If you’re in your early 20s, you may not have developed a palate for the finer style choices in life. Don’t worry about it! We’ve all been there in life, and very few people grew up in an environment where they were exposed to cutting-edge men’s fashion.
Still, a guy has to start somewhere. While there are plenty of magazines that offer their opinions on men’s fashion–our suggestions are GQ and Esquire–suggestions about men’s jewelry and timepieces is somewhat sparser on the ground.
To that end, Luxurious J&T wants to provide a quick guide to style options for the younger guy who wants some ideas of where to start his collection of jewelry and timepieces.
Classy Timepieces
One of the absolute dividing lines between the gentleman and the schlub is in the form of a Swiss-quality timepiece. This isn’t a call to break the bank, but when you’re searching for a way to express your class, it’s pretty de rigueur to have an atelier-built timepiece on your wrist.
Most Swiss ateliers do offer affordable options that can act as a “starter watch” for the upwardly mobile gentleman, and a few of our favorites are the Carson and Tradition lines from Tissot, as well as the Formula 1 collection from TAG Heuer.
When choosing a watch, keep minimalist dials, clean bezels, and leather straps in mind. These are features that are always ideal for the office. So, even if you choose to add some rose or yellow gold to better express your style, they’ll blend in well with the clean lines and simple boldness of the timepiece.
A Gentleman’s Wedding Band
A wedding band will be the one piece of jewelry that will be with you for the rest of your life. When you’re a guy tying the knot, you’ll be expected to choose a wedding band that you’ll be seeing daily for decades to come.
It’s important to have your spouse’s input when choosing a ring–many partners have the dream of seeing their own wedding band reflected in their man’s, and it can be heartbreaking to have their wishes ignored in this situation. The gentleman always remembers that his marriage is a partnership!
Still, with that chiding set aside, contemporary men have a million different options for their wedding bands, and some are more dramatic than others. We suggest that when you’re hunting for the ideal wedding band, choose white gold or another neutral-tone metal (such as platinum or titanium). This will provide a subdued canvas on which details, such as black diamonds or texturing, can be placed.
To avoid having to go in frequently for jewelry repair, pick a caratage that’s appropriate for your lifestyle. If you don’t do a lot of work with your hands, you may be more comfortable with a higher karat of gold; if you’re in manual labor, choose a lower karat of gold for durability.
Restrained Accessorizing
A gentleman should refrain from gaudiness. You don’t want to cross that thin line that delineates between confidence and insecure bragging. Still, don’t think that if you’re trying to express your personal style, refined jewelry is off the table.
Two popular options for male accessorizing are necklaces and bracelets. Opting for simple touches in bracelets, such as low-key materials (think sterling silver or wood beads) and unadorned sculpting, is always a good choice; necklaces work best when they boast simple patterns.
Some common men’s necklace ideas are simple religious symbols, unadorned chains, and anchors. However, an interesting way to express personal style is by choosing a symbol that’s meaningful to you and working with a jeweler to perform some custom design.
Confidence in one’s look is a cornerstone of masculine style. Thus, more and more often, men have been working with jewelry stores to have a personally meaningful accessory sculpted according to their tastes. This may be a good option for the younger guy looking to have an accessory that’s all his.
Let Us Know!
If you’re a younger guy looking for more advanced style tips, reach out to us to see what we can do to help–and of course, keep reading Luxurious J&T to continue getting ideas about seasonal, stylistic, and subcultural looks that might be right for you!