Want to reach the accessory-conscious male consumer? Here are eight men’s collections to class up your cases.
Have you heard the news? Men’s jewelry is booming! There are numerous reasons for the trend—from the rise in same-sex engagements to the influence of rock and hip-hop stars, who regularly appear on television, in magazines, and on social media decked to the nines in jewels—but there’s no doubt that it’s happening. Recent research from the NPD Group reveals that sales of men’s jewelry grew 3 percent from May 2013 to May 2014, to reach $3 billion—part of an overall spike in men’s accessory sales. For jewelers, this means there’s ample cause to expand the in-store selection of men’s pieces to meet growing demand. Need suggestions for what to carry? Consider these eight new men’s lines.
| (Above) Beaded bracelet with frosted black onyx, fossilized woolly mammoth tooth, and sterling silver, $595, William Henry, McMinnville, Ore., 888-563-4500, williamhenry.com; Diego braided bar bracelet in leather and silver, $310, Alessandro rugged cuff bracelet in silver, $495, Dante macramé bracelet with long, narrow silver link, $325, Talia open circle pendant on parachute cord, $255, tooth pendant necklace in silver on parachute cord, $175, Zadeh New York, NYC, 212-744-2820, zadehny.com; Frontier Feather Wrap cuff in silver, $550, David Yurman, NYC, 212-752-4255, davidyurman.com; band in 18k gold with black diamonds, $3,800, Alex Soldier, NYC, 212-354-4244, alexsoldier.com |
1. Tateossian’s 25th Anniversary CollectionU.K. brand Tateossian marked its 25th anniversary with a new men’s line of classics and never-seen styles, each incorporating a tiny topaz in the brand’s signature paraiba-like blue. (Among the novelties: reinvigorated tie-clip designs from 20 years ago.) Founder Robert Tateossian’s love of mixing funky materials such as carbon fiber with gold leaf and motifs that recall mechanical gears now can also be seen in a men’s-only store in London that opened last fall. |
 King skull cufflinks in 18k rose gold–plated silver with Swarovski crystals and blue topaz accent; $495; Tateossian, River Vale, N.J.; 201-966-7525; tateossian.com |
2. Christophe & Co.Aleksandr Bernhard heads this men’s line of bracelets featuring embedded kinetic energy and near-field communication technology. The limited-edition jewels, made in 18k gold with diamonds and ceramic, are connected to an app with 24/7 global concierge service. Each is custom-fit to the client’s arm. “Our products have a shared DNA with horology and offer successful men a new option in the quest for a wearable symbol of achievement,” Bernhard says. |
 Limited-edition Apollo Armills bracelet in ceramic, 18k rose gold, and carbon fiber with 5.52 cts. t.w. micro-pavé diamonds; $149,000; Christophe & Co., Miami; 786-519-0375; abernhard@christopheandco.com |
3. Editions de ReJim Hinz and Todd Vladyka’s 2-year-old men’s line is chock-full of all the wardrobe essentials a stylish guy might need: signet rings, cufflinks, bands, chunky cuffs, and belts with substantial jewelry-like buckles. The designs are minimal, sculptural, and made in myriad metals from bronze to platinum. The line was born when the duo were challenged to make cufflinks by a retailer friend, an assignment that turned into a business when they fell in love with metalsmithing. |
 Medium Bluff cuff in bronze; $630; Editions de Re, Philadelphia; 267-474-2854; editionsdere.com |
4. Shy Creation’s Manno LineDesigner Shy Dayan aimed to create a ring that his brother and business partner, co-owner David Dayan, would wear. The result: a 14k yellow gold ring with colorless and champagne diamonds in a squared-off, European-shank style with a gallery and black rhodium behind the brown stones “to make them pop,” says David, the 22-year-old firm’s toughest critic. The piece, the colors of which accented his Daytona Rolex watch, received so many compliments that the siblings turned the design into the Manno line. |
 Band in 14k yellow gold with 1.78 cts. t.w. colorless and champagne diamonds; $2,850; Shy Creation, Los Angeles, 213-623-8900; shycreation.com |
5. Alex Soldier’s Homme: OriginsWhile the Russian transplant to New York City has made men’s pieces before, this is an official men’s collection debut for Soldier’s army of collectors. “The demand for men’s jewelry has grown substantially just within the past few years,” he says. “We get requests at every trunk show.” The inspiration behind the designs—marked by his signature textured metalwork—is sculptural masculinity, timeless appeal, and intricate detail in silver, 18k gold, and diamonds. |
 Serpent dog tag in 18k gold and silver; $2,100; Alex Soldier, NYC; 212-354-4244; alexsoldier.com |
6. William HenryBest known for its collectible knives, William Henry now has a men’s line of necklaces, bracelets, and cufflinks made in silver, Damascus steel, and mokume gane with understated stones like dinosaur bone. The looks, which parallel owner-designer Matt Conable’s knives, have been so well received that men’s fashion brand John Varvatos picked up some pieces for his stores. The jewelry debuted in fall 2014, and year-end sales for men’s totaled 20 percent of all wholesale and 39 percent of retail sales. Expect black diamond and ruby styles just in time for JCK Las Vegas. |
 Silver bracelet with dinosaur bone and stainless steel and diamond clasp; $2,100; William Henry, McMinnville, Ore.; 888-563-4500; williamhenrystudio.com |
7. Grand Band–Grand ManOwner-designer Joy Ziefer established a business making personalized rubber bands–slash–money clips for guys, but men’s jewelry eventually lured her in. Made in silver and steel, her line offers what she calls “modern men’s fashion with a classic twist.” Ziefer’s offerings—including ID bracelets, dog tag necklaces with chain-link–fence effects, and rings with black nickel finishes—expand on the popularity of her thick rubber money clips with engravable or motif-set metal bars. |
 Ring in silver with meteorite; $770; Grand Band–Grand Man, Hollywood, Fla.; 800-624-5448; thegrandband.com |
8. Tacori’s Legend and Retro Classic CollectionsRefined masculinity is the theme of two new men’s collections from Tacori’s head designer, Garo Kourounian. Look for rings in Legend and cufflinks and tie bars in Retro Classic, both of which feature Tacori’s signature crescent motif in sterling silver and 18k gold. Stones include black onyx, hematite, and tiger iron (an organic blend of several stones, including jasper), among others. Expect necklaces and more to join the mix by JCK Las Vegas. The jewelry is already a hit, notably with actor Matt Bomer (The Normal Heart), who wore Tacori blue topaz and hematite cufflinks to January’s Golden Globes. |
 Cufflinks in silver with blue topaz over hematite; $1,630; Tacori, Glendale, Calif.; 800-421-9844; tacori.com |