“Fashion is more about feel than science,” – Pharrell Williams.
We don’t disagree with you, Pharrell. But men’s jewelry is one-part feel and one-part science. Let’s breakdown the things you should consider if you are in the market for men’s jewelry for yourself or for someone else.
Where To Start
Color. Color is always a good place to start. Are you looking for gold, silver, or a more specific color? By choosing one, you immediately eliminate a big chunk of options.
Price. Knowing how much you want to spend is a great second point of consideration. Set a limit in your head and stick to it.
Type of metal. Once you decide on a color and have a set price range, you should have a shorter list of potential metals to choose from. If you come across a metal you’ve never heard of, take the time to learn more about it. One of the things that makes jewelry so interesting is how it came to be. Because fun facts make life a little more fun, right?
Proportions. This is where Pharrell is right. How big or slender you want your piece to be is just a matter of taste and preference. This is kind of like choosing words to describe wine – be as descriptive as possible.
Know Some Basic Information
Don’t feel like you need to know every answer to every question about the technical aspects of metals and stones. However, it is good to familiarize yourself with the basics so you can ask the right questions while shopping.
Diamonds and Gems. When shopping for diamonds and gems, just remember the Four Cs (cut, carat, clarity, and color).
Cut is the measure of quality of a stone. It is rated as ideal, very good, fair or poor.
Carat. Carat denotes the weight of a diamond, not the size.
Clarity. Refers to the absence of blemishes and flaws.
Color. Diamonds are partially valued by how close they are to not having any color – the less color, the higher the value.
Precious Metals. There are a couple of things to consider when shopping for gold, silver, and precious metals.
Karat Weight. This was most commonly used before we were able to measure purity specifically. It is a 1-24 scale with 24 karats meaning it’s pure gold.
Hallmark. This refers to the manufacturer’s stamp on a precious metal. It either refers to the karat weight or purity as a percentage. For example, .650 would mean 65% pure silver.
Now that you know some of the science behind diamonds and precious metals, you can see what feels right to you. If you ever have any questions, or want some professional guidance, Saleena and the team at SAZ are here to help! We have the tools to choose those jewels.