Pearls have acquired a reputation for being a feminine, delicate, soft gemstone… quite the opposite of masculine jewelry. So the question of whether men can or should wear pearl jewelry is often laughed off.
But it’s interesting to note that men have been wearing pearls since ancient times. Today, with an increasing number of fashion-forward celebrities looking for new ways to express themselves and jewelry designers incorporating pearls into more masculine designs, pearl jewelry for men is becoming an in thing.
Let’s take a look at this new trend that, for all intents and purposes, seems to be here to stay.
Name One Man Who Wears Pearls!
I hear you challenging me. Well, I’ll give you more than just one name.
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams is a fashion icon and a suave celebrity who has sported pearl necklace strands multiple times to great effect. Williams challenges Coco Chanel, who said that women need ropes and ropes of pearls. He seems to be asking, why just women?
Pierce Brosnan
What? 007 too? Yes, Pierce Brosnan has been seen multiple times wearing a masculine black Tahitian pearl pendant attached to a cord necklace. In fact, he was featured on Vanity Fair rocking this look.
Steven Tyler
This rock legend is known for pushing the boundaries of fashion and doing it his way. He’s frequently rocked black Tahitian pearl strands on the red carpet.
Now that we’ve established that men do wear pearls, let’s take a look at the history of men wearing pearls and how you too can incorporate this classic gem into your look.
Men Have Always Worn Pearls
Pearls have been a coveted gemstone throughout history, whether by men or women, and one that speaks of prestige, authority and power.
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.
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Even in the West, nobility and royalty frequently wore pearls along with other valuable gemstones. Men like Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh were often painted with pearl jewelry on.
Another famous example is Charles I, king of England, who frequently wore a single large teardrop shaped pearl earring.
The famous single pearl earring of Charles I.
Most of his portraits depict him wearing this jewel, which has become one of the most famous pearls of all time. He even wore this earring to his beheading, which was later given to his daughter Mary as a final memento.
Somewhere down the track, pearls for men went out of fashion. It wasn’t just pearls, but jewelry in general which began to be seen as the domain of women.
The Revival of Men’s Pearl Jewelry
There are no rules today for the modern man when it comes to fashion. As more men wear jewelry to express their personality and style, pearls for men have slowly come back into the limelight.
When we say pearls, we tend to think of soft white pearls with blush pink overtones. While Pharrell Williams may look like he was born to wear white pearls, the rest of us might be more comfortable exploring other options. Luckily, there’s a wide range of pearl types available now to suit everyone.
The most masculine pearls on the market, without doubt, are Tahitian pearls. These feature dark body tones and have an intriguing, mysterious look that have a unisex appeal.
Dark Tahitian pearl
Tahitian pearls are the only naturally dark pearls available and their rarity and value make them an excellent choice for stylish, valuable jewelry designs.
If you’re wondering if you can pull of wearing pearls, it depends on your style. If you’re wearing pearls but are constantly fidgeting and look uncomfortable with them, it’s best to skip the stones.
But if you can wear them with a certain confidence and be relaxed about them, you’ll not only pull them off but probably will inspire others to do the same.
How to Ease into Wearing Pearls
So you like the idea of wearing pearls, and you’re intrigued by it… but you’re not quite ready to rock an entire strand around your neck. Don’t worry, that’s not the only way to do it.
While pearl jewelry designs for men are still limited, here are some ways to incorporate pearls with a rugged edge to accentuate your manly look.
- A single dark pearl pendant paired with rustic materials like leather or cord is perfect for a casual, laid back look or to embellish a formal suit with contrasting styles. For this look to work, it’s best to go choker length, where the pearl rests just at the start of your neck. A single pearl bracelet would also be an excellent option.
- Add a touch of sophistication with pearl cufflinks to bring out the color and class of your suit. Choose from any color to match your color theme.
- A pearl strand bracelet featuring dark pearls is a nice touch for any outfit. Similar to bead jewelry, a pearl strand bracelet won’t garner you too much attention but will still add a sense of style and fashion to your look.
- If you’re a suit and tie kind of guy, a pearl tie tack might be the touch you need to elevate your look to the next level. This is a little different to the typical tie bar but suits a range of occasions whether for workwear or for a special event.
These are just some ideas to get you started. As you start searching for your perfect piece of pearl jewelry, you’ll find yourself restricted by a lack of choice so an excellent option would be to get the jewelry you have in mind made for you.
There are many online pearl specialist stores that might be happy to create a special piece and open up their pearls to a whole new market.
Wrapping Up This Discussion
So, to reiterate, pearls are (or at least, should be) every bit the domain of men as it is that of women. Why should women have all the fun right?
After all, pearls are stunning, intriguing and valuable. They’re officially the oldest gemstone ever to be used in jewelry and should be enjoyed by all.
Add Comment