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.
