Jacob Arabo, also known as Jacob the Jeweller, may have risen to fame for being the ‘King of Bling’, yet the world’s focus is no longer on his jewellery. Mid-June 2008, he was taken from his life of luxury, and thrown into a jail cell for violating drug laws and money laundering.
The outcome came after Arabo copped to charges that he lied to the feds and falsified records in a plea deal that will put the famed diamond-dealer on ice for nearly four years. Basically he pleaded guilty, agreeing to serve from thirty seven to forty six months behind bars as well as pay 2 million USD in penalties.
In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped more serious charges that he joined a money-laundering conspiracy to hide almost 270 million USD in dirty drug profits for the so-called ‘Black Mafia Family,’ a drug ring.
"I realize I have made a terrible mistake and I accept the consequences. America is the greatest country on earth and I have great regret that I violated the law," Arabo said.
Born Yacov Arabov, Arabo’s passion for jewellery began as a young boy growing up in Russia. “I have passion for jewellery because I grew up in a house with a mother that had a lot of jewellery,” he explained, “I always tried to fix it.”
After migrating to the United States at the age of just sixteen, he enrolled in a jewellery design course to develop his skills. But after a very short time, his instructors encouraged him to leave the course so he could further exploit his obvious gifts and ability.
Arabo was soon designing his unique pieces in New York’s famed Diamond District for a number of jewellery labels and private clients. And finally, in 1986, he opened his business and began designing products under his own brand, Jacob & Co.
The 1990s proved to be a decade of opulence for Arabo, as he became the go-to-guy for jewels throughout the music, entertainment, fashion and sports world, with the biggest names in the business becoming faithful clients of the ‘King of Bling,’ the name no-doubt having arisen due to his love of diamonds. Yet when asked why he only works with diamonds he was at a loss. “I love diamonds. I just love working with diamonds. Diamonds,” he blurts out rather passionately, “I just love working with diamonds. I love the way they look.”
Without a shadow of a doubt Jacob Arabo established himself thanks to the incredible number of hip-hop songs that reference him. “I think it helps because you’re automatically on TV all the time. I’m in 63 songs. So of course it helps my business to become more famous,” he explains. Without seeming a little pedantic, the Bespoke team could only source 46 songs, but amongst the roster were some eminent performers such as Kanye West, Jay-Z, R. Kelly and Wyclef Jean.
But hip-hop is not everything for Arabo and when asked who he would most like to see wearing a Jacob & Co. watch, his answer was an interesting one: “The president of America,” he declares, with no sign of hesitation. “Russian president Putin is wearing my watch,” he adds, when Vladimir Putin was still president of course.
Now moving on, Arabo’s guilty plea is not the only controversial topic in the news; his alleged link to the blood diamond trade is too. Let’s define the term ‘blood diamond’ first. It refers to dealings that take place in a war zone, where diamonds are usually sold to finance an insurgency. The blood or hot diamond trade is prevalent across Africa, where little children at the peak of their childhood are sent into mines to dig up the rocks. Most of these children end up suffering from terminal illnesses as a result of working in such atrocious conditions.
Arabo is without a doubt aware of the illegal trade, yet declined any involvement in such operations. “You get a certificate from the government when the diamonds exit the country, [but] it is impossible to even know. I’m sure there is a market for blood diamonds.” Nonetheless his statement wasn’t enough to let the controversy die down. In light of the blood diamond fume came the lyrics, “These ain’t conflict diamonds, is they Jacob? Don’t lie to me man,” from singer Kanye West’s song, ‘Diamonds are forever’.
But putting aside the jail sentence and illegal commerce, it was clear from the interview that nothing was going to stop Arabo from continuing to pave his path of success single-handedly. “Keep working hard,” and to “Wake up early in the morning and just think about the future. Think about where you’re going. Stay ahead of the game, stay ahead of the competition,” are apparently his ethos.
With that being said, it would be unjust not to credit Arabo for having changed the traditional saying that ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend’. That trend has evolved, as a growing number of men nowadays, are seen adorning their wrists and necks with the most ostentatious laser-cut diamonds. “Men would not wear jewellery, they wouldn’t even wear diamond cufflinks,” Arabo affirms, however, “More men today wear diamond watches than ever before. I think it has something to do with me,” he discloses with not even the slightest hint of modesty in his voice.
But of course, to own a Jacob & Co. piece, whether watch or customised necklace, means paying a high price. The most extravagant of projects he owns up, “cost almost the same thing as a Rolls Royce.”
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