Although rarer, emerald-cut diamonds are less expensive than round or princess-cut diamonds; the same cannot be said for Quavo's new emerald-cut grillz.
The Migos rapper revealed his new grillz which, according to their maker Johnny Dang, carries a price tag of a quarter of a million dollars. The legendary jeweler to hip-hop artists and celebrities delivered the grillz to Quavo's home in Florida himself. He didn't fail to mention that his latest creation is the first of its kind in the world. He jokingly added, "I know you can't afford this, it costs more than my house!"
Looking at his brand-new 16-piece grillz, the Atlanta rapper described the complex cuts as looking like church windows. Johnny was proud to add that they are more complicated than baguettes.
In December of last year, Quavo showed off an impressive 18-karat white gold, 8-on-8 grillz set with invisible baguette diamonds, custom-made for him by The King of Bling, of course, which also cost $250,000. A trivial sum considering the man owns a sneaker collection worth over $3 million.
With the very first emerald-cut diamond grillz, Quavo and Johnny Dang are not just icons, but also certified pioneers in the grillz industry.
Why an emerald cut changes everything on a grillz
The grillz described here relies on an unusual technical choice: the emerald cut. A rectangular cut with truncated corners, featuring long, parallel, step-cut facets.
This is not just an aesthetic detail. In a brilliant cut, light emerges as a multitude of small sparkles; in an emerald cut, it emerges in large reflective planes, like window panes.
The comparison the rapper makes to church windows perfectly describes this optical phenomenon. It is also why this cut is less forgiving: the slightest internal flaw can be seen through these large planes.
On dental jewelry, the challenge is twofold. You have to align these rectangles on a curved surface, tooth by tooth, without creating any visible misalignment.
How a grillz of this caliber is made
Custom dental jewelry follows a precise sequence, and each step determines the next.
Taking the impression exactly reproduces the dental arch. This is the foundation: an imprecise impression results in a piece that will never fit properly.
The plaster or resin model serves as a support to form the metal structure, tooth by tooth.
Shaping adjusts the thickness: enough material to house the stones, but thin enough not to interfere with closing the mouth.
Setting takes up most of the time on a pavé piece. Each housing is opened to the exact diameter of its stone.
Polishing and fitting finish the operation, with the necessary adjustments so the piece can be removed without force.
The number of teeth covered—6, 8, 10, 16—mechanically multiplies the labor time, far more than the budget for the stones themselves.
The technical module: the lab-grown diamond
A lab-grown diamond is a diamond, in the strict sense. Same composition—crystallized carbon—same hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale, and same optical properties as its mined counterpart.
Only its origin differs. Two processes dominate. HPHT replicates the high-pressure, high-temperature conditions of the Earth's mantle. CVD grows the crystal layer by layer from a carbon gas, onto a thin starter wafer.
A gemologist can distinguish the two origins in a lab, thanks to growth markers invisible to the naked eye. No home test or pocket tester can tell the difference: both react like diamonds because that is what they are.
For use in items like grillz or pieces worn daily, this maximum hardness is a real benefit. A diamond, regardless of its origin, can only be scratched by another diamond.
Criteria
Lab-grown diamond
Natural diamond
Composition
Crystallized carbon
Crystallized carbon
Mohs hardness
10
10
Origin
HPHT or CVD
Mining
Identification
Specialized laboratory
Specialized laboratory
Emerald cut, baguette, brilliant: what sets them apart
The three cuts most commonly encountered on hip-hop pieces do not produce the same effect at all.
The round brilliant concentrates maximum sparkle. Its fifty-seven facets reflect light in every direction, which creates the classic glittering effect.
The baguette is a rectangle with long facets, more understated, designed to form continuous lines. It serves as a border, rarely as a center stone.
The emerald cut combines the rectangular format with wider steps and truncated corners. It creates large, slow flashes of light and a much more graphic look.
On a finished piece, the choice of cut therefore determines the look much more than just the quantity of stones.
Maintaining dental jewelry
A grillz is a removable piece of jewelry, and that is what makes its maintenance both simple and non-negotiable.
It must be removed for eating and sleeping. A piece worn during a meal traps residue between the metal and the enamel, which is exactly what should be avoided.
Cleaning should be done after each wear, using lukewarm water and a soft brush, without abrasive toothpaste or whitening products. Then, dry the piece completely before storing it in its case.
In case of discomfort, pressure on a tooth, or gum irritation, stop wearing it and have the fit checked. Dental jewelry should never be forced.
Our top product picks in this spirit
Four pieces from the shop in the world of grillz and Migos.
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