Women shouldn’t have all the fun when it comes to jewelry. But selecting jewelry for men can be tricky. In the past, men’s jewelry consisted mainly of a simple watch and a wedding ring. But the trend toward business casual attire in the workplace has led to more men using accessories to set themselves apart and express their personal style.
While watches and wedding rings are still the centerpieces of men’s accessories, men are branching out those standard pieces to accessorize other types of rings, some with gem stones, as well as with watches offering a wide range of sophisticated features. Wrist jewelry for men has gained popularity, making bracelets a staple accessory. Necklaces, chains, pendants, cufflinks, and tie components are all gaining favor among men as well.
Gold and silver have typically been the go-to metals for jewelry, but the current trend for men is jewelry that is modern and sleek, and designed with alternative, masculine metals that are traditionally associated with cars and the aerospace industry. Here are a variety of popular metals for men:
Stainless steel is a tough, yet attractive metal that is great for bold styles. It is nearly indestructible, stands up well to wear and tear, and is easy to maintain.
Titanium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal. Titanium is corrosion-resistant, crack-resistant, and hypoallergenic. It is typically grey, although the anodizing process can be used to create black and other colors.
Tungsten carbide is the hardest metal on earth. The only jewelry material harder than tungsten is a diamond. It is scratch-resistant and tarnish-resistant, making it a good choice for men with an active lifestyle. It offers a greyish hue with an oxidized appearance and a mirror finish. It is often inlayed with other metals.
Palladium is one of the rarest metals in the world. It offers superior resistance to corrosion and oxidation. Palladium is hypoallergenic and will not tarnish and will maintain its white finish. It is less expensive and lighter in weight than platinum.
Cobalt chrome offers exceptional strength and is shatter proof. While not scratch proof like tungsten carbide, it is harder to scratch than stainless steel. It is also resistant to corrosion and fading and will maintain its silvery white finish. It is also hypoallergenic. Unlike titanium and tungsten, cobalt can be resized if needed.
The options for men’s jewelry are endless and include pieces for all occasions, from casual to formal and everything in between. When accessorizing with jewelry, men should keep it simple and classic and stick to wearing one metal tone at a time.
