Wednesday, 18th January 2006 (7694 views)

Gold grills are becoming a familiar source of bling across the hip hop world, according to Yes! Magazine.

The jewellery, which is encrusted with diamonds and fitted on teeth, has proved popular with a number of rap stars including Paul Wall, who has the custom jewellery in its platinum form along the top and bottom of his mouth.

Armand Swain, a 26-year-old graduate, moved to Greensboro in North Carolina to set up a business selling and fitting the jewellery, using a $20,000 grant obtained from the Ford National Historical Black Colleges and Universities Business Writing Plan Competition.

"As an African American it's important to stay in the community and give back," said Swain.

Since opening his store in Greensboro two weeks ago, Swain said that he has fitted four customers already. Swain uses a teeth mold to design the pieces, before sending his designs off to a jeweller to produce the item. Customers can also order custom pieces if they do not like the examples in Swain's catalogue.

Swain claims he is the only designer offering the service that will do the mold himself.

 

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