With Valentine’s Day and what promises to be a busy wedding season approaching, the jewelry industry’s focus is rightly on engagement jewelry. That is why the launch of a new men’s wedding band collection is especially timely.
The latest comes from Utah-based Manly Bands. In its first partnership with the music industry, Manly Bands is collaborating with Fender Musical Instruments Corp. to create a custom collection of guitar-inspired rings for men.
Using authentic Fender materials such as real Stratocaster guitar strings, Manly Bands is targeting people who want to connect their love of music to their wedding jewelry, which is not only sentimental but also something of value that the wearer selects to represent who they are and their interests, Manly Bands cofounder and co-CEO Michelle Luchese says.
“We love collaborating with other brands to find the voice behind the partnership and help our customers find that unexpected ring that they fall in love with,” Luchese says. “There is no end to how fun and creative our team is in designing new rings and reaching our audiences.”
Gone are the days when simple bands were the only selection available to couples. Today, the men’s wedding ring market is sizzling, and men’s engagement rings are among the hottest new items. For example, Tiffany & Co. released its first men’s engagement rings in 2021, and many more collections have sprung up since then.
Manly Bands, which describes itself as the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer of “badass men’s wedding rings,” is known for its creative partnerships with other top brands, including Jack Daniel’s. It also is known for using nontraditional items, such as dinosaur bone, meteorite, and Jack Daniel’s whiskey barrel materials.
Fender has been a household name among musicians and music lovers since 1946. Created by founder Leo Fender, its instruments are revered for their quality and innovation.
“Men should look at the Fender collection as a way to express the music within them in a jewelry form that not only makes them tick but also helps them express all the feelings words can’t describe,” Luchese says. “It’s an incredible feeling to be able to look down at your wedding band and have a constant reminder of who you are so that you never stray from it.”
Ranging from $495 to $850, the Fender collection stands out because of its materials. Manly Bands uses guitar strings, premium woods, and metals to create rings such the Troubadour. Made with ebony wood and an authentic guitar string, the band is inlaid with Fender tweed to pay tribute to traditional Fender amps.
The Riff is made in black zirconium with a fret board engraving. The Acoustic is made in rosewood and inlaid with two authentic guitar strings. The 1954 is made in black zirconium and bird’s-eye maple and is inlaid with an authentic guitar string to mimic the black Player Stratocaster.
Two other rings in the collection, the Sonic (shown above and at top) and the Electric, also feature guitar strings. The Sonic is made in mahogany and features a hand-painted sleeve reminiscent of the American Acoustasonic Jazzmaster. The Electric has titanium and ebony wood and features an authentic guitar string that replicates the Mercury American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe.
Top: Manly Bands has entered its first musical partnership with the legendary Fender brand, bringing Fender’s guitar materials to men’s rings (all photos courtesy of Manly Bands).
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
