June 2026
Men's Jewelry
Join us in examining the history of Mens Jewelry
In this modern era, trends shift so rapidly in the women’s market that comparatively, men’s styling options seem to linger in familiar aesthetics and silhouettes. To some, this makes it seem as though some expressions of fashion, like jewelry, generally cater towards selling the next new thing to women. Nonetheless, surveying the history of the craft reinforces the significance of men’s jewelry across cultures and time periods following innovation in the discipline and shifts in society.
Whether adorning themselves with commonplace materials like the bone or shell beads of ancient times or precious metals, men’s jewelry signified social status, sophistication, and spirituality. Ancient Egyptian pharaohs wore intricate gold jewelry with symbols relating to religious deities to communicate the divine support of their rule and protect them in the afterlife. Across the Mediterranean, ancient Romans and Greeks wore jewelry into battle and in athletic competition for valor. As discussed in last month’s Dispatch on The Ring, Roman men of authority used signet rings inscribed with official seals to approve important documents.
Three Partisans Carried by the Bodyguard of Louis XIV (1638–1715, reigned from 1643) ca. 1658–1715, French, Steel, gold, wood, textile, brass
Gold Armband with Herakles Knot, 3rd–2nd century BCE, Greek
Gold inlaid with garnets, emeralds, and enamel
By the time of the Renaissance, the aristocracy used jewelry as a way to display wealth and power, alongside affiliation with royal orders. Economic prosperity resulting from trade beyond Europe supported the growth of a merchant class that could finance guilds of artisans devoted to excelling in their craft. Significant advances in jewelry production led to the increased use of chains and gemstones as seen in the famous livery collars of France and Britain. By the time of King Louis XIV’s reign, diamonds were elevated as the peak signifier of wealth, being incorporated in the king’s apparel, shoes, and swords.
Pocket Watch, 1820-1821, British, Case: gold; Dial: gold with gold and steel hands; Movement: partly gilded brass, partly blued steel, and diamond
By the 18th and 19th centuries, the Industrial Revolution was taking form, leading to drastic shifts in both the scale of the production of goods and modern society. Machinery and manufacturing processes allowed for the mass production of work at a lesser cost, making jewelry more accessible for the growing class of industrialists overseeing a public driven by consumption. As capitalism strengthened, wealth which had exclusively been held by the elite ruling class whose lives centered on idle luxury was now being made by businesspeople who elevated functional pieces like watches, cuff links, and tie pins as refined choices of adornment.
With further developments in the materials used in jewelry, such as the introduction of steel and titanium, jewelry became mainstream, closely following pop culture trends through the duration of the 20th century. Hip-hop, punk, rock and roll, and the hippie movements all had their own spin on jewelry styles popularized by artists and musicians of each genre. Today, craftsmen and wearers of jewelry pull from a lengthy history of artistic references, with many people using jewelry to express their individuality and personal style. There are fewer restrictions between gendered styles and constant innovation in material, form and meaning. If you’re looking to express your good taste, we can help find something perfect for you.