Over the years, the Jordan Brands player-exclusive designs have left us pining, but none more so than the Air Jordan 4 First Class. Its premium materials and, more importantly, those glittering diamond details have certainly piqued interest since the pair was teased on social media. However, the one pressing question on everyone’s mind is: Are the diamonds on the Air Jordan 4 First Class real?
The Exclusive Air Jordan 4 “First Class”
Being a part of the Jordan Brand clan comes with its fair share of perks. Not the least of these is the chance to don some incredibly stylish, unique sneakers that are reserved only for those lucky enough to represent the brand. In 2023, the Jordan Brand’s senior designer, Kelsey Amy, took to her Instagram to share a glimpse of one such rare pair — the Air Jordan 4 First Class — and let’s just say, it left quite an impression.
There’s no question that the Air Jordan 4 First Class has skyrocketed to the top of many a wishlist (mine very much included). However, acquiring this exquisite piece of sneaker art is a tall order even for the most tenacious sneakerheads, considering only 50 pairs are rumoured to be in existence.
As Amy stated in her Instagram post, these shoes were “made exclusively for WNBA athletes who continue to pave the way for change both in their sport and in the world around them.” Yet despite the limited availability, the lucky sneaker insiders over at @englishsole managed to get their hands on a pair and addressed the question on everyone’s lips – are those stunning diamond embellishments on the shoe actually authentic?
Now, if those are real diamonds, then this already elite pair of kicks just went way up the exclusive ladder. But before we delve into that, let’s amble through the Air Jordan 4 “First Class” design aspects and understand why everyone is so desperate to get a pair on their feet.
The Exquisite Design
The Air Jordan 4 “First Class” features a beautiful blend of green hues, creating an eye-catching, almost ombre-like effect on the upper. This sneaker is expertly made using premium materials such as a distinctive sage green suede and leather on the mudguards and tongue with a texture reminiscent of the leather found on a basketball.
The extras on this sneaker don’t disappoint either, with luxurious gold aglets accenting the laces, metallic gold dubraes, and a two-sided tag that mirrors a luggage tag, reinforcing the shoe’s “First Class” theme.
Yet, the crowning jewel amongst these features—and quite literally at that—has to be the mesmerising diamonds embedded into the gilded Jumpman logos in the place of the basketball.
So, Are the Air Jordan 4 First Class Diamonds Real?
With the growing excitement surrounding this stylish pair and their eye-catching details, it was only a matter of time before English Sole got their hands on a pair to give sneaker enthusiasts a more detailed look. Not only have they indulged us with some spectacular snaps of these impressive kicks, but they’ve also shed light on whether the diamonds adorning the pair are genuine or not.
Despite hopeful suspicions that Jordan Brand might have decorated their shoes with natural diamonds, they seem to be diamond simulants. These stones look similar to natural diamonds but are made of different materials.
However, I must highlight that the folks at English Sole conducted their inspection with a basic diamond tester purchased inexpensively from Amazon, so the verdict may not be entirely conclusive. However, considering the substantial cost of natural diamonds, Jordan Brand likely opted for an artificial diamond to keep production costs manageable. You can view the testing process in the video below.
Regardless, this discovery doesn’t detract an ounce from the beauty of these sneakers. I would still grab a pair in a heartbeat! These kicks certainly have me wishing I was a Jordan Brand athlete, but sadly, these stubby legs weren’t made for anything but walking. Hopefully, we can anticipate an equally stunning design from Jordan Brand crafted for us mere mortals shortly.
Did you think the Air Jordan 4 First Class diamonds were real or fake?
In related news, find out if the Ralph Lauren x Air Jordan 4 “Polo Pack” is real.
