The aptly named Bandana Royale is inspired by the designer scarves that he famously wears
Kwon Ji-yong, a.k.a. G-Dragon, has taken his signature scarf styling to dazzling new heights.
The K-pop superstar has moved from designer silk to diamonds, creating a bespoke bandana-inspired necklace with Jacob & Co. The custom collar has the same silhouette as the Chanel scarves G-Dragon dutifully drapes around his neck, but showcases a hefty 559.3 grams of 18-karat yellow gold and 209.7 carats of precious stones.
“G-Dragon has always embodied fearless creativity,” Jacob & Co. CEO Benjamin Arabov said in a statement. “This one-of-one creation reflects his world, which is bold, expressive, and constantly evolving.”
Measuring 16.5 inches, the aptly named Bandana Royale is fully pavé-set with 94.3 carats of white diamonds (2,061 stones) and 44.8 carats of canary yellow diamonds (857 stones). It is also adorned with 54.6 carats of large colored gems and 10.6 carats of small colored gems. The vibrant rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and tourmalines reflect G-Dragon’s eclectic aesthetic, according to Jacob & Co. At the center lies a jeweled version of his famous daisy motif, or “G-Daisy,” with a 5.4-carat brilliant-cut fancy yellow diamond surrounded by diamond-encrusted “petals.” The G-Daisy always has one missing petal, symbolising the beauty of imperfection.
G-Dragon wore the blingy bandana on stage in South Korea twice in late December—once at the final encore concert of his world tour, and again at the Melon Music Awards—adding even more sparkle to some already very flashy ensembles. He is, of course, known for pushing the style envelope—remember that Vivienne Westwood suit in the “Crooked” music video?—which has put him on the radar of big-name brands. He became Chanel’s first Asian global ambassador in 2016. He has also worked with Comme des Garçons and Nike in the past.
He has collaborated with Jacob & Co. before, as well. Last year, the duo designed a one-of-a-kind Astronomia timepiece worth US$1 million, along with a Peaceminusone jewellery collection centred around the G-Daisy. (Peaceminusone is the Korean fashion line that G-Dragon founded with his stylist Gee Eun in 2016.) The latter is still for sale on the Jacob & Co. website, with prices ranging from US$1,800 to US$18,000. The bandana will sadly not be available for purchase, as G-Dragon is the proud owner of the only one.
This story was first published on Robb Report USA. Featured photo by Jacob & Co.
