A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie Shows Off His Crazy Jewelry Collection

This week, GQ continued its On the Rocks series with A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. He was the next up to show off his chains and other bling-bling jewelry. In this On The Rocks video, A Boogie gives us a full tour of his Yankee Stadium chain, tells us how he made his own customizations for his Yankee piece and his other "bustdowns." Boogie also tells us where his name comes from.

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie's jewelry style: what characterizes it

A Boogie's appearance in the On the Rocks series highlights a very New York logic: the custom piece. He explains himself that he had some of his pieces reworked, and it is this act—taking an existing piece of jewelry and transforming it—that gives his entire collection its character.

The word "bustdown" he uses refers to a specific practice in hip-hop style: a piece entirely covered in stones, including on surfaces that didn't originally feature them. This is the vocabulary par excellence for iced-out watches, but also for bracelets and clasps.

Second marker: the attachment to one's territory. A piece that evokes a team or a place acts as a coat of arms. This type of pendant is always designed with generous volume, because a complex pattern that is illegible from three meters away completely misses its target.

Third marker: the wrist. In this aesthetic, the watch is not an instrument but a piece of jewelry in its own right, and it dialogues with the bracelet worn next to it or on the other hand. This is the technical subject we detail below.

How to achieve this look

The difficulty with this style is that the wrist and the neck compete for attention. The right method consists of deciding which of the two takes the lead, then adjusting the other to take a backseat.

If the watch leads, the chain should be thinner and the pendant more compact. If the chest leads, the watch remains iced out but on a more modest case, and the bracelet settles for a simple metallic accent.

• One wrist, one role: the watch on one side, the bracelet on the other. Stacking them on the same wrist hinders movement and scratches the case.
• Same metal tone between watch and bracelet, otherwise the set looks accidental.
• Case diameter proportional to the wrist: beyond 44 mm on a thin wrist, the watch overlaps and tips over.
• A legible dial: if the time cannot be read at a glance, the setting has gone too far.
• Sleeves: the watch should slide under the sleeve without forcing, otherwise it gets damaged with every movement.

A final word on customization, which is very present in this style: having a piece reworked requires a craftsman who can work the original metal without weakening it. On a watch, any intervention on the case has consequences for its water resistance.

The iced-out watch: dial readability, bracelet, and balance with the rest

Here is the technical module of this article. An iced-out watch follows different rules than a classic watch, because it must remain legible while being covered in stones.

Dial readability. The primary enemy of an iced-out watch is a lack of contrast. When the indices, hands, and background all shine at the same level, the time becomes impossible to read. Successful models maintain a sharp contrast: dark hands on a light background, or indices clearly detached from the pavé.

Case diameter. It is chosen according to wrist circumference. Below 16 cm, a 38 to 41 mm case remains harmonious. Between 17 and 19 cm, you can go up to 42 or 44 mm. Beyond that, larger cases are possible, but the weight increases quickly.

The bracelet. On an iced-out watch, the bracelet often carries part of the setting. Above all, it must be adjusted: a bracelet that is too long causes the case to rotate to the side of the wrist, which exposes the bezel to shocks and ruins the intended effect. Links should be removed until the watch can only slide one or two centimeters.

Balance with the rest. This is the golden rule: an iced-out watch is already a bold piece. It pairs well with a thin and luminous chain, less well with a very wide chain that puts it in direct competition.

One final maintenance tip: never rinse an iced-out watch under running water. Clean it with a slightly damp microfiber cloth, dry it immediately, and avoid any products containing alcohol on the stone-set areas.

Emir ICE pieces in this spirit

Two iced-out watches, a thin chain to accompany them without stealing the spotlight, and a rigid bracelet for the opposite wrist.

EMIR RED WATCH YELLOW GOLD EMIR RED WATCH WHITE GOLD VVS1 Lab Diamond Tennis Chain 4mm White Gold GOLD-PLATED NAIL BRACELET

Three mistakes to avoid with an iced-out watch

• An unadjusted bracelet. This is the most frequent and most visible mistake. A watch that spins around the wrist immediately gives the impression of a borrowed piece.
• Sacrificing readability. An entirely pavé dial without contrast becomes a mirror. You lose the function, and the eye has nowhere to rest.
• Wearing it with a chain that is too wide. Two massive pieces thirty centimeters apart cancel each other out. A thin chain showcases the watch much better.

To learn more

To place the watch within the context of a collection—including chains, pendants, grillz, and glasses—our complete guide to American rapper jewelry is the starting point to read before any purchase.

Read next: how to choose the perfect watch, the custom name necklace, the other path for bespoke pieces, and what gold-plated really is.

In terms of our catalog, two complementary sections: diamond watches and diamond bracelets. And on this blog, the collection presented by jeweler Eliantte.

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