• Owned by Pharrell Williams, this adidas Consortium custom track jacket is up for sale for $1,300. All photos: Joopiter
    Owned by Pharrell Williams, this adidas Consortium custom track jacket is up for sale for $1,300. All photos: Joopiter
  • A pair of adidas Stan Smith Swarovski trainers, gifted to Williams by adidas for his 41st birthday. They are decorated with 1600 crystals, and have a reserve price of between $2,500 to $3,500. The highest bid is presently $1,600.
    A pair of adidas Stan Smith Swarovski trainers, gifted to Williams by adidas for his 41st birthday. They are decorated with 1600 crystals, and have a reserve price of between $2,500 to $3,500. The highest bid is presently $1,600.
  • A gold BlackBerry 8700 is included in the auction for a reserve price of $11,000.
    A gold BlackBerry 8700 is included in the auction for a reserve price of $11,000.
  • A custom-made grill in gold and gemstones by Gabby Elan X Jacob & Co, now on sale for $8,250.
    A custom-made grill in gold and gemstones by Gabby Elan X Jacob & Co, now on sale for $8,250.
  • A "Women's Rights" Alpinestar motorcycle jacket is being auctioned for $8,000.
    A "Women's Rights" Alpinestar motorcycle jacket is being auctioned for $8,000.
  • A hat with hand drawn artwork that reads "freedom" has already reached bids of $1,500, despite a valuation of $350 to $500.
    A hat with hand drawn artwork that reads "freedom" has already reached bids of $1,500, despite a valuation of $350 to $500.
  • An 18crt yellow gold Super Mario pendant, encrusted with white diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. Created by Pharrell Williams and Jacob & Co in 2010. Estimated worth $15,000-$25,000
    An 18crt yellow gold Super Mario pendant, encrusted with white diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. Created by Pharrell Williams and Jacob & Co in 2010. Estimated worth $15,000-$25,000
  • A fully pave Jacob & Co timepiece. 18K White Gold with baguette and rose cut diamonds, the 5 time zone Royal Collection watch has 28.86 carats of gemstones, and is valued at between $250,000-$350,000.
    A fully pave Jacob & Co timepiece. 18K White Gold with baguette and rose cut diamonds, the 5 time zone Royal Collection watch has 28.86 carats of gemstones, and is valued at between $250,000-$350,000.
  • Made by Jacob & Co in 2004, Williams wore this one-of-a-kind Astronaut Pendant in yellow gold and 1,800 brilliant cut diamonds to attend the spring 2005 haute couture show by Versace. Estimated value $65,000-$95,000.
    Made by Jacob & Co in 2004, Williams wore this one-of-a-kind Astronaut Pendant in yellow gold and 1,800 brilliant cut diamonds to attend the spring 2005 haute couture show by Versace. Estimated value $65,000-$95,000.
  • A letterman jacket from Princess Anne High School- that Williams graduated from in 1991- with his name embroidered onto the front. He wore the jacket in the N.E.R.D. "Maybe" video. Valued at $4,800.
    A letterman jacket from Princess Anne High School- that Williams graduated from in 1991- with his name embroidered onto the front. He wore the jacket in the N.E.R.D. "Maybe" video. Valued at $4,800.
  • A custom-made pair of Oakley Razor Blade sunglasses. Made in 18k yellow gold and covered in 18.54 crts of white diamonds, these are expected to realise between $50,000 - $75,000
    A custom-made pair of Oakley Razor Blade sunglasses. Made in 18k yellow gold and covered in 18.54 crts of white diamonds, these are expected to realise between $50,000 - $75,000
  • A Louis Vuitton steamer trunk, with multi coloured monogram, and emblazoned with the logo of Billionaire Boys Club, the clothing line by Williams and his friend Nigo. Although valued at between $25,000-$35,000, bids have already reached $72,000.
    A Louis Vuitton steamer trunk, with multi coloured monogram, and emblazoned with the logo of Billionaire Boys Club, the clothing line by Williams and his friend Nigo. Although valued at between $25,000-$35,000, bids have already reached $72,000.
  • Jacob Co belt buckle.
    Jacob Co belt buckle.
  • A 2010 Moncler puffer vest designed by Williams. Created to look like a bullet proof vest, the inside is lined in a wood patterning by Japanese artist Keita Sugiura. The vest is made from recycled plastic, and a fibre called Bionic Yarn. Valued at $2,200
    A 2010 Moncler puffer vest designed by Williams. Created to look like a bullet proof vest, the inside is lined in a wood patterning by Japanese artist Keita Sugiura. The vest is made from recycled plastic, and a fibre called Bionic Yarn. Valued at $2,200

Lifestyle

Luxury

Pharrell Williams sells his bling on new auction site Joopiter

The musician is offering jewellery, trainers and clothing from his past

Sarah Maisey

October 23, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Rapper and producer Pharrell Williams apparently spent lockdown like the rest of us — looking around his house and wondering how he ended up with so much stuff. Having risen to fame during the heady excess of the 1990s and noughties, over the course of his successful four-decade career, the US musician has amassed enough possessions to fill 11 storage vaults.

Now, apparently inspired by the decluttering philosophy of Marie Kondo, he is selling off many of those early acquisitions via a new auction site called Joopiter.

Launched by Williams, the platform is aimed at selling mementos from musical history, starting with the sale of part of his own collection. As well as honouring the unique provenance of such pieces, the sale is also to kickstart what he describes as his own “transmutation” into a simpler, less cluttered life.

While the sale is online only, the pieces are being displayed for viewing in New York, where serious collectors or the merely curious can see what Williams has acquired over the years.

Running until Thursday, the auction is called Son of a Pharaoh and offers a snapshot into Williams's extraordinary career.

As his success took off, so did his shopping habits, and his rising star is reflected in his purchase of a diamond-studded Rubik's Cube keychain, now being offered for $8,750, an 18-carat gold PlayStation, on sale with an estimate of $10,000, and a custom-made grill (for the teeth) in gold and precious gemstones, that can now be purchased for $8,250.

A gold astronaut pendant, now offered for $56,000, by Jacob & Co. Made for Pharrell Williams, he wore it to the Versace spring 2004 haute couture show. Photo: Joopiter
A gold astronaut pendant, now offered for $56,000, by Jacob & Co. Made for Pharrell Williams, he wore it to the Versace spring 2004 haute couture show. Photo: Joopiter

The producer, who's behind chart-toppers such as Britney Spears's I'm a Slave 4 U, Nelly's Hot In Herre, as well as hits for Jay-Z, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake, then spent his cash on crystal-covered Stan Smith trainers, and jewellery pieces by Jacob & Co, the rap community's jeweller of choice.

These include a gold and diamond-studded N.E.R.D. belt buckle, now on sale for $11,500, and a solid gold astronaut pendant, now offered for $56,000, that he wore to the Versace spring 2004 haute couture show.

Also up for sale are white diamond necklaces and a golden BlackBerry, plus a diamond-encrusted Casio G-Shock x Bape watch for $12,000. There is a lot of four trainers from the Williams' Humanrace collaboration with adidas for $3,900, a hand-painted hat for $1,500 and even an enormous multicoloured Louis Vuitton trunk with a reserve price of $72,000.

Folded through the sale are new merchandise, made for the sale, such as a throw featuring many of the auction items and even a Son of a Pharaoh T-shirt for $65.

Williams has long-term plans for Joopiter, it seems, and in the future, friends and creatives will be invited to host auctions, with a percentage of proceeds going to Black Ambition, a scheme that supports entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds.

Updated: October 23, 2022, 10:59 AM
MusicJewelleryCelebrities