CrimeAug 06, 2021
Customs Seizes $5.6M in Counterfeit Jewelry, WatchesWatchesSep 21, 2021
Big Lessons From the Lil Baby Watch Debacle
Gabriel Jacobs of Rafaello & Co. shares what he took away from a high-profile mistake.
Rafaello & Co. is known for selling diamond-heavy jewelry and flashy watches to celebrities. But one recent sale of a luxury watch that turned out to be a fake has damaged the jeweler's reputation. (Image courtesy of Rafaello & Co.’s Facebook page)
New York—If you can think of a rap or hip-hop star, it’s likely they’ve worn jewelry from Rafaello & Co.
From Jay-Z and Rick Ross to DJ Khaled and Swizz Beatz, the New York-based company, located in the heart of the Diamond District, is a jeweler to the stars.
However, the company garnered some negative headlines recently when one of its celebrity clientele, Atlanta-based rapper Lil Baby, took to Instagram to call the company out for selling him a fake Patek Philippe watch for $400,000.
After Lil Baby (given name Dominique Armani Jones) shared his new purchase on Instagram, an eagle-eyed watch connoisseur noticed some inconsistencies with the timepiece, posting a side-by-side comparison to show the rapper what a genuine Patek Philippe 40th Anniversary Nautilus should look like.
From Jay-Z and Rick Ross to DJ Khaled and Swizz Beatz, the New York-based company, located in the heart of the Diamond District, is a jeweler to the stars.
However, the company garnered some negative headlines recently when one of its celebrity clientele, Atlanta-based rapper Lil Baby, took to Instagram to call the company out for selling him a fake Patek Philippe watch for $400,000.
After Lil Baby (given name Dominique Armani Jones) shared his new purchase on Instagram, an eagle-eyed watch connoisseur noticed some inconsistencies with the timepiece, posting a side-by-side comparison to show the rapper what a genuine Patek Philippe 40th Anniversary Nautilus should look like.
The watch turned out to indeed be a fake, which led to a public apology from Rafaello and a full refund from the jeweler.
On Monday, National Jeweler spoke to Gabriel Jacobs, the owner of Rafaello & Co, to learn more about what happened.
The fallout from the sale was any jeweler’s worst nightmare, as direct messages poured in on Instagram accusing the company of being a fraud and selling fakes.
Jacobs said he does the processing of watches and jewelry, meaning he inspects them for authenticity himself.
After the sale, he also showed the watch to a few other dealers in the Diamond District and it turned out to be a very good fake, escaping the notice of those with lifetimes of experience.
“The movement was good,” said Jacobs, while noting that certain pieces were off upon closer inspection.
He takes full responsibility for the mistake and said he intends to have a stricter screening process in place going forward.
“I should’ve had a watch expert on site to do these things,” Jacobs said.
He advised other jewelers selling secondhand goods do the same. They should consult experts to be absolutely sure of a piece’s authenticity so they can avoid the situation he finds himself in now.
The cost to his business’ reputation has been considerable and he said he would’ve never knowingly sold a counterfeit watch.
On Monday, National Jeweler spoke to Gabriel Jacobs, the owner of Rafaello & Co, to learn more about what happened.
The fallout from the sale was any jeweler’s worst nightmare, as direct messages poured in on Instagram accusing the company of being a fraud and selling fakes.
Jacobs said he does the processing of watches and jewelry, meaning he inspects them for authenticity himself.
After the sale, he also showed the watch to a few other dealers in the Diamond District and it turned out to be a very good fake, escaping the notice of those with lifetimes of experience.
“The movement was good,” said Jacobs, while noting that certain pieces were off upon closer inspection.
He takes full responsibility for the mistake and said he intends to have a stricter screening process in place going forward.
“I should’ve had a watch expert on site to do these things,” Jacobs said.
He advised other jewelers selling secondhand goods do the same. They should consult experts to be absolutely sure of a piece’s authenticity so they can avoid the situation he finds himself in now.
The cost to his business’ reputation has been considerable and he said he would’ve never knowingly sold a counterfeit watch.
Lil Baby was a newer customer, said Jacobs, first stopping by in November 2019 to buy a Rolex.
The relationship between the two was off to a strong start, as seen in the above Instagram post from November 2019.
Jacobs loaned the rapper $3 million in jewels for the recent Met Gala, he said, including chains, a cross, a pinky ring, and a bracelet.
The watch in question was purchased via trade-ins, including jewelry and two watches from another jeweler.
The rapper was refunded in full for the fake Patek and was gifted rings valued at $50,000 to $55,000 that were being designed for him already as a token of the jeweler’s apology.
The jeweler posted a public apology on Instagram, but then took it down after friends advised Jacobs, to avoid going back and forth with the rapper, who made comments indicating he was still upset about the incident, publicly.
“He’s a good kid and he has a good head on his shoulders,” said Jacobs of the 26-year-old musician.
“I want him to accept my apology,” he said, adding that he did his best to do right by his customer once the mistake was realized.
Related stories will be right here …
The relationship between the two was off to a strong start, as seen in the above Instagram post from November 2019.
Jacobs loaned the rapper $3 million in jewels for the recent Met Gala, he said, including chains, a cross, a pinky ring, and a bracelet.
The watch in question was purchased via trade-ins, including jewelry and two watches from another jeweler.
The rapper was refunded in full for the fake Patek and was gifted rings valued at $50,000 to $55,000 that were being designed for him already as a token of the jeweler’s apology.
The jeweler posted a public apology on Instagram, but then took it down after friends advised Jacobs, to avoid going back and forth with the rapper, who made comments indicating he was still upset about the incident, publicly.
“He’s a good kid and he has a good head on his shoulders,” said Jacobs of the 26-year-old musician.
“I want him to accept my apology,” he said, adding that he did his best to do right by his customer once the mistake was realized.
More on Watches
The Latest
Recorded WebinarsJun 24, 2022
Vegas Jewelry Recap: The Editors Weigh InWatch the webinar in which National Jeweler’s editors talk about jewelry market week trends and their predictions for the rest of 2022.
MajorsJun 24, 2022
Banter by Piercing Pagoda Celebrates Pride with ‘SayGay’ NecklaceAll proceeds up to $25,000 will benefit the It Gets Better Project, a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ youth.
Brought to you by
Discover The Extraordinary Italian Jewelry In Las Vegas!Experience all the Italian Jewelry market has to offer in Las Vegas.
CollectionsJun 24, 2022
Piece of the Week: Marie Lichtenberg’s Hidden Message LocketIt’s a reminder that life is best lived with discretion.
Weekly QuizJun 23, 2022
This Week’s QuizTest your knowledge of the latest jewelry news with this quick test.
TechnologyJun 24, 2022
Cloud-Based POS Software Jewel360 Launches for Jewelry RetailersThe end-to-end software allows for real-time control over all sales, inventory, repairs, customer communications, and marketing.
EditorsJun 23, 2022
Antique Show Observations From a First-Time AttendeeAssociate Editor Lenore Fedow shares her impressions of the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show and a few of her favorite finds.
Brought to you by
3 Reasons to Offer Estate Buying at Your StoreProvide your customers with a seamless selling solution by partnering with Windsor Jewelers, Inc.
GradingJun 23, 2022
AIGS Launches Grading Report for ‘Santa Maria’ AquamarineThe Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences aims to set a color standard for the trade name.
SourcingJun 23, 2022
Rough Diamond Sales Rise Again for De Beers Sales were up 36 percent year-over-year in June and are pacing 24 percent ahead of last year at this point.
AuctionsJun 23, 2022
Auction House Freeman’s Appoints First Rep in Florida Kate Della Monica, a senior specialist in the Jewelry and Watches department, will relocate to the Sunshine State.
Lab-GrownJun 22, 2022
LVMH Luxury Ventures Sinks Money Into Lab-Grown Diamond Start-UpLVMH’s investment arm has taken a stake in Lusix, a lab-grown diamond company based in Israel.
AuctionsJun 22, 2022
Here’s How Two 100-Plus-Carat Diamonds Did at AuctionSotheby’s New York put a colorless diamond and a fancy deep orange-brown diamond up for sale last week, with mixed results.
CrimeJun 22, 2022
Leviev Diamonds Launches Bracelet to Help ‘Tinder Swindler’ Victims Profits will help them recoup financial losses.
MajorsJun 22, 2022
Swarovski Names First Non-Family CEORetail veteran Alexis Nasard will step in as CEO on July 4.
SourcingJun 22, 2022
Edward Asscher to Remain WDC President for Another YearThe organization also extended the terms of Vice President Feriel Zerouki and Treasurer Ronnie VanderLinden.
ColumnistsJun 21, 2022
State of the Majors 2022: Reflections on ResilienceAfter suffering a professional setback, columnist Peter Smith reflects on our ability to bounce back even when the hits keep on coming.
IndependentsJun 21, 2022
Jeweler Tommy Glatz, Known for Being Creative and Kind, Dies at 68Glatz owned and operated Glatz Jewelers in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania for more than 40 years.
Events & AwardsJun 21, 2022
24 Karat Club of Southern California Will Honor These Industry LeadersThe organization will present three awards at its annual dinner, dance, and gala in October.
MajorsJun 21, 2022
David Yurman Hires Chief of People, StrategyFormer McKinsey partner Emily Yueh marks new president Evan Yurman’s first hire.
TrendsJun 17, 2022
Britney Spears Wore Over $500K of Stephanie Gottlieb Diamonds at Her WeddingThe New York jeweler also made the pop star’s wedding bands.
AuctionsJun 17, 2022
5-Carat Paraiba Tourmaline Ring to Hit the Auction BlockIt’s predicted to sell for up to $484,000 during the Bonhams Hong Kong Jewels and Jadeite auction on June 22.
Events & AwardsJun 17, 2022
WJA Foundation to Offer Tech Scholarships for Women of ColorThe recipient will receive up to $17,500 toward a tech-focused certification or program of their choice.
CollectionsJun 17, 2022
Piece of the Week: Gemella’s ‘Stella’ NecklaceIt’s as versatile as it is glamorous.
TechnologyJun 16, 2022
Cartier, Amazon Suing ‘Influencer,’ Sellers Over Counterfeit ‘Love’ JewelryThe alleged scheme involving fake “Love” bracelets, necklaces and rings was designed to circumvent Amazon’s counterfeit detection tools.
MajorsJun 16, 2022
Helzberg CEO Beryl Raff to RetireChief Financial Officer Brad Hampton will take over as the retailer’s new CEO.
