Buying for a Man
Secrets of giving him jewelry he loves and loves to wear.
Buying jewelry for a man seems mysterious and often intimidating. In the interest of all those who receive gifts that elicit a certain puzzled, even exasperated response, we offer a few guidelines.
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There’s a power to men’s jewelry that sends signals about who he is, what commitments he’s made, his status in society and what he holds dear.
1. Start with the man himself.
Who is he? What does he like? What does he wear now? Give him something that best represents his individual taste, his work or his lifestyle and jives with his level of comfort with wearing jewelry.
2. Keep it simple.
Remember the KISS: Keep It Simple and Subtle. Unless you are sure he wants diamond-stud earrings, avoid trends and consider functional jewelry first, which is something men gravitate toward. Start with basic, more traditional pieces such as watches, cufflinks, tie clips or pins and money clips. A man will always agree to wear a wedding band. Class or team rings and signets, military jewelry and bracelets such as ID, cuff, leather or thread are also popular choices appreciated by men.
3. Materials and how he wears them matters.
Traditional rules dictate that men’s fashion should only feature one metal tone at a time. Gold is a color accent that wears well with browns and other earth tones such as deep blue or green. Silver reads more as a neutral gray and is harmonious with any color. Titanium and tungsten are gaining in popularity due to their durability, scratch- and crack-resistance, industrial look and casual, modern appeal. Leather reads as natural and earthy while precious gemstones work best when used in understated design.
4. Understand jewelry’s symbolism in a man’s world.
Jewelry has a different meaning for a man than for a woman. To some, ornamental rings symbolize success and wealth while others see them as a signal of affiliation to a particular group or organization. In the business world, company dress codes can severely restrict the type of jewelry a man can wear. Often, they hear the words, “modest,” “tasteful,” “appropriate” or “masculine” when referring to jewelry, which includes tie accents, watches, cuff-links, wedding bands, lapel pins, military jewelry and occasionally bracelets and earrings.
3. Materials and how he wears them matters.
Traditional rules dictate that men’s fashion should only feature one metal tone at a time. Gold is a color accent that wears well with browns and other earth tones such as deep blue or green. Silver reads more as a neutral gray and is harmonious with any color. Titanium and tungsten are gaining in popularity due to their durability, scratch- and crack-resistance, industrial look and casual, modern appeal. Leather reads as natural and earthy while precious gemstones work best when used in understated design.
4. Understand jewelry’s symbolism in a man’s world.
Jewelry has a different meaning for a man than for a woman. To some, ornamental rings symbolize success and wealth while others see them as a signal of affiliation to a particular group or organization. In the business world, company dress codes can severely restrict the type of jewelry a man can wear. Often, they hear the words, “modest,” “tasteful,” “appropriate” or “masculine” when referring to jewelry, which includes tie accents, watches, cuff-links, wedding bands, lapel pins, military jewelry and occasionally bracelets and earrings.
5. Men enjoy wearing jewelry that holds emotional meaning for him.
Men love pieces that spark his emotions and shared memories. A class or military service ring, dog tags, a belt buckle that belonged to his dad, his wedding ring – all bring to mind an emotional touchstone of a meaningful time or person in his life. The pieces he chooses to wear usually have special significance to him, based on the people, places or ideas they represent. Engraving a special message, an important date or initials makes the piece more special and representative of a memory or relationship, increasing the chance that he’ll wear it.
6. Jewelry gets men noticed.
For men, jewelry is a great conversation starter. If that conversation involves him defending his choice to wear it, though, consider another option. Remember that the man makes the jewelry, and if he’s comfortable wearing it, his confidence will soar. And your man’s confidence is a great thing for you to support.
