Men's Jewelry: Defining a Sense of Style

Men's jewelry isn't a new concept by any means. Necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings have long been worn to express strength, wealth and personal tastes. Today, men continue to use these accessories to shape the definition of masculine style, whether that be sleek pieces to elevate crisp suits, comfortable designs built for everyday wear or avant-garde statement-makers.

Explore this selection of techniques and materials to help you design wow-worthy complements to modern menswear.

Chain:

Metal is highly favored in men's jewelry because of its stylistic versatility and rugged resistance to damage. Incorporating chain is an easy way to bring metallic appeal, texture and a visual break to your pieces. Higher-end metals like gold and sterling silver are timeless and can be a neutral base for embellishment. These classics are well suited for both special occasion jewelry and daily staples. For humid climates or customers needing jewelry with a bit more grit, we highly recommend stainless steel. This industrial metal is tarnish resistant and exceptionally durable.

Gunmetal:

Another popular metal look is the moody, dark sheen of gunmetal. Because of its grey tones, gunmetal has become increasingly popular as accents in punk, military, goth and industrial-style pieces. Don't let these edgy aesthetics limit you; gunmetal beads can also be used to form sleek and sophisticated accessories ideal for business-casual and modern formal attire. For a similar look design with Hemalyke™ beads and components. This manmade metallic-grey stone shines with a stormy mirror-like finish nearly indistinguishable from gunmetal.

Gemstones:

Fresh with tradition, symbolism and earthen appeal, gemstones are an excellent material for all styles of men's jewelry. Hardy gemstones like quartz crystal and agate appear in a variety of hues making them popular for all-purpose designs. Howlite on the other hand is also seen in numerous shades but is much softer and better suited for special occasion designs. Other favorites for men's jewelry include obsidian, ruby, labradorite and turquoise. Our selection offers a wide spectrum of colors, shapes and hardness to cater to all of your customers.

Pearls:

The most important aspect of this trend is finding pearls that speak to gender-neutral styles. A popular choice is white rounds, but shades of mauve, cream and beige are also common. To create a bold, memorable design, opt for brightly colored crystal pearls in vivid hues, or choose unusual shapes like polygons, teardrops and others.

What you pair with pearls is just as important. Many designers are using traditionally masculine elements, like thick chain, metal links and safety pins. Links and pendants with axes, locks, skulls and crosses add an edgy feel to pearl designs. Designers are also pairing pearls with chains to play on other popular men's necklaces.

For designs with a Boho feel, pair pearls with gemstones, crystals and metal beads. Gemstones add a natural, earthen feel to jewelry designs. This combination is ideal for men who love the outdoors or are spiritual and believe in the metaphysical properties of gemstones. Using crystals in pearl jewelry can bring out the wearer's softer side and is perfect for guys who love to shine in the spotlight. For an extra, stylish look that oozes luxury, incorporate metal beads with smooth finishes or precious metals.

Kumihimo:

Use this ancient Japanese braiding technique to combine threads, chains, leather and more to form intricate and beautiful cords. Meditative qualities, beautiful simplicity and easy customization make kumihimo a great addition to any design. A braided look can provide a beautiful balance of bulk and soft detail.

Leather and Leatherette Cord:

Leather is very durable, pliable, comfortable and a core element for many menswear styles. Create bolo ties, bracelets, rings and more for biker edge and Western-inspired looks. Use rivets, stamps and studs to embellish its soft surface, mold sheets into new shapes or weave strips into complex details. In many designs, leatherette can be used in place of leather as a cost-effective and animal-friendly alternative.

Wood, Bone and Horn:

Get back to nature with styles inspired by the early ages of man. Wood, bone, horn and other natural-based materials cater to those who prefer traditional and eco-conscious fashion choices. Taiwanese cheesewood beads are refined from fast-growing cultivated trees and offer a lightweight feel and the timeless beauty of wood-grain. Bone is porous and can be easily dyed or embellished with hand-carved patterns, mantras or symbols for added personalization.

Stacked Jewelry:

The stacked bracelet trend incorporates various popular elements, including earthy palettes and "rugged" materials like hammered metals, hemp, and rough-cut gemstones such as darker bone beads, lava rocks, and wood beads, which exude toughness and masculinity. Contrasts play a key role too; dark tones coupled with brighter hues create visually pleasing patterns, offering a subtle elegance. Mixing textures is also prevalent, often pairing leather with metal components like chain, clasps, or links. The interplay of natural and man-made materials—combining gemstones with metal, wood with glass, or leather with chain—serves as an effective way to highlight a balance between softness and strength, echoing common themes in men's fashion, literature, and life.

Cuff Links:

Cuff links have been a constant element of men's fashion for centuries. Recently their popularity has once again risen to star status, accepted as a fashionable trend among men (and women!) of all ages. Before there were sleeve cuff buttons, there were cuff links--and before there were cuff links, men's shirts were held together at the wrist using cord or ribbon. These days, cuff links are associated with men's fine evening wear: black tie (semi-formal--black jacket and tie worn to a wedding) and white tie (full formal--white tie and tails worn to a Nobel Prize ceremony).

Men's fashion has historically allowed very little space for a guy to show his personality. He might have a college ring or a collection of novelty ties--but the more formal the dress code, the less room he had to express himself. The businessman's uniform of suit and tie meant cuff links and associated accessory jewelry (tie tacs, tie bars and shirt studs) gave men a way to say a little bit about themselves every single day.

Note: Only certain styles of men's shirts accept cuff links; these can be called kissing cuffs, double cuffs or French cuffs.

Just like buttons, cufflinks come in many shapes, sizes, styles and materials. They are both functional and ornamental. They are not actually considered formalwear, although some style guides consider wearing cuff links on patterned shirts to be over the top.

Making Personalized Cuff Links

Cuff links, like other pieces of jewelry, can be made for formal and informal wear. Fill a cuff link bezel setting with colorful polymer clay for a laid-back look, or a gemstone cabochon for something more formal. Glue on a sports team pendant so he can wear something to work on game day (especially if he's going to miss seeing it in person).Got a formal wedding to dress up for? Make personalized cuff links for the father of the bride! Just pick up a cuff link with pad and adhere cat's eye glass or shell cabochons in the wedding colors. Match 'em to the tie and cummerbund for full impact.

Men's Jewelry Sets

Cuff links can be made as a pair or as part of a jewelry set, like earrings are for women's jewelry. The other pieces commonly created for the guys include a watch band, tie clip or tie tac and--in the most formal settings--shirt studs. Shirt studs are probably the most uncommon of the three, as they are worn only with black tie and white tie clothing.

Shirt studs are embellished findings that take the place of shirt front buttons in tuxedo and other formal dress shirts. Those "dots" down the front of a tuxedo shirt aren't buttons, they're replacements for the buttons.

Tie tacs and tie clips are more common. They keep a long business tie from falling into a fellow's coffee or soup. They can easily be made to match cuff links by gluing matching cabochons onto tie tac or tie clip findings.