The First Men's Jewelry
Researchers believe that the first jewelry was made from natural products, such as flowers, leaves, branches, animal bones, and stones. In North Africa, a necklace made of shells dating back 82,000 years was found, with an artificial perforation in the center of the shell. It is well known that ancient Greeks wore crowns on their heads, usually made of olive, pine, laurel, celery, or palm. Different leaves and flowers represent different gods. For example, oak represents Zeus and laurel represents Apollo. Early jewelry was often considered a symbol of honor, wealth, and power. The traditional jewelry-making industry appeared 6,000 years ago, when copper, silver, and gold jewelry was used to show the social, political, and religious importance of men in ancient Egypt, Rome, and Mesopotamia.
Medieval Men's Jewelry
Due to the influence of famine, war, and plague, the Middle Ages were considered a dark age. In this period of poverty and pain, jewelry production in Western Europe generally stagnated. In the Middle Ages, gold was the main material for jewelry design. Commonly used gemstones were freshwater beads, amber, and coral.
Men's Bead Bracelet Rosa by Santa Muerte
The jewelry worn in Europe during the Middle Ages reflects a highly hierarchical society concerned with status. Patriarchy gradually emerged, and men's jewelry began to distinguish itself from women's jewelry. Only kings and nobles could wear gold, silver, and precious stones. Crowns, scepters, and special brooches were used as symbols of power and special status. For men, the ring was particularly important, as the ring was a sign of loyalty. Signet rings became increasingly popular. They were usually imprinted with a symbol or family emblem.
In the Middle Ages, men's jewelry became increasingly fashionable. Various precious and colored stones were inlaid on the clothes of nobles and kings, as well as on rings, belts, brooches, cuffs, etc. With the opening of trade between countries and continents, foreign gems and materials were introduced.
Men's Necklace Santa by Santa Muerte
Renaissance Men's Jewelry
The Renaissance brought rapid development in art, but also rapid development in technology, knowledge, and science. We can know, through the portraits preserved from that time, that Renaissance jewelry is magnificent, and the jewelry of this period shows the enthusiasm for the glory of that era.
It is well known that Charles I of England wore a large earring with dangling beads, which became a masculine fashion in the 16th century. Pirates and buccaneers wore gold and silver rings. Besides decoration, hoop earrings could also serve to pay certain funeral expenses, as for sailors and pirates, life and death are intertwined.
The rapid development of the jewelry-making industry allowed people to buy cheap jewelry, regardless of their social status. Men wear all kinds of men's rings, men's bracelets, and pendants.
Common jewelry in the Renaissance includes necklaces, pendants, earrings, and headpieces with jewelry. The most representative jewelry are pendants. Pendants replaced medieval brooches and were attached to clothing or belts with long gold chains. The front and back of the pendant also feature exquisite designs, and the back is decorated with exquisite enamel.
Skull Bracelet Dark Night Tigre Acero by Santa Muerte
Modern Men's Jewelry
In an increasingly diverse and global culture, jewelry will only be limited by people's imagination. Different artisans create different styles of jewelry to convey different views on art. Men are paying more and more attention to their own image. They do not want to settle for wearing "ordinary" clothes and start wearing jewelry that suits them to show their personality and enhance their taste.
Modern men's jewelry mainly consists of necklaces, bracelets, and rings. These pieces are made from various materials, such as gold, silver, copper, and stainless steel. Men can find different styles of jewelry to express their personality and decorate their lives. For example, you can find skull jewelry, Viking jewelry, religious-themed jewelry, etc.