Designing Men's Jewelry

With Father's Day next month, we have updated this article with some tips for making the perfect Father's Day jewelry gifts: Making handmade gifts allows you to tailor and personalize your gifts for your loved ones. With Father’s Day quickly approaching (Sunday, June 16^th), it is a perfect time to explore men’s jewelry and think about what the special man in your life would like. Chain is a great jumping off point. With hundreds of styles to choose from, you can easily make chain necklaces and bracelets that have a sleek masculine feel. A great chain to consider is stainless steel. This chain is very low maintenance and does not tarnish if cared for properly. Other chains to consider are antiqued silver and sterling silver. In terms of chain styles, a flat curb chain is a good choice with its low profile and streamlined look. Read on for more tips.

Original article: Designing traditional men's jewelry has much to do with the individual who will wear it. When you start off, think about who the recipient will be and consider what they like in terms of colors, personal style, and even their hobbies. Some men like bracelets while others prefer necklaces, some like bold colors while others like subdued, and some like statement-making designs while others prefer simple. Designing jewelry for men is a lot like designing jewelry for women in that there is a vast range of tastes and what you can do. For this guide, we will be discussing traditional men's jewelry and classic styles, but if your recipient likes other colors and motifs not usually associated with men's jewelry, go for it! It's about what brings you and the recipient joy.

If you don't know who will be wearing it, consider using neutral tones of blacks, browns, grays, sage greens, ochres, deep blues, and creams. Neutrals are more versatile than purples, bright greens, pinks, etc.

Inspiration Color Palettes

Some good materials to consider are leather cord, hemp, chain, wood/shell/ceramic beads, metal beads, and gemstones. A nice durable metal to use is stainless steel. There is cut chain available along with all the findings needed to finish it. Antiqued brass and antiqued silver components are nice too and go well with the neutral color palette. Remember to account for larger wrists and a bigger bone structure in terms of size and scale of your designs.

For focals, there are some great charms available that feature coin motifs, Celtic designs, yoga and zen symbols, and more. 

Here are some projects that we have created with the male wearer in mind but remember, all designs truly are unisex and can be worn by all.

Check out more DIY men's jewelry designs here!