In the US, men got to work conquering a newly industrialized nation. It was the beginning of what has been called the Great Male Renunciation, which would see men abandon the wearing of jewelry, bright colors and ostentatious fabrics in favor of a dark, more sober, and homogeneous look.
Fun fact: men wore jewelry LONG before women did. Historians have discovered ancient artifacts that displayed family names, like signet rings. And several hundred years ago, around the time of the Renaissance, the bigger the jewels meant the higher status power men held.
1950s. The 1950s was when men's jewelry truly started to make some significant changes. Gone were the days of long chains and ornate tie pins. Instead, the 1950s introduced a subtler approach to men's fine jewelry pieces.
Men's Jewellery in Ancient Times
One such prehistoric necklace made of eagle talons was found in Croatia that was most likely worn by men 130,000 years in the past. In North Africa, a shell necklace dating back 82,000 years was discovered. Religious orders in Ancient Egypt were made up of gilded men.
In the Middle Ages, the gender distinction in jewelry was almost inexistent. Both men and women wore brooches and girdles, chains and collars, circlets and chaplets.
During the Victorian Era it wasn't as common for men to wear wedding rings as it is today, but it was certainly considered a gentleman's duty to pick out just the right band for his intended.
The well-dressed Victorian male followed a strict dress code which included only “essential” jewelry items. An abundance of opportunities for gentleman to wear jewelry presented themselves but they were expected to keep it understated and not outshine the women.
Buying a lot of accessories during the 1940s was considered patriotic. Because of that, many men could be seen with bold wristwatches or rings or cufflinks, or other jewelry. Sets with flasks and tie bars, for example, were popular. That being said, leather gloves and scarves were also still widely worn.
Although both men and women wore jewelry in the ancient world, some Greek males, particularly in Athens and Sparta, thought men who wore anything more than rings were effeminate. They felt earrings and necklaces on men were a dangerous foreign innovation.
Pearls were prized by men in multiple cultures, and among the earliest men to wear pearls were those of royalty and nobility, from Chinese royals in 2300 BC to Indian Maharajas. Polynesian warriors, known for their ferociousness, wore pearls as a sign of power and sometimes as amulets.
The style of this Hematite Intaglio Ring on the left was highly popular during the 1920's. As prominent men in society wore statement rings to signify their stature. In general, the guidelines to how men wore their rings is fairly relaxed.
To sum it up, men are not supposed to wear gold but occasionally. This is because men are naturally attracted to power, and gold signifies power; men wear it when it is needed for formal occasions or special events.
Nassarius Shell Beads – 100,000–75,000 Years Ago
Before the discovery of the Neanderthal talons, these shell beads were considered the earliest example of jewelry in human history.
Historians believe that by stringing together animal teeth and shells they may have created the world's first jewelry around 130,000 years ago. In Croatia, researchers found an era set of eagle talons they believed were part of a man's most likely worn necklace or bracelet.
Jewellery in the Viking Age
$Men and women from all layers of society wore jewellery, in the form of arm rings, necklaces and brooches. Some of the jewellery was ornamental and it could also indicate wealth. Other items, such as brooches, often had a practical function as well – to fasten clothes.
Generally, it is recommended that men wear no more than two rings - one on each hand. The ring worn on the left hand should typically be a wedding band or other sentimental piece, while the right-hand ring could be a fashion statement or family heirloom.
Men. Typically Roman men wore less jewelry than their female counterparts. Finger rings and fibulae were the most common forms of jewelry worn by men, but they would also sometimes wear pendants. Roman men, unlike Greek men, wore multiple rings at once.
They wore precious stones such as opals, emeralds, diamonds, topaz and pearls set as earrings, bracelets, rings, brooches, necklaces and diadems.
A wide assortment of bone jewelry was discovered at a Paleolithic site in Russia that was 29,000 to 31,000 years old. This type of bone jewelry was similar to jewelry being worn in other parts of Europe at the time. Both adults and children wore jewelry.
Men started wearing chains as early as 2,500 BC. Egyptians were some of the first to thread gold and silver together as a symbol of the upper class. In 300 BC, men wore chains with gemstone pendants to communicate their status.
Jewellery is a universal form of adornment. Jewellery made from shells, stone and bones survives from prehistoric times. It is likely that from an early date it was worn as a protection from the dangers of life or as a mark of status or rank.
Our ancestors used jewelry and other personal adornments to reflect their identity. These adornments may have represented membership in a particular group or someone's age, sex, and social status.
Tradition. In some families and cultures, wearing earrings is a tradition that dates back generations. Men wear earrings in their left ear to honor their ancestors and preserve their cultural heritage.
During the second half of the 19th century men retained the white waistcoat and black tail-coat and trousers of the early 19th century for evening wear. For day wear they wore a frock coat with straight trousers, a short waistcoat and a shirt with a high stiff collar.
However, ear piercing in men was perfectly acceptable everywhere except in Western society, where it was originally viewed as effeminate. This situation gradually changed, and during the Elizabethan era, many famous men, including William Shakespeare and Francis Drake, wore gold earrings.