Drake pays tribute to Virgil Abloh with a piece of fine jewellery by Alex Moss

In recent years, the world of personalised jewellery has been a natural extension of Drake’s aesthetic language. In his most recent foray, the Canadian artist presents a creation that transcends the ornamental: a sculptural chain inspired by Cogsworth, the clockwork character from Beauty and the Beast, meticulously crafted by the celebrated New York jeweller Alex Moss.

Beyond its obvious technical virtuosity – the piece reproduces a three-dimensional watch entirely set in diamonds – this chain evokes a deeper meaning: an implicit reference to the legacy of designer and creative visionary Virgil Abloh. The connection is not coincidental. In September 2021, Abloh unveiled an equally iconic piece of jewellery: a chain inspired by Lumière, the chandelier from the same animated classic, produced in collaboration with jeweller Izzy Aronbayev. 

At the time, Abloh described his creation as ‘metaphorically speaking’, evidencing his penchant for endowing each object with multiple layers of interpretation, recontextualising cultural symbols in a profoundly contemporary light. His constant exploration of themes such as time, luxury and the reinterpretation of everyday objects marked much of his output at both Off-White™ and Louis Vuitton Men’s.

From that perspective, Drake’s decision to commission a piece centred on Cogsworth – Lumière’s visual and narrative counterpoint – takes on an almost ceremonial dimension. Not only does it complete the iconic Disney universe duo; it also establishes a silent dialogue with Abloh’s ideology, rescuing his vision of time as the true symbol of luxury in the modern world.

Moss, responsible for previous pieces such as the Previous Engagements necklace or the SSS4U chain, once again demonstrates his sculptural mastery in miniature and his ability to materialise personal narratives through fine jewellery. Although the technical details – such as the total carat weight or the exact composition of the diamonds – have not been publicly revealed, the work is already positioned as one of the most sophisticated in the artist’s collection.

New York-based luxury jeweller and watchmaker Alex Moss presents his latest work of art alongside A$AP Rocky.