Resolved to start exploring the world of men’s jewelry in 2024? You’ve probably watched your friends start adding chains, bracelets and more to their accessory collections, and now you’re feeling left behind. Don’t worry–it’s easier than you think to start showing off some jewelry of your own! In this blog, we’ll give you the rundown on some common styles of men’s jewelry and some suggestions on when and how to wear them.

1. Understanding Various Types of Men’s Jewelry
2. Choosing the Right Jewelry for Formal Occasions
3. Elevating Casual Looks With The Right Accessories

I. Understanding Various Types of Men's Jewelry

The world of men’s jewelry is vast and varied. However, there are a few common categories of frequently worn men’s accessories:

1. Chains: These classic and versatile accessories come in a wide variety of styles and materials. Popular styles include curb chains, cable chains, Cuban links, rope chains and Figaro chains. They are common to see on both jewelry aficionados and men just dipping their toes into the world of jewelry for the first time. Chains add a little something extra to both casual and formal looks. They’re easy to style, and a great addition to any guy’s jewelry collection. 
2. Men’s Pendants: Pendants add a bit of personality to your jewelry box. They can feature just about any motif, symbol, charm or design. They are a great way to express something meaningful, or just to show off a piece that looks cool to you! Popular materials for pendants include precious metals, alternative metals, diamonds and gemstones. 
3. Link Bracelets: As their name suggests, link bracelets consist of interlocking metal links that create a flexible, comfortable wrist accessory. Like chain links necklaces, link bracelets come in plenty of styles. Box links, curb links and Cuban links are popular styles. They tend to be made of either precious metals or alternative metals, and may be embellished with diamonds or gemstones.
4. Bolo Bracelets: Bolo bracelets are adjustable bracelets, typically beaded. They feature a sliding mechanism that allows you to loosen or tighten the bracelet to your comfort level. They may have decorative features at the ends of the cords. The beads are typically made from semi-precious stones or other natural materials, including lava beads or wood beads. They tend to have a rustic look.

1. Bands: The most traditional type of men’s jewelry, bands are most commonly wedding rings. However, there is an increasing selection of fashion bands for men. Bands tend to be made from either precious metals like gold and platinum or high quality alternative metals like stainless steel or titanium. 
2. Earrings: An increasingly popular option for guys looking to express their individual style, men’s earrings come in hoop, stud and dangle styles. They may be as simple as a metal stud or as elaborate as a gemstone-encrusted dangling piece. 

Each type of men’s jewelry offers a unique and distinctive way to accessorize. They all have a place in your accessory collection, regardless of your personal style. Ultimately, what you purchase depends on your preferences, occasions, and sensibilities. 

II. Choosing the Right Jewelry for Formal Occasions

 When it comes to choosing jewelry, it’s all about dressing appropriately for the occasion. Formal events can feel overwhelming, and you might find yourself standing in front of your jewelry collection without a clue of what to wear. Don’t worry: here are a few tried-and-true tips on how to curate your formal jewelry looks.

Stainless Steel Chain Necklaces

For formal occasions, we recommend keeping things subtle and sophisticated. Minimalistic pieces like thin chains or link bracelets are an excellent option. Opt for simple metals like stainless steel that are easy to pair with a suit, watch and cufflinks. Mixing metals is an increasingly popular trend for casual looks, but for formal events, we recommend matching the color of your metal pieces. 

Men’s Diamond Bracelets

If you want to add a bit of flash to your look, go for pieces with some understated diamond accents. Many link bracelets have simple diamond studding to add that touch of shine without overwhelming the rest of your look. Keep things cohesive by choosing metal colors that complement your outfit and other jewelry pieces. For instance, if you are wearing a watch of white-toned stainless steel, pair it with a similarly colored chain. 

For elegant looks, less is more. Classic, refined accessories will elevate your suit and tie without drowning out the overall aesthetic. You can show off both your sharp clothing and your taste in jewelry by keeping things balanced.

III. Elevating Casual Looks with the Right Accessories

Choosing jewelry to pair with your everyday outfits allows for a little more flexibility and creativity compared to formal events. Casual occasions offer a chance to show off your personal style, whether that’s rustic and rugged or polished and elegant. At the end of the day, choose what you feel makes your individual style shine through. 

Stainless Steel Jewelry 

While it’s best to keep things uniform on formal occasions, casual ‘fits give you an opportunity to mix metals and materials for eye-catching looks. Stainless steel jewelry comes in plenty of tones, giving you lots of room to mix and match colors to your heart’s content. You can also incorporate materials like leather or beads for an eclectic vibe. Pair chains of different gauges for a nice mix of visual weights and textures. 

Men’s Pendant Necklaces

Layering is another way to add depth and intrigue to your outfits. It’s easy to layer necklaces and bracelets: just wear a few pieces at a time that complement each other nicely. For instance, a men’s pendant necklace or men's dog tag necklace might pair well with a white-toned stainless steel chain. Ensure there’s a balance between layers, such as some distance between your necklaces, to avoid looking cluttered. 

Men’s Diamond Jewelry

Specific occasions may call for different looks. If you’re headed out to run some errands, grab grub or hang with friends, you might want to keep it a bit lighter. However, if you’re off to a party or a night out, amp things up a bit with some chunkier pieces, bigger pendants or diamonds. Regardless of where you are going, it’s a good idea to keep tones and styles in line with those of your outfit. Earthy tones and rugged looks pair well with bolo bracelets, while sleeker looks invite more refined jewelry.
These men's diamond hoop earrings are a great example of a way to add some sleek and subtle shine to your look.

Comfort and Confidence: Shop Men’s Jewelry from Robert Alton

Jewelry boosts a guy’s confidence in its own special way. From the confidence that comes with a well curated look to the joy of refining your sense of style, jewelry doesn’t just help enhance your appearance–it offers a sense of personal fulfillment. So as you work to build your jewelry collection and learn how to style your pieces, keep in mind that the most important thing about jewelry is that it helps you express yourself. We hope these tips are helpful, but always feel free to experiment with your own looks!

To start building your own men’s jewelry collection, come check out Robert Alton. We specialize in men’s jewelry made with high quality alternative metals and real diamonds. Our collection includes plenty of options for casual looks, formal looks and anything in between.