7 Men's Jewelry Dos and Dont's

7 Men’s Jewelry Dos and Don’ts

Men’s fashion doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the fundamental pieces and rules of men’s style, for the most part, have only changed minimally in the last century. Sure, three-button suit jackets have gone away in favor of two-button ones. Changes have occurred for sure. However, the defining rules of men’s fashion, including jewelry, have stood the test of time. Once you learn the basics, you’re pretty much set. 

Things to Keep in Mind

Look, these are just guidelines. You don’t have to follow all the classic style rules if you don’t want to. No one is going to force you. However, if you want to pull off a classic look, don’t feel ashamed for not being fashion-forward. Classic men’s gold wedding bands have been around forever, and they look just as good as they always have. 

If you love the classics, great. If you want to push the style envelope, that’s great, too. Take in the rules and see which ones you like and don’t like. While you can break these style rules, it’s best to make sure you understand them well beforehand and know exactly how and why you’re breaking them. 

Men’s Jewelry Dos and Don’ts

Do: Start Small

If you’re well-acquainted with men’s jewelry and style and all that, feel free to skip this one. Let’s assume you aren’t, though. Diving into men’s jewelry can be daunting if you don’t know what you’re doing, so resist any urges you have to just buy a bunch of pieces and see what you can do with them.

The best thing you can do is buy one or two new pieces at most. If you’ve got jewelry you already have but don’t wear, you may not even need to buy anything upfront. Work with what you have, and buy minimally if you don’t have anything. Once you get your feet under you, you can branch out into exciting rings and watches and all the other fun stuff out there. Until then, keep it simple.

Don’t: Overdo It

This is a common problem guys run into when they’re first trying to add jewelry to their look. One watch looks great, so three watches must look awesome, right? No. No, they do not. You don’t need to know the time in LA, New York and Berlin all at once. Just look at your phone, you monster.

The likelihood is that you aren’t a mogul needing to know several time zones at once. More than likely you’re just overdoing it with the accessories. Until you really know what you’re doing (and even then, be intentional about it), don’t wear more than three pieces of jewelry. There’s a law of diminishing returns after three.

Do: Keep Your Jewelry in Proportion

If you’ve got skinny wrists, you don’t want a large watch. If you have large hands, a really thin band is going to look a bit comical. The point is, make sure the size of all your jewelry is in proportion to the size of your arms and hands. 

The great part is that we have a wide variety of options now as guys. Whether you’re on the slimmer side or you shop at big and tall stores, there are so many options out there that it’s easier than it’s ever been to find something that flatters you.

Don’t: Mix up Casual and Formal Pieces

This should be pretty apparent, but just in case. Watches with nylon straps shouldn’t be worn with a suit, and formal watches of gold shouldn’t be worn with shorts and a t-shirt. Those rules aren’t hard and fast, but the general idea is worth noting. You want to keep casual jewelry with casual outfits and formal with formal. Once you get really good, you can dress up or down certain items with certain outfits, but that takes time to learn.

Do: Start with Jewelry Pieces That Flatter Your Skin Tone

This is often overlooked when guys are buying jewelry. Take into account not just your skin tone but also the undertones in your skin. Depending on if you have cooler or warmer undertones, you’ll want to consider different colors to best complement your skin. If you’re unsure, it’s easy to look up which colors will best flatter your skin tones.

Don’t: Buy a Ring You Won’t Take Care of

If you want to buy an ornate ring that’s going to take a lot of work to keep in good condition, that’s perfectly fine. We love seeing people investing in a quality piece. However, if you aren’t going to take care of an ornate ring, it’s best that you choose something more manageable. The exception here being if you’re willing to budget for several ring cleanings a year done by a professional.

For most people, though, a really ornate ring is something they aren’t going to spend the time taking care of. If that’s not you, awesome. Take care of it and make it a family heirloom. If you just want something to symbolize your commitment without thinking too much about it, consider silicone rings for men instead of a traditional wedding ring.

Do: Choose Pieces You Love

There’s the allure of fast fashion and trends as they come and go. We get it. There’s nothing inherently wrong with hopping on a trend if you really like it, but just consider the staying power of these trends. Some trends pop up and have the staying power to become fashion mainstays. For every camel topcoat, though, there are five JNCO Jeans. Ironically enough, JNCO is still going, but you get our point.

If you’re just getting into wearing jewelry, you may already have broken (or currently be breaking) these rules. If you’re happy with your look as it is, there’s no need to change it. If you’re looking to really get into men’s jewelry, all these rules are, at least, good places to start.

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