Last year, high school students around the nation had a fresh way to commemorate their student years, with the launch of a new line of "class of" jewelry and apparel. The new hip-hop style of hoodies, shirts, watches and jewelry were put together by the CEO of Banneker, Inc., Derrick Holmes. 

Holmes is a renowned watch and jewelry designer who designed a high end line of wood faced watches, named after America's first African American clockmaker, Benjamin Banneker. Holmes has joined forces with the top business magnates of hip-hop culture for an unprecedented business venture. Through Jostens, Inc., the leading marketer of products celebrating the significant milestones of graduating seniors all over the country, the trend-setting team created a luxurious yet affordable product line that shouts self-esteem and pride in success. 

"I created Esteem Enterprises to do the marketing for the school market and develop relevant products that resonate with today's youth," Holmes said. "My designs are about presenting a successful image. I like to honor the people I admire, whether it's in a watch's name or the image on its face. Through Banneker, Inc., Phat Farm, Baby Phat and Dereon, each took that concept and applied it to high school memorabilia, giving students products influenced by the people and styles they look up to." 

The new line is inspired by hip-hop fashion, with a lot of flash and sparkle. While the materials are high quality, the prices are kept affordable through replacing diamonds with crystals and silver with stainless steel. 

For the Banneker Jewelry Collection, Holmes designed Class of '08, '09 and '10, rings, watches, pendants, stud and hoop earrings made with genuine wood with burl grain, crystal bezels and glass lenses. Perhaps the most successful products in the urban style line are from Dereon, a subsidiary designing exclusively for the high school market under the House of Dereon with Beyonce. Last year, Dereon offered a Class of '08 hoodie with the parent company's fleur-de-lis logo, worn by Beyonce in her No. 1 hit video "Irreplaceable," and a class ring in a fleur-de-lis pattern with 27 cubic zirconia, a square-cut custom birthstone, and custom engraving of initials, graduation year, and school name. The rings shattered sales records in their first month and a half on the market, Holmes said.

For more information got to http://www.jostens.com/graduation/HS/urban/index.asp

Banneker Commercial