Bracelets are a big hit
Men's jewellery has come a long way since the dodgy 1970s medallion-on-chest-of-hair look. Gem-studded watches and rapper-style bling have been doing the rounds for a while and attract a limited audience, but the buzz for men's jewellery is growing louder, and according to trends forecaster Doneger Group, it's one of the biggest growth areas in fashion, with bracelets the most popular choice.
An array of contemporary designers is broadening the appeal for men's jewellery and injecting fun, subtlety and masculinity into designs. Young designer Hannah Martin, a graduate of London's Central St Martins, has an impressive list of clients including Cartier, Links of London and maverick furniture designer Jimmie Martin.
Specialising in men's jewellery 'that girlfriends steal', her own eponymously named label includes the uber cool It's Only Rock 'N' Roll collection, which takes pearls, gems and metals, turns them upside down and churns them out into opulent, rebellion-style pieces with pick-axe shapes and razor-like edges. Another contemporary label beginning to make a name for fun and statement men's jewellery is Pure Dead Brilliant. Created by Nora Logan, whose nomadic childhood in Hong Kong, Europe and North America provides the inspiration for her designs, the present crop includes bus and vespa necklaces and bracelets and football boot cufflinks. The collection is available at Alexa & Todd boutique.
Stephen Webster is renowned for his contemporary designs that have earned him a loyal celebrity following. His latest Highwayman collection was inspired by annual road trips across North America, with the iconic road shield seen on highways across the United States featuring prominently and giving the collection a masculine and witty edge.
The collection combines blackened sterling silver and rose and yellow gold with pave black diamonds and includes cufflinks, pendants, bracelets and rings, and even a belt buckle, one for the man still too shy to hang his jewellery anywhere else.
Black diamonds also prevail at David Yurman, which feature in the brand's new Armory collection. Inspired by medieval motifs, the collection is characterised by shield and cross shapes. Medieval-style chains are reinterpreted into bracelets and cufflinks are given armour motifs. The addition of patina-treated metal and black diamonds help give the collection a gothic edge.
The brand's new Maritime collection of bracelets, necklaces, cufflinks and rings sees designer Evan Yurman apply his father's signature cable technique to recreate nautical-inspired ropes and knots. Black pave diamonds are used here too, giving the pieces subtle zing.
Elsewhere, Danish brand Georg Jensen, recognisable for its distinguishable Scandinavian design, introduces small-scale versions of some of its iconic pieces to cufflinks, including a pair of silver grapes from the Moonlight Grapes collection. Other designs such as frogs and tortoises add a certain whimsical touch.
