Frost NYC Review: The Iciest Jewelry in Hip Hop

What‘s up, jewelry lovers! Today we‘re diving deep into the world of Frost NYC. If you follow hip hop culture at all, you‘ve definitely seen their blinding chains, pendants, and watches on your favorite rappers and athletes. Frost has been the go-to jeweler for custom diamond pieces since the early 2000s. But what makes their jewelry so special? Is the quality really worth those celebrity price tags? And what do actual customers have to say?

As a fashionista and hip hop fan myself, I‘ve been fascinated by Frost NYC for years. I copped my first chain from them back in 2018 and have been hooked on the brand ever since. So I‘m excited to bring you my most in-depth Frost NYC review yet, complete with all the details you need to decide if their jewelry belongs in your collection. Let‘s get into it!

The History of Frost NYC

First, a little background. Frost NYC was founded in 2002 by Arthur "Yoyo" Iliev and Nick Kaykov, two Russian immigrants with a passion for jewelry and hip hop. They started out selling chains on the streets of NYC‘s Diamond District, but quickly made a name for themselves by crafting custom pieces for up-and-coming rappers.

One of Frost‘s first big breaks came in 2005 when they made a Jesus piece for Juelz Santana. The pendant caught the eye of his Dipset crew members like Cam‘ron and Jim Jones, who commissioned their own pieces. From there, Frost NYC‘s reputation as the freshest hip hop jeweler spread through the rap world.

Fast forward to today, and Frost boasts an A-list clientele that includes Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Nas, Rick Ross, Lil Baby, OBJ, and dozens more. Their Instagram page has over 200,000 followers drooling over each new custom piece. According to media strategist Heran Mamo, Frost NYC ranks fourth among jewelers most mentioned by name in rap lyrics.

Frost‘s rise is about more than celebrity clout though. From the beginning, their mission has been to make high-end diamond jewelry more accessible to the hip hop community. As Iliev told XXL Mag, "When we started, a lot of hip hop artists and fans couldn‘t afford real diamond jewelry. We wanted to change that by offering quality custom pieces at a better price point."

Of course, "better price point" is relative when you‘re talking VVS diamonds. Frost‘s cheapest pendant will still run you a couple thousand. But compared to traditional luxury jewelers, Frost offers way more carats for your dollar. That‘s a big reason why they‘ve been able to outfit everyone from underground rappers to megastars over the past 20 years.

Materials & Craftsmanship

So what actually goes into a piece of Frost NYC jewelry? Let‘s break it down:

• Gold Purity: Frost uses solid 10K, 14K, and 18K gold in yellow, white, and rose colors. You won‘t find any gold-plated or filled pieces here.

• Diamond Quality: Frost offers a wide range of diamond clarities, from SI to VVS and everything in between. The majority of their signature pieces feature SI diamonds, which offer serious sparkle without the VVS price tag.

• Stone Size: Frost is known for packing as many diamonds as possible into their designs using micro pave and invisible settings. Most of their pendant and bracelet designs feature dozens of round cut stones under 1 carat each. But they also offer tennis chains and watches set with 2 carat+ emerald and princess cuts.

• Gold Weight: The average Frost NYC chain weighs between 50-100 grams, while their bracelets range from 20-50 grams. That‘s 2-3x heavier than most department store jewelry.

• Custom Design: Every Frost piece is custom made to order by jewelers in NYC. Customers can choose from hundreds of existing designs or work with a designer to create something totally unique. The whole process takes about 2-3 weeks from order to delivery.

So yeah, this isn‘t your mall kiosk jewelry. Frost uses the same materials and techniques as high-end brands like Cartier and Tiffany‘s. The main difference is in the designs. While those luxury brands stick to timeless styles, Frost is all about creating the next big trend in hip hop.

Over the years, Frost NYC has pioneered countless iconic looks that have taken over rap fashion. They were one of the first jewelers to bring back the Cuban link chain in the early 2010s. Their oversized Jesus pieces inspired countless knockoffs. And more recently, they‘ve pushed trends like baguette diamonds, butterfly pendants, and bust down watches.

Of course, that trendsetting style doesn‘t come cheap. A solid gold Cuban link from Frost will cost you at least $10,000. Their famous custom pendants start at $5,000 and can go up to $100K+ depending on size and diamond carat weight. And if you want a fully iced out Rolex? Prepare to drop at least $30,000.

But for many in the hip hop world, that‘s a small price to pay for jewelry that makes a statement. As rapper Lil Baby said in a recent interview, "When I walk in the room with my Frost chain on, everyone knows what it is. It‘s not just about flashing money, it‘s about the artistry and showing off your personal style."

Customer Reviews & Experiences

Okay, so we know Frost NYC jewelry looks amazing on celebrities. But what‘s it like for regular customers? To find out, I did some serious digging through reviews and talked to a few Frost customers myself.

Let‘s start with the good stuff. The overwhelming majority of reviewers say their Frost NYC jewelry exceeded expectations in terms of quality and craftsmanship. "It‘s even more blinged out in person" is a common refrain. Several people posted pics of their chains after months or years of regular wear, and the gold and diamonds still look flawless.

Another thing customers love about Frost is the lifetime warranty and free maintenance. If your chain breaks or loses a stone, you can send it back to Frost for repairs at no charge. They‘ll even give your piece a free polish and rhodium dip to keep it looking new. Compared to other jewelers that charge for maintenance, that‘s a huge perk.

On the service side, reviews are a bit more mixed. Most customers say Frost‘s designers are super helpful and responsive during the custom design process. They‘ll send you CAD mock-ups of your piece and tweak the details until you‘re 100% happy.

However, a few people complained about slow communication after ordering, especially when it comes to shipping updates. Frost advertises a 2-3 week turnaround time, but some customers waited over a month to get their jewelry. To be fair, most of those reviews are from 2020 when COVID caused industry-wide manufacturing delays. More recent reviews say shipping times have improved.

The other main critique is around Frost‘s return policy. Custom pieces are final sale, which a few reviewers found out the hard way. One person ordered the wrong size chain and had to pay to get it resized. Another didn‘t like how their pendant looked in person but couldn‘t return it.

To avoid those issues, I recommend checking Frost‘s size charts and product photos super carefully before ordering. They accept returns on non-custom pieces within 14 days, but you‘ll pay a 20% restocking fee. Not ideal, but pretty standard for high-end jewelry.

So is Frost NYC jewelry worth it? Based on my research and personal experience, I say hell yes – with a few caveats. If you‘re looking for timeless fine jewelry to pass down for generations, stick with the classic luxury brands. Frost is all about trendy statement pieces designed to be worn and enjoyed now.

I also wouldn‘t recommend Frost if you‘re on a super tight budget. Like I mentioned, their prices reflect the premium materials and craftsmanship. You can definitely find gold-plated chains and diamond simulants for less. But if you want real solid gold and natural diamonds that look like they belong on a red carpet, Frost is the move.

My Top Picks from Frost NYC

With all that background out of the way, let‘s get to the fun part: shopping! Frost NYC has hundreds of designs on their website, which can be overwhelming if you‘re new to the brand. So I‘ve rounded up my top 10 must-cop pieces to get you started.

1. 5mm 14K Gold Tennis Chain: The perfect everyday chain that adds a touch of luxury to any fit. Frost‘s 5mm width is the ideal balance between subtle and statement-making. Available in yellow, white, and rose gold starting at 16 inches. Price: $2,400+

2. Mini Angel Pendant: One of Frost‘s most popular pendants featuring a 3D angel with baguette diamond wings. Looks great on its own or layered with chains. Solid 14K gold with 1.5 carats of SI diamonds. Price: $4,200

3. 6 Row Flower Bracelet: A unique twist on the classic Cuban link bracelet with a diamond-encrusted floral clasp. Eye-catching without being too flashy. 14K gold with 5 carats of diamonds, 8.5 inches long. Price: $6,500

4. Buss Down AP Watch: If you want to flex like the biggest bosses in rap, this is the watch for you. Frost takes an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and covers every millimeter of the band and bezel in flawless VVS diamonds. A cool $100,000 will get you 30 carats of ice on your wrist.

5. Jesus Face Ring: A subtle way to rock the iconic Jesus piece trend. This 14K gold ring features a detailed micro pave portrait of Jesus with 2 carats of SI diamonds. Available in sizes 7-12. Price: $3,600

6. Ankh Cross Pendant: A fresh take on the classic ankh symbol with a row of baguette diamonds set into solid 14K gold. Measures 2.5 inches tall and comes with a 24 inch rope chain. Price: $4,400

7. Diamond Name Plate: The ultimate personalized piece. Frost will create a custom name plate necklace in the font of your choice, complete with up to 5 carats of SI diamonds. Solid 14K gold with 20 inch box chain. Price varies based on length and diamond carat weight.

8. Iced Out Cartier Love Bracelet: Leave it to Frost to take an already iconic design to the next level. This Cartier Love bracelet is completely covered in 12 carats of flawless VVS diamonds for a truly blinding effect. Price: $40,000

9. Mariner Link Chain Choker: Who says chokers are just for women? Frost‘s 18 inch mariner link chain adds an edgy touch to your neckline with a double lock clasp. 14k gold with 1 carat of diamonds. Price: $3,800

10. Butterfly Pendant: The daintiest design in Frost‘s collection, this solid gold butterfly pendant is covered in 1.5 carats of pink and white diamonds. Comes with a 16 inch tennis chain for layering. Price: $4,400

Those are just a few of my personal favorites, but you really can‘t go wrong with any piece from Frost NYC. Their designs are the perfect mix of trendy and timeless, with quality that speaks for itself.

How to Order from Frost NYC

Convinced you need some Frost in your life? Here‘s how to place an order:

1. Browse the designs on frostnyc.com and add your favorites to your cart. If you don‘t see exactly what you want, hit the "Custom Order" button to work with a designer.

2. Enter your shipping and payment info at checkout. Frost accepts all major credit cards, Paypal, and Bitcoin. They also offer financing through Affirm if you want to split up the cost over time.

3. Wait patiently for your new ice to arrive! Frost offers free shipping on all domestic orders with signature required. Custom orders can take up to 4 weeks since each piece is made from scratch.

4. Unbox your new jewelry and prepare to flex on everyone! Don‘t forget to tag @frostnyc in your Instagram photos.

If you‘re in the NYC area, you can also book an appointment to shop in person at Frost‘s Diamond District showroom. Trust me, it‘s worth the trip to see all that ice up close.

Final Thoughts

Whew, that was a lot of info! If you stuck with me this far, you‘re probably as obsessed with hip hop jewelry as I am. Frost NYC is truly in a league of its own when it comes to style and craftsmanship. No other brand has had the same impact on rap fashion over the past two decades.

Of course, Frost‘s jewelry isn‘t for everyone. If you prefer understated pieces or don‘t have the budget for real gold and diamonds, there are plenty of other options out there. But if you want to invest in jewelry that makes a statement and holds its value, Frost is the way to go.

I‘ll leave you with a quote from Frost NYC co-founder Nick Kaykov that sums up the brand‘s philosophy: "Hip hop has always been about expressing yourself and showing the world who you are. Our jewelry is a way for people to do that in the most bold, authentic way possible."

So go ahead and treat yourself to some Frost NYC ice. Just don‘t blame me if you end up addicted like the rest of us!