Consumers that are new to the market often unknowingly purchase low quality hip hop chains or bracelets and ultimately lose their interest in this trendy fashion accessory. There are some key things which set high quality hip hop jewelery apart from its lower-quality counterparts. This article will deal with these key factors as to pinpoint what consumers should best look out for in their shopping journey.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of high quality hip hop jewelery is its substantial plating thickness. Since this type of jewelry consists of a non-precious metal core, it is susceptible to discoloration. Prolonged use can diminish plating thickness in some areas to the point where the metal core is exposed. This often renders it un-wearable. High caliber imitation jewelry features a thick gold or silver plating which allows it to outlast considerably more abuse. This increased durability allots consumers the ability to enjoy their jewelry for years to come while at the same time gives them the opportunity to save some money.

Those who have shopped for jewelry in the past should know that karat rating is also an important indicator of quality. Karat ratings refer to the purity of the jewelry, and as such, the higher you climb the karat scale, the higher quality jewelry you are dealing with. Color depth and overall appearance of a particular accessory manufactured of gold or silver substantially increase as the karat rating increases. Quality hip hop chains, rings, or bracelets are almost always plated with a precious metal that exceeds a 10K rating. This gives them a very legitimate look that’s hard to dismiss.

Finally, the stones used in hip hop accessorizes also shed some insight on their quality. The “iced” jewelry that many rappers adorn in music videos has grown quite popular. Since the majority of people can’t afford jewelry that is heavily studded with diamonds, imitation jewelry manufacturers have instead chosen to use alternatives. The more profit-motivated manufacturers use artificial materials (such as acrylic) to mimic the look of the diamonds. The authenticity of such “diamonds” can easily come under question. High quality products, on the other hand, feature actual stones, such as cubic zirconia stones. These have a much more “real” look and are considerably more durable.

Hip-hop jewelry, more commonly known as bling-bling, is definitely not understated fashion. The bigger and the flashier it is, the better. Preferred by many of today’s celebrities, hip-hop jewelry adorns the fingers, necks, arms, even the teeth of many stars.

Oversized studs and chains are the trademarks of hip-hop jewelry and are preferred by celebrities such as Sean Combs, or P. Diddy. At the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, he sported a diamond ring, bracelet, and watch from Jacob and Company. Rapper 50 Cent is another celebrity who is hardly ever seen without his hip-hop jewelry. On his web site, 50 Cent offers more affordable, though just as flashy, bling-bling for those of us who do not earn the megabucks that he and his fellow celebrities rake in. There are also many other web sites that offer low-priced hip-hop jewelry inspired by popular rap artists.

Hip-hop jewelry comes in many shapes and sizes, all of them meant to catch the eye and attract attention. Heavy chains of silver or gold (or both) can oftentimes be seen on celebrities such as LL Cool J and Ja Rule in their music videos. Hip-hop jewelry web sites offer fully ‘iced-out’ bling-bling, or watches, rings, bracelets and earrings that are heavily decorated with real or faux diamonds. So-called ‘spinner’ watches and rings are big best sellers in the hip-hop jewelry category. Also available are customized, removable gold, silver and platinum teeth which may be studded with jewels and gemstones, so even the pearly whites can have their share of hip-hop jewelry.

Women celebrities are keeping pace with their male counterparts when it comes to wearing hip-hop jewelry. Stars such as Beyonce, Lil’ Kim, Ashanti and Missy Elliott are regularly seen in pictures wearing large diamond jewelry items of various colors. Even young female celebrities are getting on the bling-bling bandwagon. Teen stars like Jo Jo and Hilary Duff are said to be avid hip-hop jewelry enthusiasts and count themselves among the large number of bejeweled stars today.

Large, ostentatious pieces of jewelry did not start becoming popular only because of the hip-hop cultural phenomenon (think Elvis Presley and Tom Jones), but hip-hop has altered the jewelry market in a big way. Fans see what their favorite celebrities are wearing, and there are numerous options for them to emulate their idols – at least in terms of fashion. Jewelry has always been a part of popular culture, and today’s hip-hop jewelry and the celebrities who wear them are even more so in this age of instant information.