The 'King of Bling' Chris Aire Sues Rolex, LVMH, Hublot and Others for Trademark Infringement

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Los Angeles-based watch and jewelry designer Chris Aire, President of Solid 21, Inc., the Nevada corporation that owns Chris Aire Fine Jewelry & Timepieces (www.chrisaire.com), filed suit against 17 major watch brands and others for trademark infringement, unfair competition, false description, and injunctive and declaratory relief in U.S. Federal Court downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 22. Included in the lawsuit filed by George E. Akwo and Ophir J. Bitton, attorneys for the plaintiff, are: ROLEX; LVMH on behalf of HUBLOT and LOUIS VUITTON; BREITLING; RICHEMONT INTERNATIONAL SA on behalf of BAUME & MERCIER, INTERNATIONAL WATCH COMPANY, MONTBLANC; ULYSSE NARDIN, INC.; MONTRES CORUM SARL; THE SWATCH GROUP on behalf of BLANCPAIN, OMEGA SA; FRANCK MULLER; CHOPARD; MAKUR DESIGN, INC.; GRAHAM-LONDON; KOBOLD WATCH COMPANY LLC; PIERE KUNZ USA INC; EBEL; BULGARI on behalf of GERALD GENTA and DOES 1-200.

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(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100930/LA74771)

"This is a classic David versus Goliath," said Aire, known as the "King of Bling." "We've done everything that is required of us to protect the integrity of our Red Gold® brand. Our Red Gold® trademark has been deemed incontestable by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and we will go up against anyone to defend it. We feel very strongly that we will prevail in the courtroom in this case. Just because you're a huge brand doesn't mean you're above the law.  This brand is proprietary to us and we've worked extremely hard to make it famous and now they're jumping all over it without our permission."

Attorneys for Solid 21, Inc., and Aire seek equitable and injunctive relief, as well as compensatory and monetary damages, costs and disbursements in this complaint for Trademark Infringement.

According to the legal papers, SOLID 21 is the owner of the registered and incontestable trademark RED GOLD for, inter alia, fine jewelry and watches made from a special alloying of gold with a distinct color made into fine jewelry in connection with the manufacture, marketing and advertising of watches, necklaces, bracelets, rings, anklets, cuff links, ornamental hair pins, belt buckles of precious metal, tie clips and pegs and earrings known as "RED GOLD."

The trademark is capsulated in the following trademark information and in the trademark certificate set forth below:

Solid 21, Inc. and its president, Aire, hold the U.S. Trademark Registration No. 2,793,987; Mark: RED GOLD; Registered: December 16, 2003; and has the official trademark certificate.

A graduate of Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Aire has been designing innovative, urban-style diamond jewelry for more than 21 years. With a client list that includes Cedric the Entertainer, Adrien Brody, Jamie Foxx, Angelina Jolie, Eva Longoria, Halle Berry, Clint Eastwood, Will Smith, and others, he was the first jewelry designer to showcase diamonds as fashion at New York Fashion Week. His cutting edge designs are known for their creativity and craftsmanship, earning the Nigerian-born designer such monikers as the "King of Bling," "Emperor of Ice" and "The Ice Man." He has been featured in USA TODAY, Rolling Stone, Newsday, Robb Report, AOL's Black Voices, and Vogue Japan.

SOURCE Chris Aire