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.
“ID” tags – nothing like the metal pieces worn by people in the military, the ID tags sported by the likes of Justin Timberlake and Jamie Foxx are crafted of precious metals and are simply and elegantly adorned with a single, high-quality diamond placed in the center or along the bottom of the oblong panel. Because most men opt for white gold, platinum or even tungsten jewelry, a pendant of this sort will be a great and valuable gift.
Other pendant styles – not all pendants for men are of the ID style, and many would gladly wear some of the popular man’s charm pendants that can include shapes like religious symbols, dollar signs, skulls, dice, or even a money bag all crafted from diamonds and precious metals.
Rings with “bling” – rings are worn by the majority of married men, and today’s jewelers understand that unique metals and diamonds are required for both the bride and the groom. There are also diamond rings for men that appear in a more traditional format. For instance, many men’s diamond rings are of the “pinky” style or are paired with a flat setting, traditionally onyx or mother-of-pearl, where the diamond(s) are inlaid into the other stone. Additionally, many modern men’s diamond rings are also popular shapes, including initials, horseshoes, or signs from a club or organization to which they belong.
Ear studs – long gone are the days when men were limited to wearing a single stud in a single ear, and today it is perfectly acceptable for a man to wear several studs in one or both ears. There are many simple diamond studs made specifically for a masculine wearer, and the general rule is to wear, or buy, as large a stone as possible, and in the simplest or plainest setting available.
Wrist wear – while an elegant and classy watch set with diamonds is always something a man would like to wear, this is not necessarily appropriate for day to day life. There are other options for wrist wear that allow a man to don a diamond and some precious metal whenever he’d like. These include I.D. bracelets and simple chains. The number of options in this category can be incredibly overwhelming and it is advisable to have some styles in mind before beginning to shop. For example, if buying an I.D. bracelet, what kind of metal will it be made from? Will it have only a single diamond, or should it have several? Will it be a heavy chain with a dog tag style face or will it be less rugged? Such considerations will help to narrow the field when setting out to find the perfect diamond gift.
Engraving – many masculine jewelry pieces will also require some engraving to make them custom and special. If the item is intended as a gift it is fairly important to allow ample time for the process to occur as it may cause a delay in actually obtaining the piece. Dog tag pendants, I.D. bracelets, watches and even rings, and which can take several days or weeks depending upon the jeweler and the specific item.
Metals – remember that most modern jewelers are no longer limited to gold, silver, platinum or titanium. There are now also many alternative metals that offer a unique style and look, can be less costly and far more durable and can even pair beautifully with diamonds but in an entirely original fashion. These metals include tungsten, palladium, zirconium, rhodium and niobium and they should be investigated if a truly unique and customized piece of diamond jewelry for a man is desired.