If you’re gift shopping for a man, it may seem like a daunting task. The fallback is always a tie, shirt, or wallet, but vintage jewelry offers many more gift ideas. In recent years, men have been wearing jewelry in more unexpected ways, pearl chokers, candy colored gemstone necklaces, or brooches. The jewelry universe for men has expanded beyond the basic pendant, ring or bracelet, today, there are more choices for men’s jewelry. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary or holiday gift, you’ll always score big with vintage jewelry.
Cufflinks: A Traditional Gift
Cufflinks are always a thoughtful gift. They come in many styles, they’re made from all types of materials, with a wide range of themes. Traditionally, cufflinks were gifted. Back in the 1700s these tiny treasures were expensive to make and pretty much reserved for royals and nobles, who gifted cufflinks to those in their orbit.
Today, cufflinks are worn mostly when dressing up, but cufflinks with an untucked shirt and jeans or shorts is a brilliant way to be casual, but polished at the same time. When choosing cufflinks as a gift, think about the personal interests of the person you are gifting and then look for a pair of cufflinks with that theme — sailing, dogs, cars. If you don’t know the preferences of the one you are gifting, play it safe with a pair of gold, platinum or silver cufflinks, perhaps even embellished with a gemstone.
If you go out to black tie events or formal weddings regularly, then you might want to up the ante, with a vintage dress set. Dress sets include a pair of cufflinks along with two or three shirt studs that act as buttons on a tuxedo shirt. Men commonly wore dress sets in the Edwardian and Art Deco eras, when it was customary to dress up when going out. Wearing a dress set today will not only take a tux to a whole new level, but it will also brand someone as a man of distinction.
Brooches: A Trending Gift
Anyone watching any red carpet event over the past few years knows that men wearing brooches, especially vintage brooches, is trending. From actors to musicians, the trend for men wearing brooches is becoming more a part of men’s fashion as an expression of personal style. Why not consider gifting a vintage brooch? While it may seem that men wearing brooches is a new thing, historically men have always worn brooches in the form of medals, family crests or decorative closures for capes and cloaks.
Much like cufflinks, brooches come in a myriad of styles, with vintage brooches reflecting the fashions of their era. While brooches are generally abstract in design, they are also often themed. Diamond stars and arrows were popular brooch themes in the Victorian era that make a beautiful statement on a jacket lapel. The Art Deco era was filled with elegant diamond bar brooches, that may be worn horizontally or vertically. Small brooches, or stickpins, are also a good option to wear with a tie in place of a tie bar. The brooch will hold a tie in place, but with a lot more personality. A brooch is an excellent gift for a man who likes to tell his story through his accessories.
Signet Rings: A Personal Gift
A signet ring is another great men’s gift. Generally worn on the pinky, signet rings are one of the more personal items of jewelry that can be worn. Throughout history, signet rings have been used by the rich and powerful as a way of showing their identity. But it is their intriguing designs and the stories they tell that have made signet rings so fascinating. Generally, a signet ring has a flat bezel that is engraved with initials or a design that is specific to the person wearing the ring, such as a family crest, or coat of arms. For thousands of years signet rings were pressed into warm wax to seal documents or to act as a signature.
While we no longer need to use a signet ring as a signature or identification, these rings now send a message of style. Whether it’s your initial, or a vintage signet ring with a design that resonates personally, these rings are a meaningful gift that becomes part of the recipient's story. Alternatively, a ring with a luscious colored gemstone, worn on the pinky or any other finger is also a powerful statement.
When selecting a jewelry gift for the man in your life, think beyond the usual ties, wallets and belts. Instead consider a gift of cufflinks, a brooch or ring, jewels that are sure to become a signature for the recipient.
Top of Page: Art Deco diamond, moonstone and platinum dress set with cufflinks and three shirt buttons, signed Chaumet.
18-karat gold cufflinks, signed Henry Dunay; Edwardian diamond, sapphire, platinum topped gold bar brooch; Jade and 18-karat gold ring, circa 1980s.
Authored by Amber Michelle