snatching jewelry. Even obscenely wealthy streetwise superstars don’t want to lose expensive jewelry to just any bold and desperate hip hop head, so many of them began leaving their real gold and diamonds at home and rocking fake hip hop jewelry.

Nowadays, it’s hard to tell whose jewelry is real and who is flexing with faux gems. It is even more confusing when you go to your local flea market to buy an iced out necklace, diamond stud earrings or platinum grill. Are you into fake hip hop jewelry? Then that’s fine. If you are not into fake jewels , take time to know your gems and your jeweler. That way you can be sure what you’re rocking is real.

Iconic Hip Hop stars have become just as famous for their flashy fashion and ornate jewelry as they have for their legendary rhymes. In the late 1990’s the term “bling” was coined by rap-stars to describe dripping with diamonds. Rocking a lot of “ice” (diamonds) was considered a symbol of status, wealth and power. Rappers competed to see who could out bling each other with their massive hood ornament sized pendants hanging from their necks. Eventually ballplayers caught on to the trend and also started being seen wearing millions of dollars of diamond jewelry.

There are three famous celebrity jewelers in the urban community that cater to a very elite clientele, offer personalized service and will ice anything the stars ask of them. Jacob the Jeweler, the most notorious diamond dealer in the urban community, has his five-story store in New York City across from the Four Seasons Hotel. Guests are served champagne and caviar and then can preview one of-a-kind pieces from Jacob’s private collection. The Jacob & Co. 5 Time Zone watch is his most famous creation with styles ranging from $10,000 to the incredible one of a kind “The World is Mine” version which cost Jay Z $500,000 and features a map of the world iced out in different colored flawless diamonds. Jacob’s client list read like a Who’s Who of Hip Hop including artists like Notorious B.I.G., P. Diddy, 50 Cent, Nelly, Wyclef Jean, Mariah Carey, Mya, Busta Rhymes and more.

Jason Arasheben, the proprietor of Jason of Beverly Hills, counts Hollywood’s finest as his clients. From icing out rapper Lil John’s Playstation controls in black diamonds, to making a one of a kind Crossfader pendant for famed DJ Biz Markie, and a white and yellow diamond crusted “Missy” pendant for Missy Elliott, Jason has created signature pieces for entertainment industry heavyweight clients. Jason has the distinction of creating a pendant for Lil John named the biggest in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records. Last but not least is Chris “The Iceman” Aire” who has been serving his clients for over 17 years and is known the world over as one of the pioneers in the urban jewelry market. Chris counts stars such as Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and Halle Berry amongst his A list clientele and has been the talk of the infamous Diamond District with the launch of his Red Gold Collection.

Jacob The Jeweler, Jason Arasheben and Chris Aire are considered the hottest urban jewelry designers on the planet and are the Kings of Bling who are constantly revolutionizing their industry and creating unforgettable pieces for their famous clients.

The hip hop culture through rap music has finally crossed over into mainstream society with the language, music; fashions and jewelry have created a multi-million dollar industry. Some artists in the world of Hip Hop have brought into the culture a lot of the street elements such as gang insignias and gang culture through fashion and jewelry.

Men’s hip hop jewelry is used as a status symbol to display the artist’s individuality, sense of style and even subliminally mock society at large with the oversized jewelry and gang affiliation. The main staple in men’s hip hop jewelry designs are crosses, skulls, guns, roadsigns and money signs (dollar…) and grillzs.

In terms of men’s hip hop jewelry vs. women’s hip hop jewelry the men have far more variety in terms of expression and jewelry designs where the women haven’t been totally embraced in the world of hip hop. The women have a limited presence is hip hop and are just now being valued as a potential customer with a powerful capital base. The truth is women like to shop and are willing to spend more money consuming than the men. In recent years there have been quite a few incidents of people getting hurt or killed over their hip hop clothing, shoes and jewelry. The market place today has made it affordable to indulge in the world of hip hop.

The men’s hip hop jewelry not unlike the women’s hip hop jewelry can range in price between $9.95-$69.00 for a simple bracelet, silver or gold plated pendant, ring, chain, belt buckle or grillz. The women’s’ jewelry designs usually are a pendant, watch, ring, bracelet or chain. High-end hip hop jewelry pieces can be customed designed and made and can start off as high as $10,000.00 up to $1,000,000.00. Diamonds, gold, silver and titanium are usually the elements used for making the jewelry and have become sinominous with hip hop jewelry.

In the early years of hip hop clothes, shoes, bandanas, use of color and jewelry were used to distinguish different breakdance groups and rappers from one another. The critics contend that hip hop has become too corporate, misogynistic, youth oriented and buffoonish. The men’s and women’s hip hop jewelry designers are beginning to design high-end jewelry pieces and more affordable jewelry in the world of hip hop. Both men’s hip hop jewelry and women’s hip hop jewelry both styles have true customers.