Not all men like to wear jewelry, while others like the idea of wearing jewelry, but don’t know where to get started, and still others do wear jewelry, but of course, have different tastes and styles. There are some pieces, however, where you can’t go wrong whether you’re buying for yourself, as a gift, for a man who is used to wearing jewelry, or for a man who is new to wearing jewelry. And what better time to learn about men’s jewelry than when Father’s Day is just around the corner?

The jewelry…

Cufflinks: Yes, men still wear cufflinks in 2020. In fact, they’re an excellent finishing touch to a suit or tux, which is exactly why they’re still in style and still popular. Of course, cufflinks aren’t worn on a daily basis; they’re worn to formal occasions and special events and they’re worn with dress shirts that don’t have buttons on the cuff. For the best look, go for classic looking cuffs rather than novelty cufflinks, which go out of style quickly. Fortunately, there are plenty of cufflink types to choose from that can give a suit that extra touch of class such as bullet back, fixed backing or whale back cufflinks.

Mens silver and oval gemstone cufflinks

Earrings: The key to wearing men’s earrings is to wear them in a way that demonstrates personal style (and not in a way that demonstrates adolescence – unless of course you are an adolescent). It’s also important to know when and where to wear men’s earrings. For example, much like body tattoos, not every place of employment will be eager to see men’s earrings on display at the office. Traditional or formal occasions might not be appropriate either. On the other hand, today most places and most people are pretty accepting of men’s earrings and won’t mind them as long as they’re worn stylishly. The best way to ensure a stylish look is to match the earrings to the wearer’s skin tone and face shape. For example, men with fair or pale skin look best with white or silver metals, whereas men with olive or dark skin can attractively wear yellow gold earrings. In addition, men with long or square-shaped faces look best with round earrings, but men with round faces look better with square earrings. Heart-shaped faces go best with straight earrings. For the first-time earring most men prefer to start with a stud and then later they might move on to something a bit more noticeable such as a subtle hoop earring or even a novelty earring. Of course, there are plenty more styles to choose from. The ones shown here are just to get you started.

Necklaces: While their popularity as a men’s fashion item tends to fade in and out, like women, men have been wearing necklaces for a long time, although the necklaces they wear are quite different from the necklaces that women wear. Men’s necklaces tend to be more understated and the type of metal that the necklace is made from is what truly defines the look. When choosing a necklace for men, look for chains that will look good whether worn on top of the shirt or tucked under so that just part of the chain is visible. Also keep in mind that overly thick, large chains are harder to pull off for most men and are more trendy than they are classic. It’s also important to choose chains that complement height and size. Taller and bigger men will need wider and longer chains than shorter or slimmer men.

Rings: Men have been wearing rings for centuries (we’re not talking about wedding rings here – that’s a whole other blog), but the fashion seems to wax and wane and admittedly, it’s not for everyone. However, some guys can really rock a ring. In fact, most can if they know how to wear them. Like women’s rings, men’s rings can be worn on any finger; the index, the middle, the pinky, the ring finger, the thumb, are all good, but it’s really up to the style of the person wearing the ring. However, in addition to style and preferences, practicality should be considered too. For example, a big or bulky ring worn on the middle finger might interfere with the use of the ring and index finger. Or wearing a ring on the ring finger will cause most people to assume the wearer is married even if he’s not. On the other hand, many men like thumb rings because there’s usually lots of space on the thumb for any size ring. To get the right ring, the right metal choice is important. The most popular metals used for men’s rings are gold, platinum, tungsten, titanium and silver.

Mens crest signet ring in yellow and white gold

Tie clips: Much like cufflinks, tie clips can take a suit to a whole other level and put the finishing touch on a man’s attire. Indeed, tie clips are very fashionable, having experienced a renaissance in men’s fashion recently. Plus, in addition to adding style and grace to a suit, tie clips are also functional because they keep the tie in place by securing it to the shirt. There are many different options and designs to choose from, but the type you wear should be determined by the look you’re going for or the event you’re attending. A more casual look goes best with tie clips that have a subtle design whereas fancy or formal wear needs a tie clip that is more elegant. Keep in mind that tie clips won’t look right if they’re ostentatious; they work best as an accessory that completes a look not one that screams for attention. There are many different types of tie clips to choose from, such as the tie bar, tie chain, and tie stick, but the most important thing is to wear it correctly. A properly worn tie clip doesn’t extend past the tie (it should only go approximately 3/4 of the way across the width of the tie) and it should be placed between the third and fourth buttons of your dress shirt. Also, if you’re wearing a belt, your tie clip will look best if the metals on your belt and the metal used for your tie clip match.

The takeaway

At the end of the day, whatever piece of jewelry you choose to buy for yourself or give as a gift, it should suit the style and tastes of the person who will be wearing it so he feels comfortable with it. And remember that when it comes to men’s accessories, less is usually more; jewelry should be worn to complement, not be the focal point, of a man’s attire. Any piece of jewelry chosen well and worn properly will accomplish that. And if you can’t quite find what you’re looking for and have your own idea for a piece of jewelry, we’re here to help.

Have your own idea for men’s jewelry? We can custom make it for you!