It wasn’t that long ago when men's jewellery was typically defined by the duopoly of the watch and wedding band. Today, though, it’s more than acceptable to sport a wide range of accoutrements. For instance, Luca Rubinacci’s wrist is laden with thin strips of colour thanks to his eponymous label’s silk lace bracelets that are accented with a delicate coral pendant, whereas, our founder Wei Koh, has a penchant for bold gold rings from his go-to jeweller The Great Frog. So, times have indeed changed and jewellery is the perfect accessory to reflect a subversive side to one’s character. Going into the warmer months we will thus be showing more skin, so whether it’s a bracelet or a necklace, by carefully adding a few pieces of jewellery into your ensemble is the perfect way to up your game. Here’s how.
Rings
There are two types of rings that you can wear. The first is a signet ring, which is typically found on your little finger that perhaps displays your family crest. If you’re more adventurous than that, it could depict a skull and crossbones, like Britain’s oldest family-owned jeweller, Deakin & Francis, have on offer. Alternatively, Native American-inspired rings are particularly en vogue at the moment, favoured due to their obvious links with American heritage. The New Mexico-based jeweller Red Rabbit Trading Co. uses ancient techniques whereby melting down vintage silver coins and inlaying turquoise stones. If you prefer a more minimalist aesthetic, Phira London should be your go-to. Be vigilant, though: the range is unisex so a piece or two might go missing.
Beaded Bracelets
Spirituality can often be manifested in jewellery form, which is exactly what Nialaya is about. Primarily a beaded bracelet brand, the range has entry-level offerings from plain onyx beads scaling up to intricately designed silver, gold and semi-precious stone bracelets. With something for everyone, it’s an easy conversation starter that can reflect your personality in more ways than one. When it comes to sporting beaded bracelets, keep them all to one wrist and don’t wear more than three at one given time.
Leather Bracelets
Arguably the most rustic of these five types of jewellery, for obvious reasons, leather bracelets are often the most affordable. Using the finest Italian and French leather, the likes of Tateossian, Jan Leslie and Nialaya then hand-braid or intertwine the thin strips of leather before binding them together with a simple, clean clasp or closure. It’s a simple look that most of the time looks best when worn by itself. Try not to pile them up on top of each other as they’re of a medium thickness, so your wrist could look clunky and overly busy.
Metal Bands
This is definitely the most formal style of jewellery used today due to its sheer simplicity and minimalist aesthetic and as such is great worn by itself. Traditionally, the rule about metal jewellery was to not clash it with different coloured metals, which makes perfect sense. The trouble is when you start to overload with one metal that things can get a little 'gangster.' More interesting would be to mix a gold ring with a copper bracelet for example. Metal bands can also have a very personal finish in the form of engraving, whether that be a date, name or inscription of some sort.
String Bracelets
The best thing about string bracelets is that they can be easily stacked up on top of each other due to their thinness. As such, they don’t appear too clunky all together. Luca Rubinacci is a master of this and this eponymous label has a wide range of these bracelets in an array of colours in silk. One their own, they still provide a subtle pop of colour against a shirt cuff or watch strap. Rubinacci's coral pendant, which is a Neapolitan good luck charm, is a nice touch for the summer. A great piece of jewellery to collect and build a collection of.
