How Men Can Define Their Style With Jewelry

Once upon a time, most men didn't bother with jewelry besides classic watches and wedding rings.

In the last five to seven years, though, the demand for men's jewelry (affectionately dubbed "man bling") has soared. (Men's style website Mr. Porter credits the popularity of Instagram, street-style photographers and menswear bloggers, along with celebrities including Kanye West and Johnny Depp.)

What jewelry a man chooses can signify accomplishment, social status, personality and overall style. For example, some men change their shirt daily but wear the same three or four jewelry pieces as part of their regular, personalized look. Or, as the Wall Street Journal put it:

More men are tucking a bracelet under their shirt cuff as they realize that, like a watch, jewelry is a keepsake, an object that can trigger a memory (that time you drank too much Prosecco in Italy) or mark a milestone (that time you got to be one of only 15 vice-presidents).

As you select jewelry for yourself (or a gentleman in your life) keep these tips in mind, courtesy of our friends at Jewelry Creations in downtown Dover:

1) Start off simple. This GQ article advises against buying more than two pieces or wearing more than one new accessory at a time. Go slowly to make sure it truly fits you.

2) Consider which colors and textures will complement the rest of your wardrobe, whether it's pairing a silver bracelet with an everyday watch or stacking a couple of bracelets on your right wrist. And, as Mr. Porter writes, "The metals of your accessories should 'agree.' Stainless steel, silver, white gold and platinum are one team; while brass, copper, yellow gold and rose gold are another."

3) Give it meaning. Is a watch or a bracelet celebrating a promotion, a move across the country or some other major milestone? Choose something that fits both your personality and your everyday style, so you'll carry that reminder with you wherever you go. It just might provide a conversation-starter, too.

Need some inspiration? Zancan's line of bracelets at Jewelry Creations features designs from understated to bold, incorporating materials such as silver, white sapphires, stainless steel, black and white ceramic and kevlar.

Looking for a custom piece? Click here to learn how to get started.