Practical Tips on Choosing a Men's Necklace

A necklace is a piece of jewelry suitable for men, women, and everyone in between. The only difference between a necklace intended for a man and woman is its design. Oftentimes, an item for women is thinner or embellished with charms, fancy beads, pendants, etc. While jewelry for women relies on the visual aspect, the designs of similar pieces for the sterner sex are inspired by so-called male activities. Because there is a diversity of style, how do you choose a mens necklace?

How Often Are You Going to Wear it?

There is a huge selection of mens necklaces on the market; all of them boast various styles, materials, designs, etc. If you consider having a necklace on every day, you must choose very carefully. Because this neck jewelry is going to be worn all the time, it makes sense to opt for durable and versatile materials such as silver, especially sterling silver. It is a sturdy, low- maintenance, and beautiful metal. It is thanks to these benefits silver is the number one metal for biker necklaces known for their imposing sizes and peculiar designs. Over time, however, silver may tarnish. If you don’t mind a retro look, you might want to leave it as it is. But if you wish that your neck ornament remains shiny, you can easily remove oxidation with warm water and soap. A nice alternative to silver is stainless steel – even years of wearing can’t affect its appearance. However, steel jewelry won’t have the same value as silver items because steel is not precious.

Gold is another metal that requires little TLC. If you purchase a high-quality product (i.e. 14K gold) nothing will happen with its appearance even after years of permanent wearing. At the same time, pieces made of alloys with little gold content will darken pretty fast. Looks aside, many men prefer to skip gold accessories because they think they are girlish. In fact, gold had long been considered to be a men’s metal whereas silver had been attributed to women. Only in the 19-20 century, when men started giving up on lavishly decorated jewelry, they re-discovered silver.

If you want to flaunt something more original than gold and silver, leather is a nice option (of course, if it is of good quality). Still, you need to avoid moisture if you want it to serve you as long as possible. Therefore, you will need to take it off when taking shower, swimming, etc.

If you’re planning to wear a necklace permanently, forget about pendants and massive charms. Choker necklaces won’t do either. They are not really suitable for formal and casual styles of clothing.

Choose a necklace according to the occasion

If you want to gain the fame as a style icon, you can’t rely on ‘versatile’ jewelry. This means that you must choose every piece according to the occasion. For example, if you hang out with your friends or go to a party, a tribal, rock or biker necklace in leather or metal finish is a perfect choice. If you are looking for a necklace to wear in the office, a classic and refined look is always a win-win situation. A gold or silver chain without ornamentation will do just fine. The same goes for special occasions and events that require formal attire.

You can also wear themed jewelry whenever it is appropriate (themed parties, interest clubs, get- togethers, rallies, etc.). Such models often feature engraved plates, pendants, and fancy links. Some display animal themes, including wolfs, tiger, eagles, bears, and other animals men would like to associate themselves with. If you want to go even louder and bolder, there are plenty of controversial motifs such as crosses, Iron crosses, skulls, and themes of death in general. Jewelry with leftfield symbolism is much-loved by bikers, Goths, rockers, punks, and other subcultures. Despite the fact that those motifs are associated with death, they don’t necessarily imply it. Take a skull, for instance. In many cultures, it is a symbol of life and resurrection. So, before putting on a necklace featuring any symbol, you should probably learn what it means to see whether it is a good choice for you.

Consider the Length

The length of a mens necklace should correspond to the height and body type of a wearer. Obviously, hefty men will benefit from thicker and shorter necklaces reaching the chest level. Slim and tall men will look great with longer and thinner models, especially if they come with a pendant. At the same time, choker necklaces look quite organic on slender guys.

Choose the right type of clasp

The clasp of a necklace doesn’t affect its look but it plays a pivotal role in terms of functionality. Therefore, if you intend to flaunt a necklace all the time, you’d better focus on clasp reliability.

A hook clasp is both practical and aesthetical when it is incorporated in long necklaces. A lobster claw clasp is great for chokers and thick models. If you describe your style as relaxed and down- to-earth, you may go with a long necklace featuring no clasp.