Come Christmas, what’s a better way to get your festive cheer on than by adding a little sparkle to your attire? Hanut Singh, jewellery designer, says that jewels have been around for men to adorn since the time of the Maharajas. “India has a legacy of creating the most gobsmacking jewels for men. In modern times, of course, it’s more pared down; the evolution has actually regressed.” Statement jewellery for men, he adds, includes rings, chains, kadas, bracelets, jewelled buttons and more.
International stars have shown that they like the sparkle. From Chris Brown’s nose ring, Snoop Dogg’s golden teeth to Seth Binzer’s face studs, many show off their personal style with their jewellery choices. Decidedly, a piece of jewellery makes a man stand out in a crowd — think 50 Cent, Bappi Lahiri and Shankar Ganesh. But it isn’t just chunky jewellery that gets attention. Remember Vin Diesel’s cross-shaped pendant from TheFast and the Furious series? What about Enrique Iglesias’ locket from the 2001 hit number ‘Hero’? How can anyone miss Johnny Depp’s many hair and beard accessories as Captain Jack Sparrow? Jewellery, subtle or grand, offers a distinct edge to a man’s look. More so because not everyone can pull it off with flair.
From leather cuffs to metal bracelets to jewelled watches, there are many ways to accessorise. If you really want to grab some eyeballs, binge on the bling with your finger rings. Go the Ryan Gosling way and sport a chain over a T-shirt, or deck your sherwani with layered neck pieces and pair it with a bold bracelet.
Be like Bono and opt for stylised eye wear, or go all out and add sparkle to your beard. If you are the subtle kind, show off your style with innovative cufflinks or try an anklet. Hanut says there’s no right way to wear jewellery; it’s all about finding your style and being unique about it. Shaheen Peer, a freelance stylist, offers some help for a jewellery newbie. She says, “When wearing bulky jewellery, dress down. If your clothes are heavy on print and colour, make sure the jewellery is minimal. It’s all about balance.”
However, men are admittedly not as creative as women when it comes to jewellery. Neither are they as adventurous.
Naveen Nandakumar, owner of Irezumi, testifies to this. “We see about 30 to 40 men a month, who opt to pierce their ears, eyebrows and get a labret. There are also five to six who come in for nipple piercings, while some also request genital piercings,” says Naveen. He adds that the latest trend is micro-dermal punches: where the piece of jewellery looks like a small stone sticking on your skin. “It’s usually done on the face, chest and collar. Sometimes, even the back of the neck,” says Naveen. Nose piercings, he adds, are rare and usually opted only by travelling foreigners.
The city’s men are still timid about their jewellery choices. “The main target audience for the jewellery industry is women, so a lot of men might think that sporting jewellery would make them look ‘feminine’. On the other hand, many would willingly adopt a piece of jewellery if it’s the latest trend.” Fans often ape the jewellery choices of stars: Salman Khan’s wrist bands, Vijay’s chain and Dhanush’s bracelet. Out of these, ear studs seem to be the most popular way to stand distinct.
From stars like Morgan Freeman and Will Smith to Akshay Kumar and Suriya, many have their own take on ear piercings. Studs have long been a unisex accessory; the trend has now expanded, with many men opting for hoops, dangling crosses, bars and beads. While huggy and magnetic earrings offer a macho edge, ear tunnels and industrial piercings are more eye-catching.
If you really want to strike a distinct note, try some interesting ideas like our city’s boys: Dancer Vikas Rao sports a belly piercing, model and part-time English teacher Immanuel Leon Francis wears an anklet and graphic designer Troydon Netto decks his neck with beads. That’s sure to give you the edge you need and the attention you deserve.
