English
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Русский
Español
The best men’s jewelry brands prove there’s never been so many options for fellas looking to flex some gems. As someone who’s recently started to rock a bracelet and hoop earring myself, it’s a wave I’ve been happily swept up in—and after a few months spent cautiously, then confidently shining, the appeal of a category I ignored for far too long suddenly makes total sense.
Because I increasingly only want to wear my default denim and tees every day, having a couple of glinty bits on me at all times communicates effort, even if I truly just threw on the nearest items of clothing before rushing out the door. Additionally, as someone who loves to know the stories behind the things they own, I’ve loved how most pieces of jewelry are accompanied by a clear explanation of their origin—whether it’s a ring that replicates the flow of a stream near the designer’s childhood home, or a necklace inspired by Roman medallions. Wearing something when you know the story behind it just means more, and that gravitas can ground an entire fit.
Of course, there’s also the heirloom element. Unlike clothing fabrics that weaken over time, 925 sterling silver and gold can be endlessly returned to their original polish, while necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets can all be adjusted to suit any wearer you might one day wish to pass your piece onto.
The universe of jewelry options available to men has never been so crowded, so to help you make sense of it all, I’ve narrowed it down to the designers you need to know right now—from the more wallet-friendly upstarts to the wedding day-worthy jewelry wizards.
The Best Men’s Jewelry Brands, According to GQ
- The Affordable Stalwarts: Maple, Mejuri, Miansai, Jaxxon
- The Household-Name Heritage Acts: David Yurman, Cartier, Tiffany & Co.
- The Heirloom-Worthy Upstarts: Bernard James, Foundrae, L’Enchanteur, Prounis
- The Restrained Independents: All Blues, Bunney, Gottlob, Sophia Buhai
- The Kooky Craftsmen: Alighieri, Beepy Bella, Bleue Burnham, Éliou, Santangelo
- The Rock-God Resurrectionists: The Great Frog, Johnny Nelson, Martine Ali, Tom Wood
The Affordable Stalwarts
If you’re new to the jewelry game, chances are you’ll want to keep costs down. The good news is that there are many approachably-priced pieces that are good-enough quality to be worn for years to come. That’s where the affordable stalwarts excel. Because they work at a scale that allows them to keep prices lower, they can offer long-lasting designs in fine materials, miraculously often for under $100.
Maple
Austin McMahon created Maple in 2014 with the guiding focus of being a “culturally-relevant” men’s jewelry brand. That desire manifests in his satisfying cultural references, including rings inspired by the Grateful Dead’s bear and the Nirvana’s smiley face logo. Because Maple uses recycled silver, all of its designs feel a touch edgier and heftier.
Mejuri
Over the past decade, Mejuri has become the first name in premium, handcrafted jewelry sold at a mostly-approachable price point. “Everyday fine jewelry” is the idea, and that’s exactly what you’ll find—elevated designs, often available in either sterling silver or gold, that are still simple and comfortable enough to throw on every day and match with your existing wardrobe.
Miansai
Conceived for the guy who doesn’t wear jewelry (sound like you?) Miami-based Miansai is affordable, understated, and incredibly easy to wear. That three-part formula enabled it to recently celebrate fifteen years in business, and while new designs drop regularly, many of its very first pieces—like screw cuffs and cuban bracelets—remain among the brand’s most popular.
Jaxxon
If you’re looking to flex on ‘em without emptying your wallet, look no further than Jaxxon. The Odell Beckham-backed jewelry brand offers all manner of iced-out chains and bracelets for maximalists—all made in Italy.
The Household-Name Heritage Acts
Of course, there are the designers who have kept fine jewelry top of mind for almost two centuries. The designers whose names alone are often used as a stand-in for the entire jewelry industry—and who, in some cases, can lay claim to an entire color (a ruby red box, say, or a signature robin-egg blue that earned its own Wikipedia page.) You see their names almost daily in magazines and billboards, but sometimes that intense exposure is enough to make you forget there are some pretty special pieces lining their shelves. Consider this your reminder.
David Yurman
The name David Yurman may now be synonymous with simple, fine jewelry, but its founder took plenty of divergent roads to get there—first as a 1960s traveling Beatnik, then as an apprentice under various sculptors throughout the 1960s. In the seventies, however, he and his co-founder (and wife) turned their attention to jewelry, and the rest is American craft history.
Cartier
Founded in Paris in 1847, we have Cartier to thank for watches. Like, literal watches. In 1903, Louis Cartier created what is thought by many to be the first wristwatch, and since then, the ‘Maison’ has been adorning men the world after with exceptionally-crafted, instantly-recognizable pieces, designed to be passed down time and again. While you may be able to picture a Tank, Santos, and Ballon Bleu from their names alone, their non-horological pieces may have escaped your attention.
Tiffany & Co.
Because it’s so known as the place to go for the ladies in your life, the fact that Tiffany also makes plenty of pieces for him is often overlooked. But they do! From pendants to rings and embossed cuff bracelets, the Tiffany men’s line is designed with all the same care and quality materials as the rest of the collection (which, for what it’s worth, is plenty worth perusing too.) The brand’s menswear chops were recently boosted even further by the release, this year, of a jewelry line with Pharrell Williams, consisting of sixteen pieces featuring plenty of spikes, pearls, and punky reverse-set diamonds.
The Kooky Craftsmen
One of the most refreshing developments in both men’s and women’s jewelry in recent years has been a newfound appreciation for asymmetry, odd forms, contrasting gems, matte finishes, and altogether off-kilter creations. Dissatisfied by the options available to them as they learned their trade, these kooky craftsmen launched their brands with a nothing-to-lose, iconoclastic spirit that, viewed together today, has grown into something of a baying army of boundary-pushers.
Alighieri
For a decade, London designer Rosh Mahtani has earned a beloved following for her “talismans of strength and courage.” Inspired initially by Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, gold classical medallions are naturally some of her most popular pieces (right on time for this Gladiator fall) but newer designs like the poet’s necklace, which fits any red carpenter’s pencil, show a designer continuing to play around.
Beepy Bella
Beepy Bella’s universe is pure whimsy, all the way down to the cursor that follows you across her website. Founded in New York City by Isabella Lalonde, Beepy’s world includes more than just jewelry—there’s handbags, tops, even “mystery boxes”—but for guys, Lalonde’s rings and bracelets are your best way into wonderland.
Bleue Burnham
Be gone, muted rubies and clear crystals! Bleue Burnham’s joyous, kaleidoscopic designs always prioritize bright green, pink and yellow gems over your more traditional, humble stones, which is why their designs shine perhaps the brightest of this entire new crop of playful, less self-serious men’s jewelry. Generosity is the energy here: single rings are crowded with diamonds and pearls that evoke a floral bouquet—something the brand played upon when opening their Harrod’s space, where customers received a bunch of flowers with every purchase.
Éliou
While Beepy Bella’s sizes still skew smaller, Éliou—started by two childhood best friends with similarly playful aesthetics—has an entire, larger-sized men’s category to help you find the style you really like best. If you need some proof that their juice is worth the squeeze, consider that Harry Styles himself—a man who’s guided more men into jewelry than most—wears a custom necklace from the indie brand.
Santangelo
The Santangelo aesthetic is a favorite of glossy editorial spreads, but its ethos can be distilled to one word: summer. Founder Anna Santangelo has always spent hers clubbing and surfing in California and Sydney, and her materials reflect that: expect plenty of pearls, shells, glass beads and stones, all handmade in New York City.
The Restrained Independents
As much as I can appreciate a kooky charm or two, not all of the independent studios are focused on breaking the mold in such an eye-catching way. In fact, the below crop of craftspeople have earned devoted followings for the way they ever so subtly elevate simple-seeming pieces, whether with an unusual choice of charm, slightly oversized links, or with a single touch of whimsy mixed into otherwise seriously high quality, stripped back materials. Personally, most of the male-identifying jewelry wearers I know are currently shopping this category more than any other, and I can report that they’ve been satisfied to find long-lasting pieces that are deeply special to them and those who notice, but can just as easily fly under the radar—or a shirtsleeve—when appropriate.
All Blues
Founded in Stockholm fifteen years ago by two best friends, All Blues now shares a block in the Swedish capital with Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Still, the designers know that their success has come because of their playful, independent mindset (a collection inspired by a failed omelet was one early success) and so they continue to play with forms and materials today, albeit in a quieter way than the brands above.
Bunney
There’s a stillness and sense of play to Bunney’s hand-crafted unisex pieces. Take their animal charms, which can fasten to any necklace you have, or the delightful trompe l’oeil belt ring which, while certainly an investment, will delight hundreds if not thousands of people lucky enough to dine across from you over the course of your lifetime.
Gottlob
Gottlob is currently offering a pretty unique proposition—a bracelet with real soul, for under $100. Made by hand in Cologne, Germany, the repeating-beads jewelry is newly stocked at venerable menswear boutiques, including Neighbour in Vancouver and Nitty Gritty in Stockholm, two of GQ’s favorite clothing stores in the world.
Sophie Buhai
Work around fashion editors, and you’ll hear Sophie Buhai’s name mentioned time and again—often after a compliment has been paid to some earrings, a ring, or a necklace. Buhai—who, outside of her own line, also lent her talents to Lemaire when they wanted to launch their own jewelry line—makes pieces that can wear just as well with jeans and sweaters as evening attire, which is why fellas shouldn’t overlook her collections either.
The Heirloom-Worthy Upstarts
There’s a difference between your everyday chains and the rings and bracelets that get passed down through generations. If you’re here to make an investment in the family jewels—but still want to do so with a new crop of designers—the brands below are here to help you do just that.
Bernard James
Lewis Hamilton, Jacob Elordi, and Brad Pitt have all been featured in GQ’s pages wearing pieces from Bernard James. While his designs tend to sell out fast, I’m happy to note that the ‘Flora’ series—inspired by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden—is stocked, and special.
Foundrae
Perennial A-list favorite Foundrae is best known for its handmade, 18-karat gold medallions—and for good reason, they’re beauties—but the collection also includes intricately detailed signet rings, necklaces and bracelets, all featuring strength and wisdom-related iconography from a whole range of different cultures and time periods.
L’Enchanteur
Tanzanite, Purple Sapphire, Tsavorite, Morganite, Garnet, and Aquamarine, all on one 14K gold bracelet? For identical twin designers Dynasty & Soull Ogun, that’s just another day at the office. Because everything’s made to order by hand, shoppers can also choose the exact gemstones they want in almost any design, be it the charming sub-$175 cuff below, or the aforementioned show-stopping tennis bracelet.
Prounis
Goldsmith Jean Prounis makes her semi-matte fine jewelry the same way the Greeks made theirs 5,000 years ago—using a pure blend of just three metals: fine silver, copper, and 22-karat gold. Prounis is Greek, and it isn’t just her process that’s inspired by her heritage, but also the style of her pieces: weighty, classically-sized gemstones sit inside hefty 22-karat gold casings, while she recently sourced some rare Greek ceruleite to make a truly one-of-one necklace whose future owner I already envy.
The Rock-God Resurrectionists
While the variety of new aesthetics in men’s jewelry is thrilling, it would be wrong not to acknowledge—nay, honor—the kind of designs that men have been wearing for decades. The thick skulls, dog tags, and revolutionary-minded creations that convey that the wearer believes life is about gathering stories, forming alliances, and living just a little more fearlessly. These pieces may have a little less shine, but boy do they make up for it in grit.
The Great Frog
Even if you haven’t seen its stores in New York or LA, you’ve probably been in the presence of The Great Frog’s jewelry countless times over the course of your life. That’s because before many of the above brands came along, The Great Frog was the first stop on any men’s jewelry retail mission. Made in London since 1972, TGF’s designs are not for the faint of heart, but if you’re confident enough to rock skulls—winged, snaked, or otherwise—this is my recommendation for where to get ‘em.
Johnny Nelson
Rapper turned jeweler Johnel Jamison—also known as Johnny Nelson—delivers awe-inspiring designs that honor Black icons of the not-too-distant past, from Harriet Tubman and Shirley Chisholm to Easy-E and ODB. Some rings—like his Mount Rushmore series, below—even feature four such figures together. All are made to order, carefully by hand, in New York City.
Martine Ali
Brooklyn’s Martine Ali draws on references from ‘90s grunge and early 2000s hip-hop to make her punchy Cuban link chains, dog tags and chokers, but these aren’t the knockoff Y2K pieces crowding Depop. Rather, Ali works exclusively in sterling silver, showing her veneration of a material that’s too often been a background player in jewelry design.
Tom Wood
Hailing from Norway, Tom Wood is best known for its gem-inlaid signet rings, which pack a similar punch to The Great Frog’s wares. (Not only are they made with solid 925 sterling silver, but they’re also plated with white rhodium to prevent tarnishing and keep you shining for longer.) While I’d encourage you to assess the full range from all of the brands on this list, sometimes you just want to know what a brand does that you can’t find elsewhere—and with Tom Wood, it’s the seamlessly-executed rings below.
Read the full article here
