Have rappers helped the diamond industry?

[kenny]

When I think of the "typical" diamond customer I think of the newlyweds.
Next she'd like a diamond pendant for her 10th Anniversary.
Then she'd like earrings.
Then and e-ring upgrade.
Then a right-hand ring.

Come to think of it maybe Rod and I are the only "Diamond Studs" here.

We've all seen the rappers with their huge earblings.
With their $$$ I'm sure they are real.
Now at low end retail outlets we see zillions of 2-carat fake earrings now.
There is a strong demand for that look.
By now rap culture has permeated the suburbs with white kids of yuppie parents sporting the garb and the attitude, excuse me, the "Tude".
Rap pay have started in the ghettos but now it is mainstream, and big business.

So my question for the industry is this:
How many male customers (who you suspect might listen to rap music) do you see buying real diamonds?

Any?
A few?
Lots?

BTW, I'm offering no opinion on rap music. (personally I play Bach, Ravel and Chopin on my piano.)
But, I'm all for a wider diamond market.
I just find market trends to be interesting.

Further, is there any outreach (as in advertising) from the diamond industry in publications for this market?
If not, perhaps there should be.

If I sold diamonds I would SOOOO be reaching out to this growing young market.

 

[Kaleigh]

Interesting question kenny. They are responsible for coining the word Bling as far as I can tell. They brought a lot of attention to bling, so that has to have helped the industry. Think of P Diddy, he wears high end stuff. They put bling on the map, IMHO. Now most cannot afford the jewelry they buy, nor would many want to. The diamond teeth grills, etc... But an interesting topic indeed.

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Kenny...your observations are interesting.

There are markets in major US cities that sell "promotional" quality diamonds
in big rings and huge crosses that give the wearer a "Bling" effect. It''s all about the size of the item more than quality. I''m always amazed when I go to the jewelry trade shows and see mass merchandisers selling tons of 10K gold diamond cluster rings
with I3 clarity diamonds or worse. The sales activity for these vendors is always brisk. Must mean that there "IS" a market for this stuff.

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com

 

[kenny]

I can just imagine a current PS vendor opening up a new Rap Culture/HipHop-Friendly website under a new name and a new 800 number answered by the "cool" customer service reps (who actually sit next to the "regular" ones.)
Or the same person answers both lines but puts on the accent?

All's fair in love, war and sales.

Maybe even specialize in the Size-First, higher-profit honkers that Wink recently talked about here:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/how-much-for-this-piece-of-coal.50168/


Cha-Ching!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[devientdrow]

Kenny,

I truly believe there is more of a demand for diamonds with the rap culture. I mean me personally, there is SOME rap that I like, but i''m a rock gal. The rock culture while having it''s own downfalls is not a materialistic culture. A lot of guys that I know don''t care to wear diamonds (there are always the exceptions to this...i''ve met them!) and a lot of girls I know want something funky for an ering and different. Like a gemstone or something. However the rap culture places a lot on the "bling". It''s a sign on your stature. You hear in a lot of rap songs lyrics about the rapper and what he has, often referencing the "bling". I know one of my husbands friends who happens to be into rap walked around forever with this HUGE (guady on him) "diamond" stud in his earlobe. It was the great debate to weather it was real or not. But he would always be adamant that it was. For him, like I think a lot of people who purchase "bling" to be like rappers, think of it as a sign of wealth.

As far as this affecting the diamond industry I think it''s probably had an effect! In a lot of rap songs female rappers will sing about "bling" and having nice things. A lot of girl rappers will be seen wearing brand name and large jewelry. I think some women may expect to have this kind of stuff from their guys. And like I said there are guys who want to look like these rappers, to them that means going out and buying diamond earrings, large in carat. Necklaces, watches with diamonds, ect ect. Even the whole "Grills" sensation. As per the lyrics below by Nelly:

Rob the jewellery store and tell ''em make me a grill

uh uh

Got da whole top diamond and da bottom rows gold

That about says at all.

In fact a WHILE ago I posted a thread all about Flavor Flav''s insanely large, like 2ct diamond in his nostril hehehe