This handsome replica of the celebrated Belvedere Jagger Dagger will be on sale live at New York’s Hard Rock Café as part of Julien’s Auctions annual Music Icons sale on May 18, 2013. The dagger is really an ice pick with a twisted white enamel handle topped by an elegant blue enamel bead.
As confirmed by Martin Nolan, Executive Director of Julien’s Auctions, the handle and crossguard are set with clear and light-blue simulant gemstones and a central square of blue enamel. The steel blade is etched with delicate branches beneath designer Jade Jagger’s engraved signature, “JJ”.
Approximately 50 of these promotional Jagger Daggers were made, and according to Julien’s lot description none of them appear to have been sold publicly. While it has not been confirmed, this writer believes that this dagger is actually one of the legendary ice picks made for the sole purpose of carrying out the famed Jagger Dagger ritual at some of the world’s hottest night clubs in the spring of 2008.
Such a fantastical role in one of 2008′s most inventive marketing plans, combined with the allure of its famous designer, certainly packs this gorgeous dagger ice pick with more than its fair share of historical value. Here’s the story as I believe it unfolded.
As OTSP describes, it all began as a collaboration which fused Ms. Jagger’s “unique aesthetic” with “the world’s premium luxury vodka,” to serve up a delicious cocktail of high-class fashion, romping good times, jewel-encrusted rock and fashion legends, and of course Belvedere Vodka by the magnum.
Before the launch, the folks at Belvedere sat down with Jade Jagger to discuss “the cultural references surrounding communal drinking” and how to cut ice. {cited} Ms. Jagger discovered that hand-chipped ice melts at a slower rate than standard cubed or crushed ice, thereby affording perfectly chilled vodka without diluting its distinctive flavor and potency.
Drawing inspiration from Viking and Arthurian lore, Ms. Jagger combined glittering white diamonds and pale blue sapphires with the alluring mystique of lapis lazuli and moonstone to craft a dagger ice pick which captured what she called “the flavors and colors of Belvedere.” {cited} Once the dagger was perfected, she set her beauty and good name to work promoting the dagger and the vodka.
Following a string of lavish, star-studded unveiling galas around the globe, some of the daggers were entrusted to hand-selected premier nightclubs, such as 1 Oak in New York City, Crystal in London, and VIP in Paris. Club patrons who ordered a magnum of Belvedere Vodka (1.5 liters) were treated to the luxurious ritual.
While the exquisite jewel-studded dagger served as holy relic, set apart in a glass case for viewing only, it was, I believe, this dagger and the others like it which served as the true power behind the elaborate rituals performed at the world’s hottest night clubs that spring.
When a patron ordered the stunning bottles of Belvedere Vodka, a block of engraved ice was carried to the table by two attendants. In ceremonial fashion, a third server, wielding a Jagger Dagger, would hand chisel into the glasses shimmering shards of fresh ice over which a fourth server would pour the “creamy, peppery” vodka lauded as “the hottest vodka” {cited}.
Clearly, putting one of these $250,000 jeweled wonders to use chipping away at ice night after night would have proven impractical at best, foolhardy at worst. Therefore, it stands to reason that Ms. Jagger designed this line of replica Jagger Daggers to take the heat, so to speak.
These Jagger Daggers are no less the real deal than the jeweled souvenirs set with diamonds and blue sapphires or the replicas set with white topaz and aquamarine sold at high-end boutiques such as Harrods of London.
Each of the three styles was designed and crafted under the watchful eye of one of London’s most gifted entrepreneurs, Jade Jagger. Each played a vital role in Belvedere’s extravagant endeavor to promote their campaign, “Luxury Reborn.” And each style is a unique work of art expressed in 3-D form by a talented jewelry designer.
Interested parties will find this limited-edition jeweled ice pick among several other famous jewels featured as part of Julien’s annual Music Icons auction. Alongside the Dagger, the sale will also feature costume jewelry and a Pascal Morabito watch from Cher’s private collection, as well as three gifted jewels from The King:
- A diamond-encrusted Star “E” ring, which Elvis gave to Charles Hodge in Las Vegas,
- A monogrammed anklet (“EP”) made in 1977 by Memphis jeweler Lowell Hays, which Elvis Presley gave to his then-sweetheart, Ginger Alden, and
- A 14k gold ring set with a synthetic pink stone the singer gave to the head pharmacist at Schwab’s Pharmacy.
Interested readers can find lot descriptions and further details on Julien’s website.
