Jewelry: Men and Their Bling

  Jewelry for men has always been a touchy topic. Some say that jewelry can take away the manliness, and others say if worn correctly, it can complement it. The bottom line is that jewelry, if worn correctly and not overdone, can add to a guy’s persona and fashion sense. The main items that I will discuss are watches, bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces.

  Let’s begin with watches. There are many makes of watches out in the stores that offer numerous great looks; they can range in cost from $20 to $100,000. We all know that there are the high level watches, such as a Rolex. These are a bit out of most people’s price range and in order to stay fair, we won’t discuss them. Realistically, we will look at the watches that only go up to the $1500 range.

  A watch makes a statement and thus they are the most common piece of jewelry worn by a man. Watches are not only a common piece of jewelry a man can wear, but the most important. It performs the key function of letting you know what time it is, but it is the one piece of jewelry that can be worn by any guy.

  Let’s start from the top! Tag Heuer is a beautiful and stylish watch that can be worn, anywhere, anytime. If you are into water activities such as diving, this watch can be worn in water up to 100 meters in depth! The basic style of Tag Heuer that I will recommend is the “Aquaracer Automatic Chronograph”. Such a fancy name to describe such a sleek watch! This watch has every function you would need and above all looks great! The great advantage to Tag Heuer is that the watches come in many colors, and most wrist bands can be interchanged, so you can’t really go wrong. Tag Heuers are mostly rounded and so if you aren’t into the “round look” then they might not be the make for you. The next brand of watch that I would recommend is Kenneth Cole. This brand previously is very dependable and fashionable. The main feature that separates this make from the Tag Heuer is the diving capabilities. Kenneth Cole has a great selection of watches in design that vary from the classic round to square or rectangle. They also have a wide range of colors and styles to choose from. They make a similar style to Tag Heuer called the “Linked In Time”. Another style to consider is the rectangular with a leather band that screams style and is called the “Wrist Up”. This beautiful watch has a black lizard embossed wrist to add to the detail.

  The next topic is the bracelet. There are some styles of bracelets that can be worn by a guy. These are leather and silver. I would suggest the leather style bracelet for the guy who is earthy and chill, such as a surfer. A small braided leather bracelet or a large leather braided bracelet is a great look. Definitely stay with the simple colors, black and brown and not too much detail; the simpler the better. Silver bracelets best fit the “city boy”. The main thing here is to keep to a bracelet with no, or close to no, detail. Too much detail in the bracelet makes it feminine. So a simple thing to remember with bracelets, keep it simple. Rings and earrings can be a very feminine thing but there are a few rules that can keep them manly. Rings, if you’re married, are great and simple, so keep them on! If you are not married, then don’t overdue it with more than one ring. Try to wear them on the opposite hand. Simple and silver are good guides in choosing a ring for fun. Gold can look very tacky on a guy if it’s not a wedding band so be very careful when choosing. The same rule applies for earrings so keep it smaller and simpler.

  Finally there are necklaces. The first type of necklace that can be worn with style is a religious necklace. Men commonly wear a cross or a Jewish star. You can get gold or silver depending on your preference and what you can afford. This style necklace is a simple and classic style that men have been wearing for years. Actually, you are probably thinking to yourself that you already have one and you’re one step ahead of the game! The next kind of necklace is the “Dog Tag”. “Dog Tags” are very popular right now. You will find them anywhere from the small mom and pop jewelry store to Tiffany’s. “Dog Tag” necklaces traditionally have your name and your city engraved on them. You can even put a “nick name” or “special name” on your dog tag. If you choose not to do this, that’s cool too, it will just be a plain “Dog Tag”. It is all a matter a preference but most men prefer the engraved. This is a very strong and masculine look.

  The question about men with jewelry has been answered. Just remember what looks good and where you should draw the line. As long as you always remember that, “less is more”, and, the “simpler the better”, then you are golden! Keep in mind that the watch is the one item where you can go crazy and change your look from day to day or outfit to outfit. So now, go shop, and don’t be afraid to wear a piece of jewelry!

About the author:

  Rochel Friedlander has spent her last five years working in men's fashion in New York City. Now living in Los Angeles, she continues to move forward in the fashion industry. During her sales experience, she has guided such retailers as Macys, Urban Outfitters, Atrium, E street denim, and National Jean Company to hit the right trends in the marketplace. Her knowledge of men's fashion comes from her experience and extensive travel of the world. She has spent years living in London, England and toured through France, Australia, Greece, Italy, and many more countries. This has helped her understanding of European trends and how they are transposed into the North American market.