21 Rules for Men’s Jewelry: Rings, Pins, Necklaces & More
While clothes make the man, it is how he accessories himself that sets him apart from the fellow men. Men’s jewelry has become very fashionable lately. It embodies a man’s character, personality and how he wants himself to be perceived by others. While females have been tagged more with fashion, fashion is important for the men as well. It reflects an individual’s style, belief and creativity. Fashion has no barriers. It is an open statement. However, no one wants to be doing a fashion blunder for lack of basic fashion sense. Let’s look at what rules are there for men’s jewelry. Again, there are no set boundaries but there are some ground rules that you should be aware of.
Here are the 21 rules for men’s jewelry:
1. Forget the old myth
It is always believed that ornaments are for women, a watch and wedding ring is all that a man needs to wear. But this idea is swiftly becoming obsolete. Brushing these statements aside, you can create your own fashion statement that embodies your personality, charm and thinking. All you need are these basic guidelines that will give you enough space for innovating and experimenting with your jewelry just without overstepping your boundary of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable.
2. Wear what suits your image
Don’t try to run behind what is in and what is not. Wear what you are comfortable with. If you are not a necklace person then you are not. You don’t have to step out of your comfort zone to be a part of the picture.
3. Stand out
Don’t be afraid to stand out. That is the whole purpose of this jewelry thing after all. If you think a lapel pin embodies your personality and projects your love and honour for the organization then why not? Go ahead.
4. Art of emphasis
If you want to draw attention to a particular body part of yours or a part of your raiment, you can accessorize it with stones, though the stones should not be of enormous size. Select a stone that goes with your personality. You can also select a stone that goes with your horoscope.
5. Accessorize appropriately
Keep in mind the place and the mood before accessorizing. Accessorizing for a rock concert may be absolutely different than styling for a job interveiew.
6. No blings
Jewelry constitutes the centrepiece of a man’s look but it should not overwhelm it. Men’s accessories are meant to complement his look. It should not be blingy or too bold and colorful.
7. Size matters
Jewelry for men should be sleek and small. Sleek metallic jewelry has a touch of class to it. Since stones are considered to be feminine so it is better to minimise its size as much as possible.
Given below is your basic introduction to what jewelry you should use and which one is a big no-no.
Men’s Jewelry
i. Men’s wedding rings
Most middle age and older men have wedding rings on their finger. Wedding bands are an acceptable piece of jewelry and probably an indispensible one for most. Choosing a wedding band is very important so it can be worn for life without hassels. It is mostly made of metals like gold, silver and platinum. The latter two are preferred as they go with most shades and style of clothing.
ii. Timepieces
This piece of jewelry is a versatile one. It can be worn on every occasion. The golden rule applies here as well. The simpler the watch is, the better it is. A black leather strapped watch or a simple metallic watch, preferably silver, is a classic piece of jewelry and a very safe choice. If you want to spend some extra money, go for handmade timepieces. They will stand out and be uniquely made for you. Owning a personalized accessory is a sign of royalty.
iii. Blazer buttons
Blazer buttons can break or make the look of a blazer. It can make you stand out in a good way or in a bad way too. So it is imperative that you choose it carefully. Gold and silver are the two obvious choices here.
iv. Cufflinks
Cufflinks is a functional piece of jewelry. Simple and silver cufflinks are more formal and hence preferable as this piece of jewelry is not a casual one. Gold cufflinks are a big ‘no no’. Silk knots can be used as a substitute for the metal.
v. Tie pins
Tie pins mark the revival of the 50’s fashion. It should be narrower than the tie. Tie pins must be silver, platinum or titanium. It is generally worn between the third and fourth button of the shirt. Tie pins can add pizzazz to your character and also keep your tie in place and away from the food plate while you’re dining.
vi. Rings
Rings give us a legion of choices in terms of design, metal and number. Some people use it to flaunt their wealth which makes wearing multiple rings a taboo. But you can wear as many rings as you want to if you think you can pull it off. Just make sure the occasion is suitable for the type of ring you have chosen.
vii. Lapel pins
Lapel pins is worn as a symbol of achievement and belonging to a particular organization. It is a risky piece of jewelry and very few people can pull it off. If the symbol on the pin doesn’t actually mean something to you then probably you should avoid it.
viii. Men’s bracelets
As with the lapel pins, bracelets too should be worn with caution and cause. If you actually support the cause or if it is a gift from someone then it might be acceptable to some extent. Wearing stone studded bracelets and wearing multiple bracelets must be avoided.
P.S. If your hands are not muscular, toned and sexy then you should keep away from this piece of jewelry.
ix. Earrings
Men’s earrings has gained wider acceptance in the recent times. Piercing a single ear is more in vogue than both. Danglers should be avoided at any cost. Piercings might be frowned upon during formal occasions and black tie events and hence must be avoided.
x. Necklace
It is one of the hardest jewelry to wear. The thickness, length and host of other things matter when it comes to choosing an ideal piece of necklace for men. But it can make you stand out if chosen carefully and worn with confidence.
xi. Religious jewelry
This goes without saying that you can wear religious jewelry in accordance with your faith’s teachings but be tactful of others while doing so.
xii. Jewelry to be avoided
No doubt it is a myth that jewelry is used to adorn women alone. Men too can use it to enhance their charm and confidence but there are a few jewelleries that fail terribly at this and must be avoided as much as possible. Here is a list:
- Toe rings
- Other piercings
- Ethnic jewelry
- Grills
- Anklets
- Armlets
- Belly piercing
- Nose rings
xiii. Jewelry material
There is no restriction of the material you use for the jewelry. Metals like gold, silver, platinum and titanium are mostly used. Same goes with the stones. From diamonds to rubies anything and everything is acceptable as long as you follow the rules mentioned above. It is to be kept in mind that usage of stones in jewelry is considered either feminine or gaudy so its use should be minimum.
xiv. What goes with what?
Only a single metal tone should be worn at a time. Silver jewelry goes with most of the colors, especially greys, blacks and white. As with gold, it goes well with dull green, royal blue and brown. Leather jewelry should be worn with blue jeans. Painted leather should be avoided at all costs.
These are some of the very basic help tips that men require to keep in mind while choosing jewelry for themselves. This is how you keep it simple and real and make a statement even without actually saying anything.