Unless you raided your dear mother’s jewelry box when you were younger or ran around South East Asia on your gap year like Leonardo DiCaprio in The Beach, chances are, as a man, you’ve never thought about thrusting a chain over your head.
But with an ever-increasing roll call of the coolest guys in the world now opting for men’s chain and pendants (Gosling, Hemsworth, Rocky – need we say more?) and shifting attitudes towards a much-needed blurring of the previously gender stereotyping in fashion (men wear watches, women wear jewelry – lets all groan in unison) now is as good a time as any to experiment with a chain over your head. Here we take a look at everything you need to get started, from picking the right pendant and length of chain to how you can fit it effortlessly into your already assembled wardrobe.
This male love-in with the necklace died out in the 1600s but returned in the second half of the 20th century when chains once again went from pious symbols of religion to conspicuous signifiers of wealth. Dog tags, Elvis, and disco played their parts, but it was in hip-hop fashion that necklaces became the ultimate symbol of decadence with artists punching through the social hierarchy, the ice hanging around their necks offering proof of how far they’d climbed.
In the last decade, men’s jewelry has evolved again, now more of a fashion accessory than anything else. Necklaces have sashayed down the men’s catwalk for the likes of Prada, Balmain, and Raf Simons in recent seasons. And from high to low, even those unlikely fellas from reality TV show Love Island have been dolling up their perma-tanned torsos with online jewelry retailer Jewlr reporting a 500 percent increase in sales of men’s necklaces while the show was on the air.
“Men wearing jewelry is definitely having a renaissance,” says Alex Simpson, founder of men’s jewelry brand Alex Orso. “There has been a 1990s streetwear revival in recent seasons, which has seen chains, pendants, medallions, and rings rise in popularity. This has been picked up on Instagram and street style blogs, which in turn has influenced the styling of characters on mainstream reality TV to create a self-perpetuating trend which I don’t believe has reached its crescendo yet.”
PICKING YOUR METAL
The first step to making like the Pharaohs and the catwalk waifs is to pick out your men’s chain and pendant – starting with the material of your chain and then the pendant to add the unique styling that has made them so popular. “A necklace should feel comfortable and casual almost like a family heirloom,” says Michael Saiger, founder and creative director of US-based jewelry company Miansai.
An oxidized sterling silver chain offers a more masculine and timeless vibe with the color shade working best in winter months underneath tailoring and next to navy blues and grey. A yellow gold chain is brighter creating a contrast that really pops against black while complimenting warmer tones like orange and brown.
If you’re looking for a casual necklace to fit with a more dressed-down style, then consider waxed cord which especially suits the summer months and days flaunting around the pool while a beaded necklace might have worrying gap year connotations but can add bulk and width to a skinny neck while drawing attention to a sharp jawline (if you’re blessed with one) and works well in combination with other chains.
There are also plated metals to consider but Saiger recommends sticking to the golden two if you are concerned about your skin reacting to the chain. “It’s always best to stick with only sterling silver and solid gold if you have sensitive skin. Those types of metals are extremely fine, and will not react to your skin regardless if you sleep with them or wear them just for the day.”
Aside from the material, there are also different chain designs with the interconnected oval links of a cable chain being the most common. Different chain designs will alter the feel and look of the necklace like the bulkier mesh chain (several different chains linked together for a textured look), the sturdy curb chain (interlocked links designed to lay flat), and the ever-so-fancy Figaro chain (an alternating pattern of differently sized flattened links).
What is a silver chain?
When people talk about silver jewelry, they are referring to sterling silver. That’s because, just like gold, pure silver is soft and difficult to work with.
It won’t maintain its shape as it will bend quite easily. Therefore, what you’ll find in the market is 92.5 percent silver, with the remaining percentage containing mostly copper, which makes the metal tough.
Even though your silver chain is an alloy, it is not cheap because of the silver content. It is, however, worthwhile given how long it will serve you.
When you’re purchasing sterling silver pieces, ensure that you get them from a genuine distributor.
You can also check for signs of authenticity, for example, it having a 925 stamp to show that it is indeed sterling silver. The reason you should exercise caution is that there are a lot of fake sterling silver chains in circulation.
One telling sign is that they’ll be cheaper, and after a while, the silver plating at the top will fade, exposing the sterling silver underneath.
Pros And cons of silver chains
Let’s not turn to sterling silver to see what qualities make a chain made from the material a fantastic buy, and what might disappoint you.
Pros
- Despite being an alloy, sterling silver is still considered a precious metal
- The finishing of sterling silver pieces tends to be attractive and have a classic finish
- You can get your chain in two types; either with a gloss or matte finish
- The metal is durable and lasts for decades; you only need to polish it when needed
- It does form a natural patina after a while for a more rustic look and feels
- You can have stones added to your sterling silver chain for a personalized lo
Cons
- Even though sterling silver chains can last you decades, they do tarnish and need care
- The metal is not hypoallergenic
- There are too many fake sterling silvers in the market passing as the real thing
How Do Men Wear Necklaces: Chains And Cords?
The truth is, how a man should wear jewelry and what jewelry men can wear are fluid concepts. The chain or cord of a necklace can take many, many forms.
Between the material used and the length, the chain is giving your necklace a lot of its character, so take the time to understand your options and the message you are sending.
What is the best chain length for men?
Where the ornament hangs on your chest (or the nadir of the chain, if you have no pendant) affects both the overall style of a necklace and the types of shirts it goes well with.
Short, choker-style necklaces can be worn with just about anything, short of a suit and tie. They look unusual underneath a men’s dress shirt any shirt with a turn-down collar. It’s not necessarily a bad thing though. On their own above a low collar, of course, they stand out on their own, and viewers can see the whole necklace.
Medium-length chains that end right around the base of the neck or the top of the breastbone are typical for unornamented metal chains. This leaves most of the links visible with an open shirt collar, or with a non-turndown collar like a T-shirt’s. On the other hand, it’s the most awkward length for a pendant, since the ornament will fall under the collar on some shirts, above it on others, and awkwardly halfway-covered on a few.
Long chains or cords are good for pendants, but often hide them underneath your shirt. The ornaments attached to them will generally only be worn outside very casual outfits, meaning you’ll need a V-neck or a few open buttons if you want the pendant to be visible.
As with the materials, remember that you can always swap chains and cords in and out. You can even have a jeweler shorten metal chains if your preference changes.
Gold or Silver Chain for men-Which one is Better?
The type of chain you go for has largely to do with your outfit and also skin tone. For those who have olive skin, then gold would go better while those with pale or fair skin look better with silver.
Even so, your other accessories will also determine which metal you’ll purchase or wear. Say if you have a silver watch, then it is best to wear a silver chain that you’re matching.
You don’t want to wear two different metals at the same time as it’s not fashion-forward.
For instance, you may find a heavy necklace made of silver that costs more than a hollow gold chain. But in general, gold jewelry retains its value more than silver does. Both are considered softer metals. This means they will show scratches more easily than other metals.
Sterling silver chains and necklaces are beautiful, durable, and don’t cost a fortune. It’s also hypoallergenic and easy to maintain, unlike many other precious metals. Sterling silver is extremely versatile and available in a huge range of styles.
4 Rules for Men When Wearing Jewelry
- Keep It Simple
When in doubt, keep it simple. Start with a classic leather-strapped silver watch; if you regularly wear a watch and can afford it, consider a sportier diving watch with a stainless steel band as well. Next branch out to tie accessories and cufflinks.
Once you’re comfortable wearing these generally accepted pieces, then you can start to introduce other jewelry pieces like necklaces if you choose. For a quick visual guide, visit Joe’s awesome chart over at Dappered.
- Match Metals
Most men’s jewelry is metallic. Gold and silver tones are the most common. Your outfits should only feature one metal tone at a time.
Gold is a warmer color and reads, predictably, like a yellow accent in terms of the color wheel. It goes well with browns and other earth tones, as well as with deep hues like royal blue or hunter green. Watch for differing tones if you’re buying multiple pieces of gold jewelry–gold comes in a broad range of darkness/lightness, and you may end up with pieces that don’t match if the difference is extreme.
Silver and silver-tone metals like polished stainless steel or chrome are neutral. They read as grays, functionally outside the color wheel, falling instead on the black-to-white gradient. That means they don’t clash too sharply with anything, but also don’t provide the same eye-catching contrasts that well-worn gold can. Pair silver jewelry with black or dark gray clothing for a sleek, timeless look, or you can wear it with lighter colors in the summer without the fear of it overwhelming your clothing’s soft colors.
Copper and bronze are orange-hued metals and should be treated as such. They’re bolder than gold or silver and need to be worn with restraint. You’ll see copper-tone jewelry in more casual outfits, and an heirloom copper ring or shirt buttons/rivets can add to a plain trouser and shirt.
Precious stones need to be kept to a minimum. They’re like purses–no matter how egalitarian you want to get about it, they’re still feminine to most. A single color of the stone on a ring or a single colored ear stud is the max. Anything beyond that is either flaunting your wealth in an obnoxious way or just plain gaudy.
Turquoise gets a little bit of an exception for any man who wears deliberately Western styles. It’s become something of a Southwestern gentleman’s stone. A bit on a ring, bolo tie, or belt buckle goes great with jeans and a collared shirt. Just be aware that it is a bright color and tends to be eye-catching–wear small amounts, and only when you want to draw attention to wherever the stone is located.
The exception to issues of color matching is wedding bands and heirloom pieces. A man can always wear his wedding band; if it doesn’t go with your other metal pieces, don’t sweat it. It’ll just draw a bit of attention, and there’s nothing wrong with having people notice the visible symbol of your commitment. As for heirloom pieces, try to match but assuming the piece is non-attention grabbing (such as a small ring or watch), the clash of metals is acceptable.
Conclusion
Now that you have insight into what gold chains and silver chains are, you can make a personal yet educated decision about which one is best for you.
Thanks for reading. Personally, I love the silver chain more.
CHURINGA Sophie
Sophie is a fashion&jewelry lover. She is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that helps thousands of small businesses to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. She is a true jewelry expert and she will keep sharing some information you are looking for.
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