100 Most Influential People in Fashion

Fashion Influential #90: Jacob "The Jeweler" Arabo

Jewlery designer Jacob Arabo (Jacob The Jeweler) attends a book launch party for stylist June Ambrose's 'Effortless Style' at Tenjune August 28, 2006 in New York City. (Getty Images)more pics »
JACOB THE JEWELER
Born:
1964 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Client list:
Jay-Z, Ja Rule, R Kelly, Kanye West, 50 Cent, The Game, Jermaine Dupri, Ice Cube, Nas, Lupe Fiasco, Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Beyonce, David Beckham, and Michael Jordan and others
Beginnings.
By the time Russian immigrant Jacob Arabo was 18 years old, he already had a jewelry business with 10 jewelers working for him. This was not luck: he’d quit school two years before to study jewelry-making as a way to support his family. Arabo traveled around the globe, buying diamonds from some of the seediest people. “I went to the worst places, where it’s dangerous," said Arabo.

Career highs.
In 1994, Faith Evans entered Arabo’s modest midtown Manhattan shop and wanted to put down $5 on a ring so her boyfriend could come by the next day to pick it up. The following day, Biggie Smalls showed up and bought the ring and some items for himself. Soon afterward he brought LL Cool J and Sean Combs, who in turn brought their friends.

If you don’t put yourself through tests, you cannot really appreciate this life.
- Jacob "The Jeweler" Arabo
Career lows.
On January 15, 2009, Arabo will report to federal prison to serve 2.5 years for lying to investigators looking into a nation-wide drug ring headed up by Detroit's “Black Mafia Family.” Charges of conspiring to launder $270 million in drug profits were dropped.

Legacy.
Jacob the Jeweler is name checked in well-over 50 hip hop songs from Jay-Z, Kanye West, Nas and 50 Cent. Even Beyonce makes a reference to him in her song, “Upgrade U”. He's also credited with introducing platinum to the hip-hop world.

Bling Bling

Get the Look.
Arabo doesn’t just make flashy jewelry for rappers and NBA stars: “I have jewelry for little five-year-old girls and for girls who want to buy two-million-dollar pink earrings." To be safe, go with a big diamond-encrusted cross. Classic.

- John