The worlds of hip-hop and reggae have been intertwined in style and sound since the two genres’ origins, especially their shared love of flashy jewelry. For many years, large, ornate jewelry has been a symbol of the elite of these two musically similar cultures, representing a display of wealth and a symbol of defiance, a bold assertion of hard-won success and status.
Parallel to this trend, the current generation of Mexican music has also incorporated hip-hop aesthetics into a contemporary renaissance. However, some of the most successful artists have opted for more sophisticated options.
Known for its stylish metal and gemstone designs inspired by nature such as the four-leaf clover, Van Cleef & Arpels has become a favorite among many Corridos tumbados stars. The subtle opulence of these pieces has become emblematic of the genre – whether flaunted in costumes in music videos or celebrated lyrically in song.
This was evident in 2023 when Peso Pluma was spotted wearing a Van Cleef chain in the music video “La Bebé – Remix” with 1 billion views, alongside Yng Lvcas. The trend was highlighted again in June when Natanael Cano wore the chic chain in the video for his “Vino Tinto” collaboration with Peso Pluma and Gabito Ballesteros.
In a recent interview, Oscar Maydon arrived advertising billboard Wearing a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet in the New York office commented: “It’s a fashion. They are very beautiful, very practical and versatile. People like them, they are very young and all the children adapt to them very well. It’s The Mexicali artist, whose hit “Tu Boda” with Fuerza Regida has spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, also spoke to us about an unreleased Corrido that references the French brand.
There is more. Last September, for example, Interscope artist El Padrinito Toys released a romantic-turned-ominous sierreño simply titled “Van Cleef,” further elucidating the brand’s appeal: “Without you, my heart wouldn’t beat/You’re like a nightmare, the truth is, I’ve bought you yellow Van Cleef & Arpels/Your chair is waiting for you, I’m well pulled, behind Here comes the police“(Without you, my heart wouldn’t beat/You’re like a nightmare, I’ve bought you a yellow Van Cleef & Arpels/Your chair is waiting for you, I’m riding hard, the police are coming ).
Others express the spirit of their friendship by gifting such jewelry. For example, one source revealed that Damrey Castro, the leader of Los Dareyes de la Sierra, gave away Van Cleef & Arpels products to colleagues spanish advertising billboard.
when spanish advertising billboard We reached out to representatives of Van Cleef & Arpels for comment, and they said: “Regarding the use of Van Cleef & Arpels pieces by Mexican artists, I would like to confirm that we do not currently lend to celebrities; so this phenomenon is completely organic.
The integration of Van Cleef & Arpels with Mexican music culture is eye-catching, and its influence has also spread to other areas of Latin music. Myke Towers included “Van Cleef,” a collaboration with Pirlo, on his latest album, and AMF collaborated with Victor Mendivil on “Exoticón (Van Cleef),” demonstrating the brand’s deep cultural resonance.
In her book “2023” Fashion Killa: How hip-hop revolutionized high fashionIn Sowmya Krishnamurthy, Sowmya Krishnamurthy delves into the intersection between hip-hop and fashion, and the deeply symbiotic relationship between them. She highlights how the DIY ethos of hip-hop artists and their communities has gradually influenced luxury fashion houses.
Because of the way Latin music artists wear Van Cleef, their chains feel more like an integral part of their musical and cultural identity than a simple accessory.
