Men and jewelry

[Renate]

Men are a sadly underrepresented group in terms of jewelry, for wearing, buying, creating alike. Everywhere actually. Not a surprise really, because jewelry seems the very essence of femi- femininini- drat! .... the very essence of being a woman.
What do we know about men who buy jewelry?

Do they actually exist? If so, what kind of jewelry, and at which occasions do they buy?

Do they buy for themselves, and if so, what? Or only for their romantic partner? How do they make the decision?

If they buy for themselves, what attracts them? Do you know men who wear jewelry, and if so, did they buy it themselves, or was it a gift?

Where to find those men on the internet?
What are their hobbies?

Any thoughts?

[christine]

The only man who has ever purchased for himself saw some of my designs on FB and asked if I could make a cuff for a man. I did and he was happy. They are out there, just not sure how you find them!

[Tela]

Those are all fabulous questions!! And, I can't answer a single one.

[laura]

Well, they do exist and I dig them ;D (With not too much jewelry and without too many extra holes)

One guy that instantly comes to my mind is a lost native american spirit reborn in LT - he makes and wears jewelry and accessories, but rather specific kind (leather, seed bead embroidery, bones, feathers, etc). Probably the only man I know working with seed beads and embroidery
I've managed to find some pics here www.indenai.lt/straipsniai--foto--video-2/LT/
and more pics on facebook www.facebook.com/indenai?sk=photos

Here's a gallery of another artist - (I think) he mainly works on replicating archeological finds and he's a regular at medieval shows
www.facebook.com/people/Evaldas-Babenskas/1206758910?sk=photos

[Vicky]

All the men who have purchased jewellery from me, for themselves, do it for the health benefits of copper.

Two gentlemen, 35-ish and 75-ish, both wanted "manly copper bangles" (my word not theirs), simple braid, 14ga core and 16ga wrap, chunky ends - for their arthritis. Seems the pharmacy had copper bracelets but they weren't manly enough (that's the polite version of what they said, lol!) I know there is a lot of stuff on the net about the placebo affect and that it doesn't work but ... if they believe then they may be half way there (there is a strong sceptic that sits on my left shoulder and does battle with the dreamer on my right)

And after years of offering to make him something, my husband finally asked me to make him a neck chain. It had to be simple, copper and oxidised. So he has a simple "s" link chain, 18ga copper, oxidised. He never takes it off.

His reasoning was simple he had seen a news article on the net (google, mrsa copper - there's tons of info) and as he has a very sensitive skin and works in a dusty, dirty environment and is susceptible to what can only be described as boils on his face, poor love. Treatment is heavy duty antibiotics that make him feel worse than the infections. So he figured, it couldn't hurt and if copper can reduce/kill MRSA then it might do something for his infections. It's no trial. It's only been a month, so who knows.

Apart from that the only men I know who buy hand-crafted, artisan jewellery (as opposed to blingy, expensive rubbish from the corner jewellery store) buy for their wives or girlfriends who have obviously expressed the preference for anything "different", ie anything that isn't expensive, commercial crap.

I do think the young generation of males coming through now (especially the city dwellers - once referred to as metrosexuals - you know, the ones that moisturise, lol) are buying statement pieces for themselves but I don't think they have been educated about alternative places to buy their jewellery. The main marketing seems to come from the large chain jewellers, all stainless steel and rubber - all a much of a muchness really.

Anyhoo, that's what's happening in my small patch of Aust, and my thoughts on your questions.

Cheers

V

[Renate]

Thank you all for your contribution to pin down this elusive group of people. I asked these questions in the hope that between us we can find enough information to get a clearer picture of this target group.

Vicky, that was *very* interesting, thank you for the insight! It seems men need a reason to purchase/wear jewelry: health or the woman in their life. Just decoration is not enough, obviously.
I'm a sceptic, but I truly hope that copper has health benefits, if only for the sake of your DH.


Around me not even the women wear jewelry, not to mention the men! Ok, that may be a bit exaggerated. But apart from the occasional small gold earring I can only think of one man wearing a bracelet and earrings, and he works in my bicycle repair shop. He wears a leather and silver bracelet that was a gift from his girlfriend, and he is also making bracelets and pendants himself, to wear them, not to sell.

I will try to keep my eyes open, and ask friends and colleagues what they think about jewelry for men, and where they think men can be found who purchase for themselves or as gifts.

[Tela]

Very interesting My men don't wear jewelry. In fact, I've never personally known any that did.

[Tela]

Laura- I just checked the links. Can I just say, yummy?

So, he is a LT, NOT Native American? Could have fooled me. I knew a guy who was actually Native American and went to the pow wows (Native American festivals and dances). He was a big crafter. He made super cool purses from turtle shells and other cool stuff. He was a dancer, too. But, even he didn't wear much jewelry.

[caeterle]

I work at a library in the technical branch and have seen lots of men in all age groups over the years. The ones I mostly see wearing jewelry - and I'm sorry if this sounds like a big cliché - are men from India, Turkey, Italy and so on. The odd earring, gold chains, maybe a bracelet.

Now the men in my life would rather get slowly eaten by snails than being caught with jewelry, except for the wedding ring.

[Renate]

I've asked one of my young colleagues (in an advertising agency), who, of course does not wear jewelry himself. When I asked him where he thinks those men can be found, he suggested to look for men who are interested in fashion and cosmetics. Of course.
Though, he was thinking about targeting professionally and in big style. Not sure yet what that means for small business like the crafters and artists here.

[laura]

Feb 26, 2012 17:32:09 GMT -5 Renate said:

When I asked him where he thinks those men can be found, he suggested to look for men who are interested in fashion and cosmetics. Of course.

Hmmm... I'd suggest looking in the completely opposite direction - the "underground" folk - goths, metalheads, rockers, bikers, etc. At least every second of those has pierced ears, and wears other jewelry from rings to necklaces. You'll see lost of silver, bone, wood, hemp there. Btw I know first hand how insanely difficult it is to find interesting earrings for a man, so there is a niche to fill.

Of course I now realize I don't know what type of jewelry we are talking about.. (the most disgusting combination man+gold chain is not what I have in mind.)

[Renate]

Laura, you are spot on with your "underground folk". The men's fashion magazines didn't feel right to me. Unless maybe you find the men's equivalent to the Chan Lu bracelets.

I didn't think about that heavy gold chain either ;D, but the handcrafted pieces that the members of this forum make. You wouldn't mind to sell jewelry to men, I suppose?

[laura]

Feb 27, 2012 8:09:20 GMT -5 Renate said:

You wouldn't mind to sell jewelry to men, I suppose?

Well, I surely don't mind buying jewelry for the man ;D And since the current specimen has only one ear pierced (despite my protests that it looks bad.. I'll take 2:1 over 1:0 holes any day), I also don't mind him wearing (and losing) the orphaned post earrings of mine. That's a good use for those lonely posts But since he's recently lost the last celtic knot, he's now got a tiny handmade spiral to plug the hole (I've experimented with tiny post earrings the other day, but he refused to try on flowers and hearts )

[Tela]

LOL!

You just reminded me, my DH used to always wear an earring. He doesn't so much anymore. It was always a tiny Bali hoop.

[glenda]

Purely for research and with no thought for myself I am willing to sacrifice my precious time to conduct a full and complete investigation into the 'jewellery' Native American Indian men adorn themselves with!!!!!!!! ;D

Someone book me a reservation(!!! ;D) and I'll go pack!!! ;D

Sorry, momentary loss of concentration!! ;D

Wedding rings and small hoop earrings are as adventurous as it gets around here. My other half comes from generations of fishermen and apparently this was tradition. It seems men tend to wear jewellery based on tradition/religion/meaning.

We, however I think women tend to wear it just because we can and we want to feel/look good!

Glenda x

P.S Although said in jest it would only take me a few minutes to pack a case and grab my passport - Oh and my all important notepad and pen of course ha ha ;D

[Renate]

Glenda, you wouldn't pack your pliers??!!! Eeeeek! ;D

[Vicky]

Once every few weeks I get emails from FMG, sometimes I check 'em, sometimes ... nah, no time!

The newsletter I received today talked about the spring/summer jewellery trends and they have one for men.

www.firemountaingems.com/fashion-trends/spring-summer-2012/fashion_trends.asp?docid=SS2012CRUSADER

There's not a huge range to view, 4 pieces on initial page but there is a link at the bottom to take you to 20 more. Nothing really floats my boat but from a marketing point of view this is the kind of jewellery that is being promoted for jewellery makers to make for men.

It appears that quite a few of the pieces are actually designed by men, if the blurb is correct, and I find that an interesting concept - surely male designers would have a pretty good idea about what might sell to men.

Just testing the theory, *women designers know what sells to women* - a strong but qualified *yes*; certainly doesn't disprove the theory

Vicky;)

[Tela]

Great idea! I never thought to check FM. I'm kinda surprised by the selection of jewelry, though.