Traditionally, at least in the modern West, jewelry has been thought of as a distinctly feminine pursuit. While the average woman might think nothing of wearing dangling earrings, glitzy necklaces, chunky bracelets and rings, the average man is a little more conservative.
As such, there’s a much more limited range of decorative jewelry marketed toward men.
However, thanks to a range of factors, this situation is changing. Let’s examine a few of those factors and explore why men’s jewelry is on the rise.
Cultural & Celebrity Influence
Men, like women, often take their cue from high-profile celebrities. If it’s good enough for stars of stage and screen, like Harry Styles and Timothée Chalamet, then it’s probably good enough to buy and wear. While men might not aim to replicate the red-carpet wardrobe choices of these celebrities, those wardrobe choices help to set the mood music and establish what’s considered ‘normal’ in the wider world of fashion. Rings, chains, brooches, and eyewear can all be made acceptable if the right actors, musicians, and sports stars wear them.
Self-Expression & Identity
Traditional masculine norms are increasingly being viewed as restrictive and distinctly dreary. Many men are re-examining assumptions about what they should wear and even rebelling against them. While the average older male might instinctively view an eye-catching piece of jewelry with aversion, Gen-Z males tend to be more willing to experiment with what they wear.
Jewelry Trends & Design Evolution
The popularity of male-focused jewelry is, in part, a product of the designs themselves, which cater to the tastes and sensibilities of men. These might include minimalist designs made from materials like titanium and tungsten, which are visibly distinct from their women’s equivalents.
Men’s Engagement Rings
So called ‘mengagement’ rings are on the rise, for the simple reason that more men are being proposed to. Engagement rings for men come in a range of different styles, and can be chosen to reflect the personality and tastes of the man who’ll be wearing them.
You might pick out a plain band, a diamond solitaire ring, or something more elaborate and suffused with personal symbolism, like a three-stone ‘trilogy’ ring.
Men’s engagement rings are obviously a necessity for gay couples. But they’re increasingly being offered by women to their male partners, too. After all, if a woman is now free and able to work long hours, pursue a career, and earn a respectable income, it follows that they should also be expected to pay for a ring. Thus, the surge in interest in men’s engagement jewelry can be seen as a reflection of greater equality between the sexes and a dissolution of traditional gender roles.
Photo by Ralph Rabago.
