“Professional men can’t wear much in the way of jewellery,” wrote author Nicholson Baker (yes, the one who wrote Vox, famously gifted to Bill Clinton by a young Monica Lewinsky) in his 1994 ode to nail clippers, Clip Art. “The gemless wedding band, the watch, the belt buckle, the key chain—possibly the quietly costly blue-enamelled pen in a shirt pocket—are among the few sanctioned outlets for the male self-embellishing urge.” Oh, how times have changed since then. Stylish men from every walk of life are now discovering what their female friends have known for a long time – a well-designed piece of men’s jewellery is a wonderful thing.
Cricketer David Warner is sporting a white gold and black rhodium-plated wedding band encrusted with five rows of pave-set diamonds following his recent wedding to Candice Falzon and Prince Harry is rarely seen without a wrist-full of bracelets (leather, beaded, copper). “A gentleman in a meeting with a pinstriped suit — it’s not unusual to see beads and silver poking out beneath his cuff,” Ken Downing of Neiman Marcus told The New York Times in a recent article about the rise of men’s jewellery.
One of the most covetable men’s bracelet ranges is that of Shamballa Jewels - worn by trendsetters from Jay Z to Karl Lagerfeld. These customisable, braided wrist adornments are inspired by the Himalayas and handmade in Copenhagen, where they are set with black diamonds and bespoke symbolism. A perfect, yet subtle, nod to individualism. After all, you can send a message without needing to shout.
Wrist Action
01 March 2017
