Michael Jackson mania has continued unabated, and as the weeks continue to pass since the pop legend’s death, we’ve seen some pretty odd memorabilia crop up—like this LifeGem diamond made from a lock of Michael Jackson’s hair.
As the story goes, during the infamous 1984 Pepsi commercial shoot, executive producer Ralph Cohen threw his red Armani jacket atop Michael Jackson after his hair caught on fire. Cohen picked up a lock of Michael Jackson’s hair, put it in his pocket and forgot all about it until the King of Pop’s death. Distinguished collector John Reznikoff purchased the jacket, and while he’ll keep most of the hair for himself, he’s also collaborating with LifeGem for a diamond created from Michael Jackson’s hair.
The Michael Jackson LifeGem diamond is a bit macabre for my tastes as far as memorabilia goes, but it’s not the most bizarre tribute we’ve seen to the King of Pop. Check out some similar tributes below.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Celebrity Memorabilia
- Creating unique and unusual items from the belongings or remains of celebrities offers a niche market for collectors and fans alike.
- Disruptive Artifact Manufacturing
- Incorporating physical artifacts into innovative products or experiences presents an opportunity to create unique and highly valuable offerings in the market.
- Personalized Keepsakes
- Turning personal items or momentos into customized and sentimental creations taps into the growing demand for personalized products and gifts.
Where This Applies
- Collectibles
- The collectibles industry can explore new avenues by leveraging celebrity artifacts and creating limited edition, unique items.
- Jewelry
- The jewelry industry can embrace disruptive innovation by incorporating unusual materials or artifacts to create one-of-a-kind pieces that appeal to collectors and enthusiasts.
- Gifts and Memorabilia
- The gifts and memorabilia industry can cater to the demand for personalized and sentimental keepsakes by offering custom-made products created from personal items or memorabilia.
