Jewellery for men is not new. In fact, it has been quite mainstream for the best part of history. From the earliest civilisations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, whose records show men wearing anklets, neckpieces, amulets, and seals, through to the Renaissance period, in which monarchs were practically dunking themselves in precious stones, to the 1970s, when the advent of hip hop saw iconic rappers covered in layers of solid gold—men have always loved their finery. A story goes about King Charles I of Great Britain, a 17th-century monarch, who refused to take off his pearl teardrop earring even when he was being executed.
So what’s new in 2024? While there have been ebbs and flows in men’s obsession with jewels, today, the trend is levelling up like never before. The biggest shift is that you don’t have to follow any gender diktats. You can pick and choose what you want, and share it with boo, too. From bold lariats to subtle chokers, sleek bangle bracelets to OTT cuffs—it all flies, far beyond the restrictions of what’s deemed feminine or masculine.
In January, actor Timothée Chalamet attended the Golden Globe Awards wearing a Cartier necklace made of white gold, black ceramic, and diamond. What's more, he even wore a Cartier watch from the women’s collection. In sport, Formula One star Lewis Hamilton is never seen without his mini diamond hoops while sprinter Noah Lyles won the 100m race at the Paris Olympics 2024 wearing a diamond-encrusted chainlink choker. Meanwhlie, both actor Ishaan Khatter and Ranveer Singh are perfectly comfortable in their sparkling, Tiffany & Co jewels.
It’s clear high-fashion baubles are having a unisex moment. Here are some of our favourite share-worthy, gender-fluid pieces for all this season.