WORDS BY JOSEPH FURNESS
In every friendship circle, there’s a dapper dan – the swaggy and sophisticated chap that rocks brands most struggle to pronounce and sports trends months before they make it to the mainstream. (Take a moment to consider which one of the lads that is. Figured it out? Fantastic.) As of late, we all but guarantee that said style-savvy friend has been donning the kind of jewelry that you may be inclined to call ‘feminine’. Pearl necklaces, beaded bracelets, floral studs, gemstone rings – that kinda thing. This, dear reader, is what the future of men’s jewelry looks like, whether you’re ready to embrace it or not.
To help you better understand and appreciate the men’s jewelry renaissance, we spoke to the founders of the five jewelry brands at the forefront of the movement – namely, éliou, Capsule Eleven, Hatton Labs, Polite Worldwide and Nialaya Jewellery – about their pretty treasures for men. Keep reading to discover what each had to say.
Cristina Mantilla and Duda Teixeira, Founders of éliou
Why do you think men are suddenly interested in jewelry pieces that were once considered feminine?
People have always been interested in looking and feeling their best, and we think this shift in interest signals an exciting moment in fashion in which men are looking for new ways to express themselves.
When we first started making jewelry, we would look to our own tastes for inspiration. From inception, we had a strong female customer base, but, quickly, we began to encourage our male friends to wear our jewelry, as our creations are designed to transcend gender boundaries. In truth, we do not see our jewelry as masculine or feminine; we simply make jewelry that allows our customers to feel most like themselves.
Which tastemakers should our male readers seek inspiration from when shopping and styling jewelry?
We love watching the various ways celebrities have incorporated our jewelry into their style. We believe that stylists such as Harry Lambert – the man behind Harry Styles’ wardrobe – have paved the way for these kind of contemporary accessories. But, personally, we feel that it’s up to our customers to discover their own inspirations.
What is your favorite piece of men’s jewelry?
Our Paris Necklace is of a special design, and we’ve been loving the way our customers have styled theirs. It’s a handmade necklace we make in our Miami studio, crafted with precious hard stones and hand-painted ceramic beads. Each piece takes around 45 minutes to form.
What is your most popular piece of men’s jewelry?
Our Livia Necklace is currently our most popular selling piece. It's bright, bold and makes a statement. It’s absolutely perfect for summer.
What’s up next for éliou’s male customer base?
The release of our Pre-Fall 2022 Collection is right around the corner. As always, each piece is unisex, designed to be loved and worn by whoever connects with them.
Natalie Benmayor, Founder of Capsule Eleven
Why do you think men are suddenly interested in jewelry pieces that were once considered feminine?
I think that male style icons have become increasingly liberated in their approach to jewelry, particularly those within the music industry. This comes at a time when the lines between gender are being blurred and individuals are embracing gender fluidity. Personally, I’ve always loved to see men wearing jewelry, especially when their style borders on androgynous.
Which tastemakers should our male readers seek inspiration from when shopping and styling jewelry?
I believe Damiano David of Maneskin is currently the greatest style icon when it comes to pulling off pretty jewelry pieces. I adore the way he combines rock and roll energy with feminine touches. Additionally, I believe that A$AP Rocky and Harry Styles are both partially responsible for the men’s pretty jewelry movement, so judicious shoppers should also be looking to these two music stars for inspiration.
What is your favorite piece of men’s jewelry?
I'd have to go with our Capsule Pendant. Each Capsule piece is sustainably made using recycled sterling silver, and can be opened so that the owner may change the gem or crystal that lies within.
I've picked this piece because it encapsulates our brand ethos: we aim to merge spirituality with high fashion to form gender fluid pieces that radiate positive energy.
What is your most popular piece of men’s jewelry?
Without a doubt, it’s got to be our Eye Opener Pearl Necklace that can also be worn as a wrap bracelet. I originally made the piece for a shoot with British rapper Kojey Radical; the rapper regularly wears pieces made by Capsule Eleven. The piece is distinguishable by the eye clip – a detail inspired by my Egyptian heritage and the spiritual idea of the third eye.
What’s up next for Capsule Eleven’s male customer base?
I'm launching some new pieces on FARFETCH this summer – pieces that feature crystals, semi-precious gemstones and opalite beads. I’ve decided to work with opalite as it’s symbolic of new thinking, new beginnings, persistence and success.
My favorite piece out of the new collection is, perhaps, the rosary necklace complete with Ancient Egyptian iconography. Made with either white quartz – a feminine version of gold renowned for being an energy regulator – or hematite, the necklace is designed to summon good energy and comfort.
Jack Cannon, Founder of Hatton Labs
Why do you think men are suddenly interested in jewelry pieces that were once considered feminine?
I think it’s a sign of the times. The old rules and parameters have changed, and Hatton Labs is proud to be one of the leaders of the movement. We never confine ourselves when designing our collections; we strive to produce pieces that can be worn by anyone, for any occasion.
I noticed a demand for such jewelry way before starting Hatton Labs. 10 years prior, I regularly sourced Cartier Love Bangles and Van Cleef Alhambra Bracelets for men. I learnt that people are not bothered by boundaries when it comes to jewelry; if something is popular, people desrie it regardless of their gender.
Which tastemakers should our male readers seek inspiration from when shopping and styling jewelry?
Pharrell is definitely one of the primary suporters of men’s jewelry movement. He has always been a fantastic reference point, and to see him championing historically feminine jewelry pieces – think statement rings and elegant necklaces – is nothing short of inspiring.
We also give a lot of credit to A$AP Rocky – he pushed pearls into the mainstream. People have always been interested in his style, and now his followers are starting to realize you can incorporate pearls into your look, no matter who you are.
What is your favorite piece of men’s jewelry?
I would say our Wild Rose Bracelet from our SS22 collection is my favorite piece. I enjoy the juxtaposition of the femininity of the roses and the masculinity of the Cuban Chain. It’s a piece that pushes the conversation forward.
What is your most popular piece of men’s jewelry?
It's the pearl pieces that are the most popular. That’s everything from pearl chains to pearl bracelets to pearl drop hoop earrings. We love to see people wearing our pearl products as we thoroughly enjoy creating high-quality pearl products.
What’s up next for Hatton Labs’ male customer base?
We have some very special collaborations releasing in the near future that showcase our ability to push new ideas. Keep an eye on our Insta profile to be the first to see upcoming pieces.
Jannik Olander, Founder of Nialaya Jewellery
Why do you think men are suddenly interested in jewelry pieces that were once considered feminine?
In the last two to three years, we’ve seen a huge shift in interest in jewelry — men are now wearing feminine jewelry and women are now wearing men’s jewelry. Gone are the boundaries; right now, everything is possible.
For decades prior to this time, men’s jewelry has been very conservative; focus has been on the same kind of old-school leather bracelets and chain necklaces. But now, men are beginning to realize that the jewelry you wear is a reflection of the type of person you are — especially if you wear your jewelry every day. I actually started Nialaya because I wanted to make cool, handmade, unique and spiritual jewelry with meaning.
Which tastemakers should our male readers be seeking inspiration from when shopping and styling jewelry?
Pharrell was one of the first to rock pearls, and Harry Styles and Justin Bieber followed closely behind. Asides from these three, I think people should be looking to Usher, A$AP Rocky, Joe Jonas, Shawn Mendes and Maluma for inspiration.
What is your favorite piece of men’s jewelry?
Our Pearl Choker has been extremely popular, which is unsurprising considering the piece works with any look. We make this piece with real pearls in our studio based in Los Angeles.
What is your most popular piece of men’s jewelry?
Again, it’s the Pearl Choker. These necklaces are selling like hot cakes across the world, especially since all of the male celebrities started wearing pearls.
What’s up next for Nialaya Jewelry’s male customer base?
We're super excited to be exploring the colorful kidult trend. This type of jewelry is perfect for those looking to incorporate some fun jewelry into their style.
And, of course, we have even more pearl jewelry heading our way. There are so many cool styles in the pipeline!
Tavia and Christian Azzinaro, Founders of Polite Worldwide
Why do you think men are suddenly interested in jewelry pieces that were once considered feminine?
Jewelry gives people the opportunity to uphold traditions, express their creativity and explore their imagination. Beauty exists in everyone, no matter a person’s gender. Bearing this in mind, we’re glad to see men have been building the confidence to take greater chances on pieces that are fun and daring. Genderless fashion comes naturally to creatives like us.
Which tastemakers should our male readers seek inspiration from when shopping and styling jewelry?
Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Kid Cudi, Big Sean, Key Glock, Eddie Benjamin, Emmanuel Lawal and Andrew Georgiades.
What is your favorite piece of Polite Worldwide men’s jewelry?
We love all of our jewelry pieces, especially those that reflect the wearer’s attitude. Our pieces are about nurturance, sensitivity, sweetness, supportiveness, gentleness, warmth, passivity, cooperativeness, expressiveness, modesty, humility, empathy, affection and tenderness. Our brand is for the emotional, kind, helpful, devoted and polite.
What is your most popular piece of men’s jewelry?
Our ball chain jewelry, multi-colored pearl pieces and gemstone-adorned offerings are our most favored pieces.
What’s up next for Polite Worldwide’s male customer base?
We are working on our SS23 collection right now. The collection embodies the progression of Polite Worldwide in the jewelry space, which is why we’re looking forward to sharing these ideas with our amazing customers.