DJ Mustard has a truly impressive collection of American jewelry, but watches are what he really loves. From his $120,000 Audemars Piguet Skeleton watch to his $70,000 University of Michigan "M" piece, Mustard shows off all his jewelry.
This week, Mustard appears in GQ's On The Rocks series. "I just got it," says DJ Mustard, pointing to his new Apple watch. Mustard is trying to keep up with the times. First, Mustard shows off his presidential Rolex with baguette diamonds; Mustard got this piece thanks to his song "Baguettes In The Face." Next, he shows us another Rolex, with a black face, which he wears every day. One of Mustard's best pieces is his gold pendant in the shape of a Heinz mustard bottle, covered in VVS diamonds. Mustard then shows us a series of chains and some flashy rings.
DJ Mustard makes it clear: it's watches he truly loves. The rest of his collection—pendants, chains, rings—complements, rather than dominates.
This hierarchy changes everything in how you put an outfit together. When the watch is the main piece, the chest remains understated and the wrist focuses the attention.
We also see in his style a taste for the narrative pendant: a piece that tells a story rather than a generic motif. The diamond-covered mustard bottle is the perfect example.
And one constant: the shine. This is where a stone that changed the game for accessible hip-hop jewelry comes in—moissanite.
Making the watch the centerpiece requires organizing the rest around it.
The most visible mistake: wearing a highly iced-out watch with a highly iced-out chain. The two neutralize each other and the whole look seems confused.
Moissanite is silicon carbide. It exists in nature in an extremely rare form, in certain meteorites, and it is the lab-created versions that fuel the jewelry industry.
Its optical specialty is its refractive index, which is higher than that of a diamond. Practically speaking, it disperses more light into colors: this is what is called fire, those rainbow flashes that are very visible in motion.
In terms of hardness, it sits around 9.25 on the Mohs scale, just behind diamond at 10. It therefore scratches most everyday materials and is very resistant to permanent wear.
Its density is lower than that of diamond: at the same size, a moissanite weighs less. This is actually why it is sold by the millimeter and not by the carat.
| Criteria | Moissanite | Diamond |
|---|---|---|
| Mohs Hardness | 9.25 | 10 |
| Fire (dispersion) | Very high | Moderate |
| Selling unit | Millimeter | Carat |
| Effect in motion | Colored flashes | White flashes |
Confusion is common, and yet the two stones have nothing in common in terms of durability over time.
Cubic zirconia sits around 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale. It sparkles beautifully at first, but its surface state becomes dull with micro-scratches from daily wear: after a few years, the sparkle fades.
Moissanite, being harder, maintains its polish much longer. This is the reason why it has become the standard for pieces intended to be worn every day.
A visual marker: moissanite returns very pronounced colored flashes in motion, whereas zirconia gives a whiter and more uniform sparkle.
Moissanite does not require extraordinary precautions, but it gets dirty like all transparent stones.
The oily film that accumulates under the stone is the main culprit for the loss of sparkle. It blocks light before it enters the gem, and the effect is immediate.
A bath of lukewarm soapy water, gentle brushing, and rinsing are enough to restore its original fire. Then dry completely, especially under the prongs where water can stagnate.
Avoid chlorinated products and abrasive cleaners. It is not the stone that suffers, but the setting and the plating surrounding it.
DJ Mustard's mustard bottle pendant illustrates a major trend in hip-hop jewelry: the piece that functions as a personal signature rather than a universal symbol.
This type of jewelry obeys a reading constraint. A shape recognizable in a second works; a shape that requires an explanation fails, regardless of the care taken in the setting.
Technically, a figurative pendant is designed in 3D before being set. The relief areas determine where light will bounce, and therefore where to place the stones.
The workshop rule is simple: the outline must remain legible even in black silhouette. If the subject cannot be recognized against the light, the design must be simplified before manufacturing.
Four pieces from the store to bet on the fire of moissanite.
Yes, it is a gemstone in its own right, with its own chemical composition and optical properties. It does not imitate diamond; it has its own signature.
No. With a hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale, it resists daily wear very well.
Because its density differs from that of diamond: at the same visual size, the weight in carats would not be comparable. The millimeter is the honest measurement.
Moissanite, without hesitation. It keeps its polish for years, whereas zirconia dulls over time.
The stone is fine, but the setting and plating are not. It is better to remove the piece, as with any plated jewelry.
Every piece of the hip-hop wardrobe is reviewed in our dossier: American rapper jewelry: necklace, chain, glasses, watch, grillz, pendant.
Discover our moissanite diamond jewelry and our diamond watches.
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