Chris Aire
{{Short description|African-American jeweler and timepiece designer}}
{{about||the Romanian airline|Chris Air|the Royal Marines officer captured by Iran in 2007|2007 Iranian arrest of Royal Navy personnel}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Christopher Aire
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964| 12| 25| mf= yes}}
| birth_place = Ivue-Uromi, Nigeria
| alma_mater = California State University, Long Beach
| occupation = CEO, Solid 21 Incorporated
| spouse = Diana Durojaiye (3 children)
|}}
Christopher Aire (born December 25, 1964) is a Nigerian born African American jeweler and timepiece designer.{{Cite web |last=Nsehe |first=Mfonobong |title=Meet Chris Aire, The King of Bling And Jeweler To Hollywood's Elite |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2015/04/13/meet-chris-aire-the-king-of-bling-and-jeweler-to-hollywoods-elite/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Forbes |language=en}} He is the president of Solid 21 Incorporated and the founder of his eponymous brand, Chris Aire.
Early years
Chris Aire was born in Ivue-Uromi, Edo, Nigeria. His father Joseph Agimenlen Iluobe was a Nigerian oil mogul and businessman and his mother, Victoria Isesele Iluobe was a homemaker. He graduated Immaculate Conception College, Benin City, Nigeria. Thereafter, his father wanted him to join the family business. Aire started helping his father manage the family oil haulage business but quickly realized that he had a strong desire to work independently. After working briefly for his father's company Iluobe Oil, he decided to leave Nigeria and move to the United States to further his education and attend California State University Long Beach. While in college, Aire worked menial jobs in fast-food restaurants and pursued his education during the day. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in acting and directing.{{Cite web |date=2013-03-10 |title=CHRIS AIRE: A Nigerian can succeed anywhere in the World |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/chris-aire-a-nigerian-can-succeed-any-where-in-the-world/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-US}}
Breaking into the acting scene proved to be unsuccessful, so Aire decided to channel his talents towards music. He joined a group called Raw Silk, collaborating and performing with the band for a few years. The band did not experience the type of success he had hoped for, so he decided to break away in hopes of creating a solo career.
Later, He accepted a job as an apprentice to a jeweler in Los Angeles, California, called P-5 Jewelers. Soon after, he enrolled at the Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad where he received his diamond-grading diploma.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
Career and brand
In 1996, after six years of apprenticeship with P-5 Jewelers, he set out on his own. He had saved $5,000 to start his namesake brand that designs and sells fine jewelry and watches.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
Shortly after founding Chris Aire, he met Gary Payton, an NBA superstar who was then with the Seattle SuperSonics. Payton showed interest in his designs and invited Aire to see him in Miami at a charity event the following month. In Miami, he landed a substantial order, solidifying his position in the jewelry market{{Cite web |author=Vladimir Duthiers |title=How Chris Aire hustled his way to become Hollywood's 'King of Bling' |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/18/showbiz/chris-aire-king-of-bling/index.html |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=CNN |date=18 December 2013 |language=en-US}}
Aire opened his first boutique{{cite web |url=http://instoremag.com/instore-slideshow/494-shine-press-news/10750-chris-aire-will-open-first-retail-boutique.html |title=Chris Aire Will Open First Retail Boutique |publisher=Instoremag.Com |access-date=2015-09-18 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2012. In 2014, Aire moved his United States office from downtown Los Angeles to his US flagship boutique in Beverly Hills.{{cite web|url=http://chrisaire.com/ |title=Chris Aire |publisher=Chris Aire |date=2014-10-02 |access-date=2015-09-18}}
Recognition and titles
The Los Angeles Times described Aire as "The King of Bling".{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/18/showbiz/chris-aire-king-of-bling/ |title=How Chris Aire hustled his way to become Hollywood's 'King of Bling' |publisher=CNN.com |access-date=2015-09-18}} Rolling Stone magazine called him "The Emperor of Ice". Aire has been featured in several other magazines such as Forbes,{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2015/04/13/meet-chris-aire-the-king-of-bling-and-jeweler-to-hollywoods-elite/ |title=Meet Chris Aire, The King of Bling And Jeweler To Hollywood's Elite |work=Forbes.com |access-date=2015-09-18}} Wall Street Journal, IDEX,{{cite web |url=http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullMazalUbracha.asp?id=24587 |title=IDEX Magazine - Full Story |publisher=Idexonline.com |date=2005-09-05 |access-date=2015-09-18 |archive-date=2015-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929171744/http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullMazalUbracha.asp?id=24587 |url-status=dead }} JCK MAGAZINE,{{cite web |last=George |first=William |url=http://www.jckonline.com/article/289607-a_jeweled_watch_movement.php |title=A Jeweled Watch Movement - JCK |publisher=Jckonline.com |access-date=2015-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315225812/http://www.jckonline.com/article/289607-a_jeweled_watch_movement.php |archive-date=2016-03-15 |url-status=dead }} Elle, Vogue, Black Enterprise,{{cite web|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/16812366/chris-aire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928224631/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/16812366/chris-aire |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-09-28 |title=Chris Aire |publisher=Connection.ebscohost.com |date=2006-04-06 |access-date=2015-09-18}} Robb Report,{{cite web|author=Francis Addo |url=http://ghanashowbiz.blogspot.com/2011/12/ghanaian-actress-caught-with-chris-aire.html |title=Ghanaian Actress Caught With Chris Aire ~ |publisher=Ghanashowbiz.blogspot.com |date=2011-12-19 |access-date=2015-09-18}} Watch time, QP magazine,{{cite web|url=http://qp.granularit.com/media/39326/King_of_Bling_Chris_Aire.pdf |title=King of Bling|publisher=Qp.granularit.com |access-date=2015-09-27}} Rapaport magazine,{{cite web|url=http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=10488 |title=Chris Aire Hits the Runway With $175 Million of Diamonds |date=29 September 2004 |publisher=Diamonds.net |access-date=2015-09-18}} and Los Angeles Magazine.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_pV0EAAAAMBAJ |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_pV0EAAAAMBAJ/page/n156 70] |quote=Los Angeles magazine rock stars chris aire. |title=Los Angeles Magazine |via=Internet Archive |date=June 2002 |publisher=Emmis Communications |access-date=2015-09-18}}
He has also been featured on CNN, Konnect Africa, {{cite web|url=http://www.konnectafrica.net/chris-aire-the-king-of-bling/ |title=Chris Aire, The King Of Bling!!! |publisher=Konnectafrica.net |date=2013-03-20 |access-date=2015-09-18}} Washington Times,{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2002/nov/1/20021101-095625-2877r/ |title=Ice, ice baby |work=Washington Times |access-date=2015-09-18}} USA Today,{{cite web|last=Carter |first=Kelly |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/2003-01-16-aire_x.htm |title=USATODAY.com - To celebrities, Aire is a gem |publisher=Usatoday30.usatoday.com |date=2003-01-17 |access-date=2015-09-18}} and the Discovery Channel.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUt14oY5b6I |title=Diamond Road (Documentary) - Trailer (2008) |publisher=YouTube |date=2007-07-24 |access-date=2015-09-18}}
Personal life
Aire is married to Diana Atinuke Durojaiye. They have three children. He is based in Los Angeles and visits Nigeria often.