Car-inspired accessories

Laranzo Dacres, Sunday Gleaner Writer

ARE YOU so proud of your vehicle to have jewellery made of the brand? Well, you might not, but Delroy 'Rambo' Wright, a road manager at Headline Entertainment, does.

Wright drives a 2004 Toyota Wish, but seems to be dreaming of driving a Benz, BMW or Jaguar, as on three fingers on one hand he has custom-made, 10-carat gold rings, each featuring the logo of each brand. And at first meeting, you cannot help but notice them.

"Mi used to wear ring pon every finga all di while 'cause mi love ring," Wright said. "Wid di car sign dem now, mi just did love how dem did look at the time when dem come out. And one day in downtown Toronto, mi si a jewellery store weh offer custom-made ring. Mi ask if dem can mek a ring wid a BMW sign pon it an dem seh yes," he recalled. Wright said that was where he got the BMW and Jaguar rings made.

"Dat was more dan 10 years ago an mi pay di jeweller about US$150 fi one.''

The Mercedes-Benz ring he, however, bought in New York, for around the same price.

"All a dem a 10-carat gold, dat a one a di preferred gold type. It's a lot tougher and can endure wear and tear for a long time." Wright disclosed that he personally preferred Honda and Toyota vehicles, but it was the look of the Benz, Jaguar and BMW logos that caught his eyes.

"Mi like Honda cuz dem have a name weh dem maintain. All when a Honda ol' dem hot, Toyota parts dem easy fi get. But, mi just like how di other car ring dem look," Wright stated.

MOST POPULAR LOGO

Here in Jamaica, the most common gold car logo ring to be seen, even though rarely, is that of the Mercedes Benz. And Alanzah Smith, a jeweller for over 25 years, reinforced this fact. Smith said that the customers who have ordered rings with vehicle brands in the past have only requested ones with the Benz logo.

"In Jamaica, di Benz ring a di one weh most man guh fah. Rarely you see dem ask for a pendant," Smith said. "Benz is a bigga car, even to BMW, as it more luxurious an deh bout long time, so mi tink dats why a dem ring deh mi get job fi mek mostly dem time deh."

Smith said that one of his friends loved his Infiniti so much that he ordered a custom-made ring with the emblem of the vehicle.

"Yea man, him love da car deh suh till him get a ring to show it."

Tropical Jewellers in Tropical Plaza has within one of its showcases two Mercedes Benz gold key rings that could easily be mistaken for earrings.

"I guess Benz are just more luxurious and classy," Veronica Taylor, the store's supervisor, told Automotives. "The customers who show interest in the key rings seem to be Benz owners or lovers," she said. "But those items don't go fast. I think it is because if the customer changes to another car, they would probably wish to have a key ring with the emblem of the current car."

Both key rings on display were 14-carat gold. One has diamonds and cost $109,000, while the one without diamonds is priced at $29,000. Taylor said the store does not carry jewellery with any other car emblem.

Automotives has learnt that two other forms of jewellery that are inspired by the automobile world and are growing in popularity are motorcycle chain bracelets and ignition key earrings.