Jewellery As Gifts For Men: A Guide To The Materials

Posted by johnpreston on October 5th, 2016

Due to their wide range of materials as well as prices, styles and designs, jewellery is among the best gifts for men. Most jewellery for men are made of metal, such as sterling silver, gold and copper, although there are also pieces made of wood, bone and leather, which can be considered as the fashion jewellery equivalent.

But before picking up the first piece that catches your attention, you have to keep in mind that not all materials are made equal! You have to consider not just the price of the material – gold is, in general, more expensive than wood, for example –but also its overall effect especially when matching several pieces of jewellery. Here’s a basic guide.

Gold and Gold-plated Pieces

The most popular material, gold has a warmer tone, which isn’t surprising because of its yellow accents. For this reason, it’s a great material to be paired with earth tones, such as browns, as well as deep blues and greens (e.g., royal blue and hunter green) when paired with clothes.

Tip: Avoid extreme differences in gold tones in a single piece of jewellery, such as in two-toned watches, or in multiple pieces when wearing them. The severe dark and light contrasts in gold tones can be tacky especially in larger pieces.

Silver and Polished Stainless Steel

Sterling silver as well as chrome and polished stainless steel have neutral tones, which make them such beautiful materials to work with for in men’s jewellery. These materials read, so to speak, as grays since these don’t fall into the black-to-white gradient, which means that their tines will not sharply clash with most colours while still providing eye-catching contrasts similar to well-worn gold.

Tip: Pair silver pieces with black or dark gray clothes, either casual shirts or business suits, for a sleek and sophisticated look. In summer, silver jewellery can also be paired with light-coloured clothes for a breezy feel.

Copper and Bronze

These are metals with orange hues and, thus, should be worn with care. Keep in mind that these metals have a bolder appearance than gold and silver so wearing copper and bronze jewellery should be done with restraint.

Tip: Wear copper and bronze pieces with casual outfits while still making a personal statement. For example, an heirloom copper ring can be paired with plain jeans and shirt for an understated look.

Wood and bone pieces are also great choices, as is the case for leather jewellery. Since these are earth materials, so to speak, you should be careful about pairing them with more formal attires – in fact, just avoid them altogether with business suits, tuxedos, and smart casual ensembles.

Indeed, mixing and matching the materials of your jewellery with the fabrics, style and colors of your clothes is a must for an elegant yet effortless look for men. Just don’t wear fashion brooches since these are regarded as women’s jewellery – unless, of course, you’re into this sort of fashion statement.

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