By, Jennifer Brookridge

Jacob Arabo, better known to pop culture fans and rap lyrics as “Jacob the Jeweler”, came to New York from Russia with his financially struggling family over two decades ago. His father was in the liquor business and had hopes that one day Jacob too would be a part of the business.

Early in Arabo’s teens, he realized he had an interest, and saw profit, in jewelry-making. After lying about his age to qualify for a job, Arabo landed his first gig. Within nine months of employment he was making more than ten times his initial $125 weekly salary; the company recognized their financial growth as a result of Jacob’s innovative jewelry design.

By the age of 18 Arabo had ten jewelers working for him and his passion for his new and budding career sent him on an ambitious journey all over the world. From Brazil to Africa to his homeland of Russia, he went where not many would go to buy diamonds and pursue his jewelry dreams.

Soon after, this determined and self-made man had his family working with him, including his three sons and his sister—a sister who changed his fate when Faith Evans walked into his small Midtown Manhattan store.

Faith asked that Arabo put a ring she liked on the side for her boyfriend to come back the next day and buy for her. Evans offered him a $5 deposit to do just that. Arabo hesitated not knowing who Evans was and considering the small deposit price, but his sister pushed him to put it aside explaining that they had nothing to lose. Instead, Arabo told Evans to take the ring.

The following day, Biggie Smalls came in and paid for the ring, bought a few things for himself, and brought friends such as LL Cool J and Sean “Puffy Combs” in to do a little shopping of their own. Thus, Arabo was re-born and forever widely known as “Jacob the Jeweler.”

Arabo introduced the music industry to higher-quality diamonds. He designed the famous four-finger ring for Biz Markie who claims that he sold three million records because of that huge piece, and Arabo has a framed piece from Roc-A-Fella Records with 16 platinum records as a thank you for his bling and support.

Arabo is currently joining DeBeers diamonds and moving offices, ten blocks uptown, in the hopes of expanding his business, having more room to showcase his collection and entertain clients.

Arabo shares his business philosophy. "When I was a kid, [my father] always said, ‘Whatever you do in life son, you have to do the finest, the best. Otherwise, don’t do it. You do it from the heart. Your good faith in what you deliver will come back to you 10 times over.’ That’s what I do. I make sure that what I sell to the customer is happiness, quality-wise and looks-wise. [Then] it makes me happy."[A PimpWiz Exclusive]