Jewellery - How much and what to wear?

[Guest]

How much jewellery is acceptable for formal corporate dress and what should one wear?

What are classic pieces of jewellery? What stones and metals are appropriate?

I currently wear:
- One wedding band with a small diamond
- Watch
- Cufflinks
- Bracelet (small discrete under the cuff made of white gold)

I've heard that men should ideally wear one ring third finger of each hand. Is this acceptable?

[Guest]

"Acceptable" varies from place to place, time to time. In my social and business circles in the States, England, and far South America, I find wristwatch and simple gold signet ring (no stone), with occasional wearing of conservative cufflinks, completely acceptable; a wedding band would be, too. I doubt that a bracelet would be; but the former social strictures no longer exist, really, so probably anything a reasonable man wishes to wear will draw no comment and scarcely a glance.

RWS

[Guest]

Anything more than a plain wedding band, elegant watch and conservative cufflinks strikes me as rather louche. A simple signet ring, if one is entitled to wear one, is perfectly acceptable in England.

[Guest]

I would ditch the bracelet.

I am not crazy about the diamond in the wedding band, but if you get rid of it your wife might get rid of you.

[Guest]

Wear no jewellery.

A watch and cufflinks are not jewellery.

That should be it for a gentlemen. Get rid of the rest. Please.

[Guest]

I agree that the bracelet puts your swing into overdrive. Ditch it.

Not married, i have two rings that i alternate on the right hand. The one i regularly wear is a gold band with a large black stone. Not strictly a signet ring, it's been worn by three generations of my family and i feel obliged to wear it, though the stone is too large for my taste and these times.

E.

[Guest]

jewelry should add to the overall lustre of the person.
I've seen some Gentleman who wear it very well.
A good rule is to be sure to opt for simple elegance.
Nothing that detracts from a well put together appearance.

[Guest]

Jewelry?

ONE PIECE, that's it.

A watch and cufflinks are not jewelry, and I don;t count a wedding ring which is why if you add more elements you clutter yourself all up.

So, what to do?

A ring on the right hand, I've seen many men effectively wear a black onyx signet/school ring. Personal choice, not for me but I have no problem.

A metal bracelet? Shows a free spirit, could have been a gift from a babe of years past. Could be 6 oz of gold that you like to have there. An individual thing.

Chain around the neck. If small, no problem.

Not a big fan of diamonds on men, much less on myself, but if one is going to wear a diamond, I'd suggest something in the 2 carat range as a stud in one ear. I'm all for pirates. Though hoops and parrots are more traditional, a diamond stud is more discrete and declares that one is a successful pirate.

With all of these things I take the "one piece" rule, and I don't really mean one at a time. Have a piece, a good piece, and wear it most if not all of the time. Make it a part of your most basic kit and the world will see it as a part of you. Familiarity will make it meld in to "your look".

Put them all on at once? You are over accessorized. Although my initial impulse is to ask you to leave the Lounge, on consideration I think that we'd do better to ask Mr. Alden to creat an "intervention" room in which we could "debrief you". Rent for the room would be covered by retreived bling.

In the spirit of good natured banter,
DDM

[Guest]

unless you're a pro athlete or a pirate-no earrings,
watch and cufflinks-fine
wedding ring-of course.
bracelet? Not for me but one can't dismiss the arguement that it would provide getaway money or be a gift from an old friend. Looks good on a Sikh.
I have a weakess for complicated cufflinks-but no frogs.

I also like signet rings-on a pinkie. Other type pinkie rings don't do it for me unless you're a captain or higher and not under indictment.