Gucci x Yuga Labs’ NFT Pendant, Asprey x Bugatti’s Phygital Diamond Egg and More: Web3 Drops of the Week

As the dust settles from the second iteration of Decentraland’s Metaverse Fashion Week extravaganza, judgments have poured in from brands, media and the public alike. The stakes were high for this year’s event, and the organizers rose to the challenge by putting together an ambitious lineup.

But brands don’t let the widespread coverage of MVFW overshadow their own activations. Gmoney’s lifestyle platform 9dcc announced an upcoming scavenger hunt full of rewards for participants, while Asprey and Bugatti unveiled a new Web3-focused collaboration following their partnership on a sculpture based on Bugatti’s La Voiture Noir model in 2022.

Finally, the highly anticipated Gucci x Yuga Labs collaboration was revealed after a wave of hype took over social media last week when the duo teased the partnership. The joint project comes in the form of a coveted silver “KodaPendant”, available physically and as an NFT. Enthusiasts scrambled to get their hands on a Thursday night, with demand quickly outstripping supply. Read on to see Jing Meta’s full verdict on the case.

The phygital diamond egg marks the second installment from Asprey and Bugatti’s partnership, which launched a successful sculpture and accompanying NFT drop last year. Photo: Asprey

Asprey x Bugatti’s Phygital Egg strengthens Web3’s luxury offering and marks the second phase of long-term partnership

What happened: British luxury brand Asprey has announced the second phase of its collaboration with iconic car brand Bugatti. The latest collaboration comes in the form of a bejeweled egg, made from 1,500 pavé diamonds, sterling silver and carbon fiber.

Each limited edition Objet Egg will be produced both as a physical piece and as an NFT generative artwork. It will be the first collection of two luxury brands to use a state-of-the-art technique to inscribe digital content on the Bitcoin blockchain, ensuring the artwork will last indefinitely. The mint will take place on May 4, when invited members can purchase their exclusive Asprey Bugatti Egg.

The verdict: The project follows Asprey x Bugatti’s first release last year, which featured handcrafted sterling silver collectible sculptures, NFTs of Bugatti’s storied La Voiture Noire, and a one-of-a-kind 24k rose gold sculpture that generated $460,000 at auction in London.

The partnership between the two luxury brands makes a case for how far brands can go with their offerings in the metaverse. Asprey and Bugatti both focus on creating collectible eyewear that embodies luxury, while helping to onboard affluent consumers to Web3 in a way that is more in line with their interests.

Although sales of the Objet Eggs have yet to begin, this latest project is likely to be a hit with jewelers and car enthusiasts, if the duo’s previous drops are anything to go by.

Only available to current holders of Koda or Vessel NFTs, the drop was positioned more towards Yuga Labs’ audience than Gucci’s consumer base. Photo: Yuga Labs

Gucci’s collaboration with Yuga Labs may have been met with mixed responses, but the appetite for the drop outweighed the concerns

What happened: After teasing the collaboration on Twitter last month, Gucci and Yuga Labs (the $4 billion company behind NFT collective Bored Ape Yacht Club) unveiled their “Otherside: Relics by Gucci” project this week — a limited run of physical Gucci- products and NFTs. inspired by Yuga’s ape-themed metaverse game. The first “relic” to be released was 3,333 KodaPendants, which were available for 24 hours on April 6. Each KodaPendant could only be purchased with Apecoin, Yuga’s native cryptocurrency, and each cost 450 APE (around $1,917).

The verdict: The collaboration has not lacked media attention and social buzz, but not all conversations surrounding the drop have been positive. After the official launch, Web3 natives and Yuga Labs’ fanbase took to Twitter (where Yuga Labs provided live updates on the drop) to express their disappointment. A number of users branded it too expensive, while others complained that the website experience did not reflect the price they had paid.

Despite several unsatisfactory responses, the drop sold over half of the pendants on offer just an hour into the 24 hours it was available, demonstrating that – even with obvious pain points – the release wasn’t lacking in willing investors.

The platform brings experience-led benefits to its steadfast community for NFT.NYC. Photo: 9dcc

Gmoney’s 9dcc brings its virtual cohort offline through gamified treasure hunts across New York City

What happened: Gmoney’s 9dcc luxury lifestyle platform will unveil a new treasure hunt concept on NFT.NYC this month. The hunt begins on April 12 at an undisclosed bodega, where participants can secure an “Iteration-03 Baseball Cap,” and will continue at various locations throughout New York City. Each stop requires participants to check in on-site and receive a commemorative Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP) and pin designed by multidisciplinary artist Snuffy.

The verdict: Both Gmoney and 9dcc have found success in the digital terrain. Now they extend their status to the physical as well. Taking the experience offline is a smart move to bring the community together IRL and deepen audience connections.

It’s also a smart way to pique the curiosity of non-Web3 natives in the real world. While they may not be familiar with 9dcc, seeing the brand’s cohort walk around New York City will get people talking, ultimately leading to an increase in interest in the brand and its marketing efforts.