King Ice shares the secret of choosing the right jewelry
Jewelry has always symbolized elegance, sophistication and membership within specific groups. Historically, jewelry has been made from various materials, with different combinations creating different styles and designs. By combining jewelry, fashion and style, people have created unique looks to attract attention.
Jewelry is among the most sought-after personal items on the market, and the demand continues to grow. According to a Grand View Research report, "the global jewelry market size was valued at $249.02 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 269.19 billion in 2022," with the increase in acceptance of jewelry among men propelling the market's growth.
However, the sheer size indicates that many companies and brands compete for customers' attention. So, how does one find the right jewelry piece in the vast sea of products, brands and slick marketing campaigns?
King Ice is a leading streetwear-inspired jewelry brand and an industry-leading tastemaker for urban hip-hop culture. They feature an exclusive line of branded products and uniquely designed collections ranging from chains, pendants, watches and bracelets to pins, custom grills and more.
"Jewelry is much more than just a status symbol. It shouldn't be there just to show how much money you have," Derek Belay, co-founder of King Ice, states. "It is wearable art that bridges the gap between artist, culture and people. And the jewelry you wear represents who you are. It shows the world how you think and how you feel."
King Ice has been on the scene for over 15 years. And while trends have constantly been changing, the brand's mission and focus have stayed the same since they were founded - to provide customers with iconic and fashionable men's streetwear jewelry while giving them a memorable, world-class buying experience.
"The key is to find what you like and what speaks to you," Belay said. "We always tell our customers to shop with their heart and not their mind. And when in doubt, always go with gold."
Gold has been a popular choice for jewelry for centuries, and it's easy to see why. It's timeless and classic and works well with any outfit. However, as King Ice Head of Design and Co-Founder Cuong Diep points out, the average person can't afford a $10,000 gold chain with a diamond tennis ball as a pendant to hang around their neck.
With that in mind, King Ice also creates gold-plated variants of accessories with diamond simulants that every pocket can afford. "Our accent is on product quality. We don't use solid gold or real diamonds, but we use the same techniques and craftsmanship level to achieve the same product quality," Diep explains. "The looks are there. The details are there. Everything is there. We just use more affordable materials."
The King Ice team believes good-looking jewelry shouldn't be expensive. On top of that, creating accessories is all about the fun and enjoyment that jewelry brings a person, and they want to offer that to everyone.
"Don't invest your money in a piece of jewelry. Buy a house or get an education. But that doesn't mean you can't look and feel good, " they say. "The jewelry you buy should be about accessorizing yourself. About expressing yourself, your culture or even your love for your favorite character or artist.”
For example, love for video games and pop culture is beautifully captured in their recently released collection of Sonic the Hedgehog and Rick and Morty characters done in collaboration with Sony and Cartoon Network.
Or maybe love for music that has been integrated into pieces created with various brands such as Snoop Dogg, Death Row Records, Notorious B.I.G., Odd Future, Wu-Tang, 2Pac and Run DMC.
"At the end of the day, it's your decision," Belay says. "You should choose what you like and what makes you feel good. After all, that's what jewelry is all about - expressing yourself and your unique style."