Legendary Jewelry and watch designer, Chris Aire has dazzled his loyal clients with his handmade, innovative and dramatic diamond jewelry and watches for over 26 years. His client list is a roll call of Hollywood’s elite, while his life journey and entrepreneurial vision could easily be the stuff of a Hollywood movie. In 2004, Chris Aire made fashion history. With Naomi Campbell on the runway, he became the first jeweler to stage a jewelry runway show at New York Fashion Week. The following year, May Andersen sashayed down Chris Aire’s runway wearing a $41 million dress that took 3000 hours to make, Wyclef Jean performed with the help of a $500,000 diamond-coated guitar and the room brimmed with Chris’s celebrity friends and clients including, Nelly and Vince Carter. The moment Chris appeared to take his final bow, the entire audience impulsively rose to their feet in rapturous, loving applause.
About Chris Aire
But Chris Aire’s story did not start out this way. Upon leaving his family in Africa while still a teenager, Chris moved to the United States and made his way through college in California, working full time at night in a fast food restaurant and catching precious sleep whenever he could in his rusty old BMW.. After a short-lived foray into music and acting, a friend’s father gave Chris his first opportunity in the jewelry business. It was here he discovered his true passion for gemstones and intricate craftsmanship. After 6 years Chris had $5000 in the bank. Carrying a few prototypes of his designs around with him, he spent a year frequenting the hotspots where he knew his dream clients were regulars.
The day Chris sold basketball legend Gary Payton a platinum basketball pendant, plus charms and bracelets for the rest of his crew, he could hardly have imagined he would soon become the go-to jeweler for the NBA’s biggest stars, the film industry’s A-list and jewelry lovers around the world – whether for his signature dog tag pendants, his elaborate bespoke commissions or his trademarked and widely emulated Red Gold® collection. By introducing Red Gold® and by securing a cult following amongst America’s luxury aficionados, Chris Aire contributed immensely to opening up the wider jewelry and watch industry to billions of additional dollars of sales.
True to his African roots and as the owner of his business, Chris prides himself in sourcing gold and diamonds from his native Africa where he has personally invested in mines. He is fully committed to working with only conflict-free diamonds and eschewing child labor. Today as Chris opens his first flagship store in Beverly Hills, he remains as passionate as ever about making his clients feel fantastic in his jewels and putting his heart and soul into everything he does.
“The only thing better than diamonds are diamonds in one of your beautiful creations.” Halle Berry
“Your jewelry is unbelievably beautiful.” Al Pacino
“The red gold is so unique and versatile– I’ll be able to wear these pieces with anything” Clint Eastwood