JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The last time the streets of Jacksonville were coated in snow was in 1989. 34 years later, it's still "cold" as ever. Nowadays, ice is another way of describing flashy jewelry.
Saki Mihalakos, also known as "Saki Diamonds," is an artisan jeweler in Jacksonville and has done business with a father-son duo who are known to be flashy. While some say they're arrogant, these two have the skills to back it up.
Deion Sanders' son, Shedeur Sanders - who is the quarterback for the University of Colorado, is known to show off his expensive watch flooded with diamonds. Hip-hop stars such as Rick Ross and DJ Khaled call it the "Sheduer Effect."
After Mihalakos coached football at the University of South Florida for 10 years, he returned to his family-owned business, Julie's Jewelry. However, in the last three years, Mihalakos says he's "upped the ante." He wanted to venture into customizing high-end watches, chains and sunglasses. He prides himself in his work because he hand-drills the diamonds on the custom pieces.
Mihalakos's work has already garnered clients in the NFL: Kayvon Thibodeaux of the New York Giants, Zay Flowers of the Baltimore Ravens and Marquez Valdes-Scantling of the Kansas City Chiefs.
One of the most prolific pieces he's customized is an Audemar Piguet Royal Oak 15500 watch coated with 30 carats of VVS diamonds. Reports show its value is around $70,000 and is specially-crafted for Shedeur Sanders.
Mihalakos explained to First Coast News how he met the Sanders family at a celebrity basketball game in Las Vegas.
"I was introduced to his sister Deiondra [Sanders] and then she introduced me to him [Shedeur]," Mihalakos said.
While the Jacksonville jeweler prides himself in making quality, "iced-out" pieces for his clients, Mihalakos says he values the genuine connections he makes with clients. He hopes to take his business to the next level by making international connections as he says Saki Diamonds can compete with bigger markets such as New York and Houston. Most importantly, local customers won't have to travel too far for a pair of iced-out Cartier Buffs sunglasses or an AP watch.
"It's a beautiful thing. God works in mysterious ways," Mihalkos said. "Just being good to people and having faith, it builds off trust, relationships and good art."
As for Shedeur Sanders, you may see him style his custom watch before, during or after the University of Colorado's game against Arizona State on Saturday. The Buffaloes will matchup against Stanford on Friday, Oct. 13.