Hip-hop mogul and watch aficionado Jay-Z has joined Audemars Piguet in a partnership to celebrate the rap star's 10th anniversary in the music industry with a collection of luxury wristwatches.

The Royal Oak Offshore Jay-Z 10th Anniversary Limited Edition, designed in collaboration with Jay-Z, will be available at Audemars Piguet's New York flagship starting in June. The series consists of 100 timepieces: 50 in stainless steel (priced at $23,500), 30 in rose gold (priced at $43,900) and 20 in platinum (priced at $69,500). Each watch will be sold with a specially engraved 40G Apple iPod, complete with Jay-Z's albums already uploaded.

Jay-Z began collecting watches in 1997, and first met Audemars Piguet North America President Francois-Henry Bennahmias about five years ago. The two have been working on the anniversary watch series over the past two years.

A portion of the proceeds from the each watch sale from the collection will benefit the S. Carter Scholarship Fund, a nonprofit organization founded by Jay-Z and his mother Gloria Carter.

Jay-Z currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records.

Source : National Jeweler Daily News
www.nationaljeweler.com

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