Cardi B and Kerby Jean-Raymond Jewelry Looks

Instagram’s Outfit of the Day is all well and good — but what about those of us craving something a little… shinier? Meet Drip of the Day: Your one-stop guide to the best celebrity jewelry looks of all time.

This week, we bring you Cardi B — who needs no introduction—but we’ll indulge you: The Bronx-born rapper shot to fame as the compulsively quotable cast member in Love & Hip Hop: New York and became a household name in 2017 when “Bodak Yellow” became literally inescapable. And we also bring you a man who’s more or less her polar opposite: Kerby Jean-Raymond, the designer and general creative force behind Pyer Moss, the cult-favorite fashion label with an unapologetically activist bent.

The two could not be more different, but each one perfectly embodies their very different style philosophies: Cardi B is all brash and flash — big designers, big money, and even bigger diamonds—while Kerby is the low-key creative genius who brings a cerebral cool to his everyday jewels.

Ahead, we pay tribute to Cardi’s fearless opulence and Kerby’s subtle swagger.

Came Through Dripping at the 2020 Grammy Awards

If you need proof of Cardi’s opulence, how’s wearing $5.5 million worth of diamonds for a start? At the Grammys, Cardi accessorized her custom Thierry Mugler gown with jewels that were equally bespoke and even more luxurious.

Cardi’s custom diamond collar necklace by Italian jeweler Gismondi 1754 featured multiple strands of stunning white diamonds totaling 310 carats and $5 million. Compared to that, her stack of iced-out Dena Kemp bracelets almost seems like a bargain at a mere half-million. Sadly, she didn’t scoop an award for “Clout,” her collaboration with Offset, but this Cardi B diamond look still shined brighter than any trophy.

Belle of the 2019 Diamond Ball

At Rihanna’s Diamond Ball, Cardi brought all the princess vibes in her demure, tiered blush gown, romantic updo, and classic diamond jewelry. Cardi B wore a stack of diamond bracelets and chandelier diamond earrings featuring clusters of diamond briolettes by A-list bespoke diamond jeweler Lorraine Schwartz. But maybe the most Cardi touch of all was the one that showed the punk spirit behind the princess — her relatively petite diamond nose stud.

I Dream of Cardi at the 2019 Billboard Music Award

At the 2019 BMAs, Cardi scooped six awards and did three outfit changes, but this yellow two-piece gown by Moschino was closest to our hearts. We also couldn’t look away from her delicate, layered diamond hoop earrings by Loree Rodkin, the jewelry couturière who also makes pieces for Miley Cyrus and Rihanna. The diamond earrings are valued at over $26,000, but the most important diamond there was this Cardi B engagement ring that features a teardrop-shaped diamond Offset had given her when he proposed — where else? — at a Migos concert in 2017. The massive 8-carat sparkler is famously worth a half-million dollars, and Offset called it his favorite piece of jewelry ever, which is not bad for a man who owns $3 million worth of diamonds.

Stay Gold at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscars Party

Kerby Jean-Raymond’s style may be relatively chill by Cardi’s standards, but pay close attention and you’ll see that diamond jewelry is an important throughline in his work. After all, one of Pyer Moss’s recent collections was inspired by Kerby’s memories of his own Haitian-immigrant father’s particular brand of ‘80s swag, including “the excessive amount of jewelry he wore.” Pyer Moss runway shows are famously soundtracked by a live gospel choir that Kerby named “The Tabernacle Drip Choir.” In fact, preshow music has even been known to include Cardi B’s hit “Money.”

Kerby’s look at the Vanity Fair Oscars party exemplifies his artful take on these symbols of success: He accessorized his custom Bode suit with a selection of delicate gold-and-white-diamond necklaces by iconic luxury jewelers Tiffany & Co. and David Yurman, plus custom, diamond nameplate necklaces and a diamond dog tag necklace by Johnny Nelson and John Hardy jewelry.

Subtle Swag at the 2019 FN Achievement Awards

At the 2019 FN Achievement Awards, Kerby accessorized his Pyer Moss suit with a lower-key take on his usual chain stack. This one pairs his John Hardy necklaces with a customized diamond Cuban link ring and, most impressive of all, a giant white-and-yellow diamond ring by bespoke diamond jeweler Shelley & Co.

Gucci Man at the 2020 Roc Nation Brunch

At a pre-Grammys event, Kerby Jean-Raymond made a very ‘70s statement in his kelly green suit, cocoa turtleneck, and a selection of distinct retro jewelry including yellow gold and diamond jewelry pieces. In addition to his go-to set of chains, Kerby added custom diamond stud earrings by bespoke jeweler Shelley & Co., featuring one sparkling center square cut diamond stone surrounded by smaller diamond studs. Similar pieces by the designer start at $20,000, making these a very chic upgrade to a vintage vibe.