The Blackout Collection from Rafaello & Co.

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Dec 13th 2009 at 11:01AM

Let's face it, outrageous bling can be a bit frowned upon these days. Perhaps that's why some rappers and other celebrities are turning to black diamonds. Black diamonds have a more subtle appeal, a look that is still flashy but not quite so attention seeking.

Rafaello & Company Jewelers is the work of five families who first journeyed to the United States from Uzbekistan back in the mid 1980s. The family worked in the jewelry wholesale business for years but Rafael Aranbayev, Avi Aranbayev and Gabriel "The Jeweler" Jacobs started their high end jewelry line, Rafaello & Company Jewelers, in 2009. The brand has made red carpet pieces and customized jewelry for a variety of stars including Jamie Foxx, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo and many athletes. This summer they premiered their latest jewelry collection called "The Blackout" which features black diamonds. There are pieces for both men and women. The brand is committed to using conflict-free stones and 10 percent of their proceeds go to All As One a nonprofit in Sierra Leone that helps orphans.

Gallery: The Blackout Collection