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New York, NY--A new 320-page book from teNeues, Million Dollar Hip Hop Watches, examines how luxury watches became key status symbols in hip-hop. Written by Leon Schäfers, Jeanette Lang, and Tobias Kargoll of Hiphop.de, it documents five decades of style, symbolism, and success through roughly 300 photographs.

[Representative image via iStock.com/Diamond Dogs]

According to Maxim, the book begins in 1970s New York, where jewelry and watches served as expressions of pride and identity. It then moves through the 1980s "Quartz Era," when more accessible models like LL Cool J's gold nugget watch reflected individuality in a growing cultural movement.

A chapter titled "Rise of the Rolex" explores how watches like the Day-Date and Datejust became emblems of achievement. The report notes moments such as Tupac reportedly gifting The Notorious B.I.G. his first Rolex, illustrating how timepieces came to represent both success and solidarity.

The 1990s are described as hip-hop's "golden age," marked by personalized and customized watches. The 2000s introduced Jacob Arabo's Five Time Zone design, which helped define the so-called "Ice Age" of diamond-covered "bustdown" watches.

Per the report, later chapters highlight Jay-Z's association with Audemars Piguet, the enduring appeal of the Casio G-Shock, and the rise of ultra-luxury brands like Patek Philippe and Richard Mille in the 2010s — what the authors call the "holy trinity of maximalist consumerism."

Million Dollar Hip Hop Watches will be released in the U.S. on November 11, priced at $125, as reported by Maxim.

Read the Maxim report here.