When does a ring stop being a man’s ring? There appears to be a cross-fertilisation of style when it concerns jewellery. Unisex styles in clothing appear to have given licence for jewellery to go unisex too. Now, you can buy anything from gems to diamonds embedded in gold and titanium rings for guys. Before, you would only see males’ rings restricted to timeless wedding bands.
Now guys’ rings can be found in all shapes, sizes, and designs. Needless to say, guys’ rings vary from the extravagant bling of the MTV generation to the more subtle and advanced silver titanium rings. Pop stars like P Diddy have actually put diamond-encrusted jewellery on the map. Stars and actors have become walking billboards for jewellery sellers who are falling over themselves in the race to get any direct exposure for any of their valuable jewellery products.
According to new research by Verdict, British males and females now invest ₤ 2.1 billion a year on devices, one fifth of that is spent on jewellery and watches. So as far as guys are concerned, men’s rings could be just as essential a device as using a watch or the current smart phone. The very same trend is seen in India, where boys appear more open about revealing a more feminine side. Jewellery retailers in significant Indian cities have actually seen a boom in the sales of men’s rings, bracelets and earrings.
I asked a number of males about how they felt about rings. The answers varied considerably and there were viewpoints of casual indifference to cagier, determined responses. “Well I’d like it to look stylish”, said one. Another one shivered at the idea of men’s rings when I asked him and said, “well it’s like putting ten tonne weights on your fingers– bad when it comes to typing on your laptop.” For the most part however, the generation of city metrosexuals all over the world are amused by the idea that looking cool simply does not stop at a pair of trendy denims and a t-shirt.
For years ladies have mastered the art of accessorising. Anything from hair slides, bags, rings, and outfit jewellery have been mixed and matched to revitalise aging ball gowns, dresses, suits and tracksuit bottoms relegated to the dark recesses of a lady’s closet. Now there is a possibility for men to get in on the accessorising act too. And what better method for a man to make a statement than using a number of men’s rings with a casual set of denims and a t-shirt.