The ladies aren’t the only one’s celebrating spring in high style in 2011. Men’s spring trends are showcasing everything from discount diamond jewelry to men’s floral print shirts. Designers are starting to amp up the volume for men’s fashion, with more male models showing up the runway at fashion shows, too. Not only are they sporting trendy clothes, but jewelry and accessories complement men’s fashion, too. The disco look is hot and heavy after dark, so you can add more chains and rings after hours.
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The diamond engagement ring has long been a symbol of commitment and love, but mostly for the female. In previous ages the idea that men wearing jewelry to prove their fidelity and give a promise to be monogamous during the engagement was not even considered. The virulent male stereotype demanded more that a man keep other men from his chosen bride-to-be, but placed little expectation on his own fidelity. As our cultural sensitivities changed and feminism emerged, many women began to wonder about the value of having a diamond ring to show they were now “taken” where a man still had no such device to keep him faithful also. Some feminists thought that the ring echoed of an age of sexual double standards that they refused to either get one or wear it. Now, however, there may be a new trend rising that symbolizes the new understanding of marriage as an equal partnership: the male engagement ring.
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If you’re a modern type of gal that wants to get his and her engagement rings, then you should know how to select one he’ll like. There are a variety of differences from a woman’s engagement, from the style and the look to men’s jewelry settings. While there are now sets available for his and her engagement rings, often the man’s taste and style is significantly different than the brides-to-be. Also, if you’re looking to surprise him and do the proposal, then it’s only fitting you select it for him. Here’s what to keep in mind when selecting a man’s engagement ring.

Male Jewelry Settings

The jewelry settings for men’s engagement rings are different than the woman’s engagement rings. For one, none of them have prongs like in the classic princess-style diamond solitaire. Many don’t even have diamonds, or the diamonds are of a different color than white. The metal choices can vary greatly too, with even tungsten and titanium being popular metal choices. Some even like several different metals in one ring. Remember that most of the cost of the man’s engagement ring will be from the weight of the metal and not the carat of the stone.

Gem Stones

The choice of gemstones is often very subtle. You can have a single small diamond in a man’s engagement ring, but it’s much less overstated than a woman’s ring. Many men prefer black diamonds on their ring, as they’re seen as more masculine and also elegant in appearance. Or, a different colored gemstone than a white diamond is their preference. You won’t see a center diamond surrounded by other stones in a man’s engagement ring. The only time multiple stones are added, they are put around the band in a subtle way that keeps them away from potential harm, so that the man can wear it during strenuous activity.

Style

The style of a man’s engagement ring is created through engravings or artwork on the band, or the construction of the band, more than the gemstones in it. You will see some multi-toned bands and some that are heavily engraved, but few are littered with gemstones, even if the matching woman’s ring is. A great way to add a little style that is hidden is to have the inner band engraved with something of meaning to them. This way they can wear it but not have to show it to anyone.

Get His Opinion

Just like today’s modern woman wants to be included in the design of her engagement ring, men should be consulted in the design and purchase of a ring. Odds are they won’t wear it if you just gave it them without finding out if they wanted a man’s engagement ring. Or, they have strong feelings about the jewelry they will or will not wear. Since the cost of men’s engagement rings can rival that of women’s engagement rings, it’s a good idea to find out ahead of time if they want one or not.

Jewelry has evolved in many ways from its first use thousands of years ago. It is amazing to see the different design trends come and go as certain fashions become popular. Yellow gold used to be more popular than any other type a few decades ago; we now see more and more platinum and white gold that ever before. These trends do change from week to week, so we must keep up with all of the changes. Fashion designers are always looking for new and interesting designs to set themselves apart from the designer crowd. More unique designs can lead to popularity and a major boost in sales.

Technology is somewhat like the fashion industry, it changes often and as more advancements are introduced, other technologies become obsolete, much like the fashion industry. But, the major difference is that some old designs can be renewed, whereas old technologies die and never see the light of day again. Technology has helped the manufacture of jewelry with new and more advance machinery. The jewelry can be made faster, resulting in lower labor costs, but the materials themselves seem to keep up in price.

The combination of technology in jewelry design is something we don’t often see and a company has recently come out with a line of technologically advanced jewelry that serves two purposes, to look good while wearing, and to provide a creature comfort. This new product is known as The O.R.B, which is actually an acronym for Orbital Ring Band and is a Bluetooth device that is worn as a ring that twists open to become a Bluetooth device worn on the ear.

The O.R.B. is very sophisticated and has a built-in high-resolution screen and dual microphones for quality sound while speaking on the phone. It also has caller I.D., text messaging capabilities and the ability to work as a simple calendar to give you meeting reminders. Unlike regular rings, it comes in four sizes including small, medium, large and extra large. It is available in three colors, dark gray, silver and gold. It vibrates on your finger when you have an incoming call and uses the structure of your ear to amplify the sound. This bone-conduction allows the device to sit in the entrance of the ear canal and does not have to be inserted very deeply, making it more comfortable than the average Bluetooth cell phone device.

Accessorizing isn’t just for women it can really help a man to put forward a more professional image. The most important accessories for men in business are watches, rings, and cufflinks. The idea is add a little zing to the wardrobe to make you stand out, but not enough to make you look unprofessional.

Time Pieces

There are numerous timepieces out there that are fun to wear and make you look highly professional. Make sure they are not obtrusive, light up, make noise, or appear to be something you’d wear when scuba diving. A work watch should be somewhat elegant and understated, but substantial enough to be considered a jewelry accessory.

Rings

More and more men are wearing rings to add a touch of class to their wardrobe. Class rings were often the types of ring you might see, something celebrating an alma mater. Wedding bands, of course, are also traditional. However, now men can wear classic signet rings with black diamonds and white diamonds to give them a luxury look. It shows good taste and can also be considered a mark of success.

Cufflinks and Tie Clasps

These aren’t as fashionable as they once were, but still make an awesome addition to a bland wardrobe. Diamond cufflinks are classy for after hours socializing or special company functions. Tie clasps are also add a little sparkle to the wardrobe that has no style.

Style, Not Drama

Let’s be clear, for men’s accessories, especially in the office, the key is to make it understated elegance. You don’t want drama in your wardrobe, particularly at work. Even if you love Disney, keep the Mickey Mouse watches and tie claps out of site. Don’t wear anything that is too loud, or too controversial. The idea is to add a little classic style, not to create controversy in the workplace or distract people from their work. You’ll know you’ve hit it just right when someone notices the small touches, but doesn’t have much to say about them. Be as politically correct as you can, and keep the drama for home parties and special nights out where it doesn’t matter.

Fashion is for every one, especially for those people going on an interview. While the style is more conservative, close attention to how you present your body image can make or break your chances of getting a job. Men, as well as women, sometimes make classic mistakes that are easily avoided. One of the biggest dilemmas is whether to wear jewelry or not to an interview, and even for men wearing jewelry, the answer is yes. The problem comes in when choosing the type of jewelry when heading to that very important meeting. Pick the wrong style, the wrong placement, or something utterly distracting to the interviewer, and they’ll be thinking more about that gaudy tie clip more than your wonderful business qualifications.

What Men Wear

Elegant and business-like tie clips or cuff links are always a good way to class it up. Rings that are not too showy are always a good men’s accessory. What you’re trying to do is accentuate your professionalism, not your fashion taste. Thus, you want something that complements your tie or your business suit. It should never be so personally revealing that it brings up doubts in an interviewer’s mind. You don’t want to pick designs with motifs like horoscopes, pets, or even Disney. You want it to be simple, understated, and elegant. The more undefined in theme, the better. You don’t want the interviewer reading things into it, instead it should act as a simple punctuation point for your business dress. In the same way you want to avoid noisy print shirts and loud colored shirts, your jewelry should also take a more neutral approach.

While it’s quite acceptable in society for a man to wear a stud earring, it’s not going to work in your favor during an interview. Yes, you may be hip and trendy, or even metrosexual, but it’s wiser not to show that aspect of your personality until you have the job. The only time that works is when the company you’re interviewing with requires people who are in on the latest fashion trends.

What Women Wear

Women have far more options, which is why they can make far more mistakes picking jewelry for an interview. The same advice to remain neutral, classic, and elegant goes for women. Hoop earrings and other “after hours” jewelry just makes you look unprofessional, not pretty. Bracelets are better avoided. For one, they’re very distracting if you sit down across from the interviewer and it clangs against the meeting table. Rings are suitable, as long as there aren’t too many of them. The same is true of necklaces and earrings. You may have studs going all around your ear, but the time to show those off is not during the interview. Keep your jewelry choices simple and to a minimum of one piece per placement.

One of the nicest ways to show off a professional demeanor with a conventional business suit is to place a pin carefully on the lapel. It draws the eyes up towards the neckline and gives your face more attention. It should have no motif that means anything to anyone, and just be a classic design. Again, you don’t want to give the interviewer time to think about why you wore that cross pin or if the multi-colored gemstones in your Mother’s ring is indicative of four different kids you have in your household. Instead of thinking about your business qualifications, it’ll draw them into stereotypes that are best left outside the office door. If you don’t want to use a pin, try a set of pearls for the same effect.

Avoid noisy jewelry pieces. Rings that dangle are cute, until they start to be distracting. Bracelets can clang and interrupt the conversation. Even to many necklaces can draw attention to the breasts, instead of to your face, where it belongs. Always consider that the jewelry you are wearing is to help highlight your professionalism, not your body type.

Other Considerations for Both Sexes

Both sexes can wear fashion watches that are professional in appearance. They highlight your desire for punctuality and accuracy. It’s best for them to be thin and discrete, and you don’t want them banging into things and making noise during the interview. Just like you want your clothing to fit exactly right, you want your jewelry to look like it was custom-fit to your frame and outfit. Anything bulky, loose, or untidy is just going to give the impression to the interviewer that you aren’t a very well organized individual.

The Great Frog has international acclaim for many reasons, including being the jeweler to Harry Potter. If jewelry is one of your personal interests, taking the time to explore all of the many jewelry design types and current jewelry trends can be fruitful when on a search for your next perfect piece of jewelry. While there are many different jewelry designers around the world, each has their very own niche in the jewelry market that helps define who they are and the products that they produce for the public to enjoy. The Great Frog is just one of the many jewelry designer choices for those seeking a specific style and trend of jewelry to add to their own personal collection.

Opening up in 1972 with the very first Great Frog store located in London’s Carnaby, this well-known designer of jewelry has been creating a position in the jewelry market all of its own. During a time where London needed a refreshing change from the jewelry products that were currently being sold on the open market, The Great Frog gave birth to the `rock `n roll` jewelry that many of us see and wear today. Rather than stay as a mainstream jewelry manufacturer as many of their competitors have, The Great Frog carved out their own jewelry market for rockers, bikers and any individual that sees him or herself as living on the edge of a conventional world.

With the unique attribute of having every single piece of jewelry sold by The Great Frog as being hand-carved and crafted directly onsite of the location on Ganton Street, Soho, this jewelry designer creates a supply and demand market all of their own. Infamously known as the originating designers and creators of the skull ring, The Great Frog has supplied many worldwide popular rock legends for years, including band members of Metallica, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Aerosmith and Slash. Take any given year and you are sure to see an individual from a rock band sporting some form of jewelry products from The Great Frog. With walking and singing advertising models such as great rock legends, The Great Frog has forever touched the jewelry market as one of the foremost best jewelry designers for gothic, dark jewelry pieces.

If you are a Harry Potter fan like many others around the world, you may recognize the very distinct style of the jewelry used in many ways during the Harry Potter movie series. The Great Frog has been not only known for its rock and roll nature but also for its dark side, including gothic styles and catering to an individual’s own personal tastes by creating bespoke pieces as required. Even with individualized creations, The Great Frog still has quite the influence on existing jewelry pieces and new designs that many people today wish to have made especially for them. If you have a jewelry design idea in mind that would suit the lines of The Great Frog, be sure to talk to a jewelry designer about the options for putting your ideas into reality.

The Great Frog’s many jewelry items are perfect pieces for anyone looking to add to their personal collection. Even if you do not favor the gothic motif or have an open dark side to your nature, there are many jewelry pieces that can suit a number of men, women and children looking to purchase products created by quality craftsmen and women who are a part of The Great Frog tradition. From cross pendants to flying doves and even star earrings, you are sure to find a jewelry product from this exemplary jewelry designer that you will cherish for years to come. One great attribute of The Great Frog is that they do not put themselves in a position where they only create and manufacture one particular style of jewelry. Although they are well known for their dark, gothic nature, many of their current designs are suitable for many individuals of assorted tastes that you will not find elsewhere in the jewelry market.

There are many different designs when it comes to jewelry and every designer is out to create something unique that will turn heads at jewelry shows. From watches to necklaces, jewelers are always trying to design items that really set themselves apart from the sea of items available to consumers. Eventually, these designs make it to the market in one shape or another and many are offered as one-of-kind items. Every once in a while, a product comes along that just astounds us based on the design itself or even the materials used to construct the item.

Such is the case as with a newly designed watch that has a face made form a very out-of-the-ordinary material, dinosaur dung. Yes, dinosaur poop is the material used for the face of this very beautiful and expensive time piece. Just over $11,000, this watch also features a band made from the skin of an American cane toad, making this one of the most unique watches available on the market. Artya, a company based in Switzerland made the watch to set itself apart from the many standard watches made with gold, diamond and titanium elements that have become commonplace in the jewelry market. The dung is millions of years old and was from a dinosaur that once roamed what is now know as the United States.

Jewelry is meant to be looked at and talked about, so this type of watch is the perfect item for someone who really enjoys a great story and wants to own a timepiece that can never truly be duplicated. Imagine the crowds of people gathered around the watch to hear the very interesting story behind it and the stares you will receive for owning such a unique item. This watch is the only one of its kind so far, so owning this watch is truly like owning a piece of history. Forget a diamond watch, everyone has one these days, you will truly be unique with this offering. The dung is fully incased and covered with a sapphire crystal, so smell is certainly not an issue as the dung is so old that it has fossilized to a hard, lustrous shine making it a beautiful material to use for this purpose. If you didn’t know what it was, you would assume it was a beautiful mineral or material that is perfectly suited for the face of a luxury watch.

Men kind of get shortchanged in the jewelry department. Each season there are nowhere near as many new designs and trends for them to enjoy in the same way that the ladies can. That isn’t really fair, is it? Men like well-cut diamonds and high quality precious metals and why shouldn’t they get to select from a few nice pieces to wear each day?

There are many major occasions during which a man can wear or receive diamond jewelry. These include all of the winter holidays, Father’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries and on their wedding day. Because there are now so many excellent choices for men’s diamond jewelry, it is always a good idea to “avoid the crowds” and set out well in advance of the special day or event to locate the best choices.

So, what kinds of items are available for men to buy, or even better, to be given? A quick look at what kind of items women buy frequently, can guide a shopper in the right direction for a man as well. Rings, pendants, ear studs and bracelets outfitted with diamonds are all available for men as well. Let’s examine some of the latest trends. Continue reading »

Most people don’t stop to think about it, but most diamond jewelry is created for women. What about men? Of course they too like the sparkle and dazzling beauty of a well-cut and high quality diamond, but often believe that there are no pieces especially crafted for men to wear on a daily or regular basis.

What kinds of diamond jewelry gifts are available for a man? Well, a quick review of the top-selling diamond jewelry gifts for women will indicate some of the best pieces to acquire for a special man. Rings, ear studs, bracelets and pendants are always among women’s favorites. They are also great gifts for a man, but they must be modified a bit for a different gender.  Continue reading »