Gone are the days when wearing jewelry was acceptable only for women. Except in certain cultures, it was not acceptable for men to wear jewelry during the earlier times. However, over the years there has been a tremendous change and you get to see many men wearing different pieces of jewelry confidently.
Men’s jewelry occupies a top position in the fashion industry and there are very few male celebrities who do not use any jewelry. High-end fashion jewelry stores including Frost NYC Jewelry are coming up with unique designs catering to the different tastes of men. But when it comes to buying jewelry for men it’s not as easy as it sounds. Maybe you are picking a piece of jewelry for yourself or as a gift for a loved one. What are some of the important points to remember before selecting a piece of jewelry for men?
Clarity regarding what you are looking for
Most of the time people walk into a jewelry store asking for something good or nice for themselves or a loved one. This would be a mistake as you could end up buying an expensive item based on someone else’s opinion and taste. When you do so you could end up buying an item that does not match the wardrobe or personal taste of your loved one.
Plan beforehand and decide on what you are looking for. Have a clear idea of the characteristics that you want in that piece of jewelry. You can even make a rough drawing or carry pictures from magazines or newspapers. What are some of the things to keep in mind before buying jewelry?
- The type of metal and choice of color
You can buy something of gold, silver, platinum or white gold. Just because a piece of jewelry is covered in a golden coating does not mean it is real gold. Make sure you discuss with the jeweler to decide if the metal is real or not.
Decide ahead the color you are looking for. You could choose between colors like silver, rose gold, yellow gold, or white gold. If you have plans of buying something inlaid in precious or semi-precious stones decide ahead on the color of the stone. This can help you save time on looking through all the unwanted items and you can find a piece of jewelry that matches your taste.
- Jewelry size
Keep in mind the size of the jewelry that you are looking for. Whether it’s a delicate piece of jewelry that you need or something that is quite thick. When it comes to jewelry some men prefer wearing a necklace or chain that is quite thin or delicate. However, there are men who love wearing a metal bracelet that is chunky or huge rings and they are also good at carrying it around confidently along with their outfit. Make sure you let the salesman know the size even if you don’t know its technical terms.
- Price limit
Buying jewelry can be quite expensive. Depending on the size and type of metal that you choose to buy, the price could go higher or lower. Have a clear idea of the amount that you wish to spend on a particular piece of jewelry. In case you are shown something that is above your price limit you can politely refuse it and let the salesman know your price limit.
Ask all the necessary questions
You need to know enough about precious stones and metals to ask the necessary questions to avoid getting duped.
- Precious stones and diamonds
Before purchasing precious stones including diamonds you need to consider four things: its color, carat, cut and clarity. When it comes to buying diamonds its color is rated on a scale ranging from Z to D where D is an absolutely clear and colorless diamond. All diamonds from J and up are of high quality and are really expensive.
To understand the quality of the stone you need to ask questions about its cut. Make sure you buy one that has a rating that is established.
The weight of the stone is measured in carats. If you wish to buy diamonds that are less expensive, stick to stones that are lesser than 1 carat.
All precious stones have imperfections within so you need to look for its clarity ratings. Sometimes the stones with the same clarity ratings might look really different to the naked eye. Hence, it’s always best to avoid purchasing jewelry inlaid with precious stones online.
- Precious metals: gold, platinum, and silver
When you intend to buy men’s jewelry that is made of precious metals like gold or platinum you need to ask questions about two things – karats and hallmark. The purity of gold is determined on a scale of 1-24 karats where 24 karat gold is the purest form available.
Make sure you also check for the manufacturer’s hallmark on the piece of jewelry that you plan on buying to understand its level of purity.
A good store with an experienced jeweler
When searching for men’s jewelry it’s always best to buy one at an independent jewelry store with experienced jewelers rather than a chain store. If you plan to buy jewelry made of precious metals or ones inlaid with precious stones you need to get the expert opinion of an experienced jeweler who is also qualified enough to answer all your questions and concerns. You can also get customized pieces of jewelry based on your personal taste at an independent jewelry store.
At a chain store you are likely to get jewelry at a much cheaper price but most of the time the salesmen are not qualified enough to give you the right information. You could end up buying something of a cheaper quality. However, chain stores have better exchange policies compared to the independent stores.
You can also try buying second-hand pieces of jewelry at an antique or pawn shop. Make sure you take an expert on jewelry with you to avoid getting duped and losing your hard earned money on fake metals and stones. There are also situations where people have ended up with rare and unique pieces of jewelry at a very low price. No matter what, you need to exercise caution at such stores.
Men are fond of personalized pieces of jewelry
Compared to women, men tend to have an emotional attachment to their jewelry. While most of the women choose jewelry based on their outfits, latest trends, and fashion, a good number of men choose to wear some pieces of jewelry consistently because they have some significance attached.
If you are planning to gift a piece of jewelry to your husband, friend or someone in your family, getting a personalized piece of jewelry would be a good idea. You could either get it inlaid with their birthstone or get one with a message engraved on it. Unless they have a peculiar taste, when it comes to jewelry, most men prefer to have something subtle or simple.
When it comes to jewelry, the purchasing habits of men have moved much above and beyond from buying just a wedding band, tie clips, watches or cufflinks. From earrings, rings, and different kinds of bracelets to different varieties of necklaces and pendants wearing jewelry has become a symbol of fashion and sophistication for men. Now that you know how to look for a good piece of jewelry you can go ahead and buy that ring or bracelet for yourself or your loved ones.
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