The term “man jewelry” can conjure up traumatizing images of pinky rings and gold chains, but contemporary menswear designers are offering bold, innovative, and generally bad-ass accessories that will keep you looking uniquely stylish rather than a GTL stereotype. 

 

A Man-Friendly Friendship Bracelet

There's no reason you guys should miss out on the arm party! Although the creations from Vanities and Miansai are not technically 'friendship bracelets', there's no better way to describe these colorful, interesting, hand-made quality bracelets. Taking their name from Vanitas, 17^th century Dutch genre paintings that contained symbols of death, it makes sense that Vincent Ribat and Thomas Franc, the designers behind the Vanities brand enjoy playing with the skull motif. The skull adorns their tiepins, bow ties, and signature bracelets. The bracelets are by far the brand's most popular item. Made from vintage silk and a myriad of other fabrics, these bracelets are a great way to add a bit of masculine interest to an otherwise plain look. 

On the other hand, if your inner child longs for sea adventures of past, then Miansai by Michael Saiger is definitely the best way to go. Made from a variety of different materials such as leather, rope, and now gold, these bracelets can match any outfit no matter how casual or corporate the look may be. Saiger first sailed into the men’s jewelry scene with his signature hook bracelet and has now expanded his line with necklaces, cuffs, key chains, and cufflinks. The brand is a favorite of fashionistos everywhere and wearing a hook on your wrist definitely ups your awesomeness points.

 

 

Liberty Print Contrast Fabric and Skull Bracelet $95; available at parkandbond.com

 

 

 

Black Hook on Black Leather Bracelet $68; available at Miansai.com

 

 

 

 

 

Edgy With An Edgier Twist

For those of you looking for truly bad-ass pieces, Eddie Borgo is the only place to go. This CFDA award winning accessories designer has been praised for his women's jewelry while his men’s designs have slipped under the radar. Until now. With skull cameo rings, bike chain rings, and pierced heart pendants, Borgo’s tough aesthetic demands attention--for the pieces themselves and the dude wearing them. If you work your way over to his website you’ll find yourself lost in the video that graces his front page.

 

 

 

Signet Ring $350; available at eddieborgo.com             

Bike Chain RIng $240; available at eddieborgo.com

Elevated Classics

Luis Morais has turned the basic bead bracelet into a luxury staple. By combining lavish materials with simple design, Morais has built a brand that exemplifies modern, cool luxury. The classic quality of his designs makes them appropriate for any outfit or setting while the unexpected materials such as black gold, white gold, and black diamonds make each piece stand out from the myriad of other bracelets you may own.

Mini Black Gold Skull Bracelet $335; available at mrporter.com

 

 

 

 

Cuff It

Guys tend to forget the small details but often a little something extra that make all the difference. If you’re not daring enough to sport a skull cameo ring or hook bracelet but still want to be part of the man jewelry trend, cufflinks are a great way to do so. In the past few years cufflinks have become a main focus for many gents, especially those in the corporate arena where cufflinks may be the only way to inject personality into an otherwise uniform look. Jan Leslie and Paul Smith are great examples of the rise of this man-specific accessory and how entertaining it can be. With everything from football themed to mini convertible cufflinks, Jan Leslie has something for every interest. If you’re more of a goof ball and less of a sports aficionado, Paul Smith’s moustache cufflinks add a bit of humor to your stern corporate look.

Convertible Cufflinks $395; available at parkandbond.com 

 

Moustache Cufflinks $135, available at parkandbond.com