The stainless steel Patek Philippe “Calatrava” watch from the 1930s sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent Hansons Cornwall auction.
Frank Ocean Launches Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry Line, Opens Store
“Homer” is a meditation on permanence and the idea of leaving a legacy.

The old is a reverence for the brick-and-mortar experience. The line, called Homer, has launched without e-commerce.
It is available exclusively at its store in downtown Manhattan at 70-74 Bowery, opened Aug. 9.
Located in Chinatown at Canal Street, it’s in the vicinity of the neighborhood’s jewelry haunts that deliver the basics, such as gold chains and diamond pavé pendants.
Those who can’t make it into the store to shop in person can call to place an order; global shipping is free.
Homer announced its debut with a free limited-edition printed catalog that quickly ran out, with the cover shot by Ocean himself, and the artfully arranged campaign imagery by frequent collaborator Tyrone Lebon.
The new is Homer’s eschewing of natural diamonds for lab-grown diamonds manufactured at a “state- of-the-art lab” in the United States.
Designed in New York City, Homer is manufactured by hand in Italy in 18-karat gold, recycled sterling silver, vivid hand-painted enamel, and the aforementioned lab-grown diamonds.
In a statement, the brand cited its inspirations as “childhood obsessions” and “heritage as a fantasy.”
Rainbow shades of enamel adorn cartoon-like figures that bring to mind Japanese anime. One motif is a riff on a toy jack.
There are also more stylistically subdued, but technically impressive, gold and silver bracelets with specially crafted twisted links.
Ocean is a notoriously elusive interviewee but spoke about Homer to the Financial Times in his first interview in two years. He elaborated on his inspirations to the publication, citing his need to establish a tangible legacy.
The name Homer is an allusion to the Greek poet and author of “The Odyssey” and “Iliad.”
“Homer is considered the father of history and history is meant to endure—the same as diamonds and gold—and I know Homer used papyrus, but I’ve always liked the idea of carving history into stone,” Ocean told FT.
This desire, he said, is the result of being able to trace his personal lineage to the early 1700s slave trade. Ocean’s legal last name, Breaux, was a name the French commonly gave to slaves.
Homer is Ocean’s way of naming himself. The work asserts his autonomy, his ability to craft his own narrative.
Per FT, Homer has been in the works for about three years, but really began to develop in 2019, when the musician hosted 20 creator friends in a variety of design-focused fields—architects, carpenters, metalworkers and horticulturists—in a secluded, empty house outside of Los Angeles.
Some of the works they crafted, like tables, chairs and lighting, became the basis of the Homer jewelry designs and, though not for sale, can be seen in the catalog.
Working with resin at this unofficial creative summit also inspired the use of the material in the Bowery Street store and Homer’s packaging.
Ocean is known for being a disruptor in the music industry.
Getting out of a contract with his old label Def Jam, he released the album “Endless” under the imprint in 2016 then released a secret album, the critically acclaimed “Blonde,” the following day.
He seems to be bringing the same rebellious attitude to Homer, which at press time, boasts 145,000 Instagram followers and, yet, zero posts.
Homer’s first collection comprises 25 pieces and is priced from $395 to $1.9 million.
The Latest

Engagement rings are important but don’t ignore the customers who are buying jewelry “just because,” Emmanuel Raheb writes.

Former Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli has been named president of Kering Italia amid a shakeup of Kering's new Jewelry division.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

The veteran luxury packaging executive was appointed to help the company grow its North American business.


Once the property of an Egyptian queen, the necklace was part of a larger exhibition of VCA jewelry at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).

The labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

“Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective” at the Oshkosh Public Museum will feature works by Fabergé, Lalique, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

The former De Beers CEO, and perhaps its next owner, will be a featured speaker at the event, slated for Sept. 4-7 in Italy.

The employee-owned jeweler was named a “Best Place to Work” in Maine, New Hampshire, and for women.

The second iteration of the jewelry collection was inspired by the zodiac and the four elements: earth, water, air and fire.

General License 104B supersedes General License 104A, which was set to expire on Sept. 1.

The package, intercepted in Indianapolis, contained fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry.

The new location in Costa Mesa, California, marks the brand’s second store in the United States and fourth standalone location worldwide.

The fashion watch category was once threatened by the Apple Watch, but consumers are now opting for new wearables, said Movado’s CEO.

The report delves into trending styles, the most popular jewelry brands by city, and why Belle Époque jewelry could be the next big thing.

The association added the requirement to its revised "Code of Ethics" and released the 17th edition of its “Gemstone Information Manual.”

Respondents were concerned about the future of the labor market and their income as well as the rising prices of gas and groceries.

The campaign highlights the asymmetrical high jewelry necklace style that the jeweler first created in 1879.

It will explore the life of “The King of Diamonds” and showcase more than 165 creations from the brand.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the complex phone scam.

In her first column for National Jeweler, Jennifer Shaheen asks jewelers if they know how to connect with the next generation of consumers.

The annual awards cover tuition for an on-site educational course at the Swiss lab, as well as flights and lodging.

The jeweler partnered with the Tennessee resort to honor its 50th anniversary with limited-edition blackberry pendants and earrings.

The third-generation jeweler shared how the North Carolina retailer is celebrating this milestone and the love story that started it all.

The class, led by renowned metalsmith Cynthia Eid, highlighted Argentium silver as an alternative to gold amid high prices.























