Vintage mens jewellery are more than just accessories, they are a window into the past. These antique trinkets are coveted for their unique designs and craftsmanship, and each one has its own story to tell.
From the Roaring Twenties to the Retro Modern era, these pieces are bold and dramatic. Taking influence from Hollywood and global cultures, they are characterized by large gemstones and flamboyant styles.
Mid-Century
While today’s men tend to favour functional accessories like cufflinks and watches, jewellery for men has been around since ancient times. In the 19th and 20th centuries, however, men’s jewellery became more elaborate.
As the modernist movement emerged in the 1950’s, clean lines and bold geometric shapes became popular. Picture Sterling Cooper’s office furniture in Mad Men and you’ll get the idea.
This trend had its roots in the trenches of World War I. Returning soldiers grew dissatisfied with their father’s pocket-watches, which were slow to react to the changing rhythms of combat.
This period also saw men display their interests through their jewellery. Sports motifs were common: croquet brooches, tennis racquets and bicycle jewellery were all sported. As the 1960’s came to a close, men started to prefer a ‘bold look’ with larger jewellery, such as thick gold chains and chunkier cufflinks. Moreover, they started to wear more colour and exotic designs, such as these lapis lazuli ones.
Retro
Retro
Retro mens jewellery evokes the fashion, culture and sentiments of an era. From the 1920’s Roaring Twenties to WWII and beyond, jewelry styles shifted towards a more subdued elegance and meaningful motifs. Signet rings were popular, capturing an age of optimism and progress with their bold geometric designs.
Rings with floral motifs, bows and ribbons were also popular. During this era, women regained their power after the war and wore more tailored clothing with cinched hourglass silhouettes. These heavier, bolder looks required bolder jewellery to match.
The word “retro” can be misleading because it can describe something that is not genuinely old. However, expert consensus is that for something to be considered vintage it must have been made at least 20 years ago. Retro can also refer to newer items that replicate and draw inspiration from past styles, without actually being from a different era. That’s where the allure comes in! It’s a great way to make a statement with a unique piece that speaks volumes about your own personality.
Art Deco
The Art Deco period (1920s – 1930s) was characterised by geometric shapes and bright, clear colours. It was inspired by the world’s changing reality after the first world war, which ravaged European cultural centres and sent women into industrial roles. The new modernism reflected a desire for order and the triumph of technology, which is clearly visible in Art Deco jewellery pieces.
Oversized cufflinks, tie pins and necklaces adorned with geometric diamond or platinum rings were commonplace, as were wide bracelets with pictorial designs. Symbolic motifs were also popular, as were carved gemstones.
The flapper style of dress matched the Art Deco look, with women wearing short, bobbed hair. They accessorised their outfits with long, curved pendant necklaces that hung from chains, cloche-style hats and sautoirs, which were like a collar. The Art Deco style was influenced by Art Nouveau, the Bauhaus, Cubism and Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Decorative ideas also came from American Indian, Egyptian and early classical sources.
Gothic
For men who love a dark, mysterious and esoteric style of jewellery, Gothic is the style for you. These pieces often have a strong association with witchcraft and black magic, and the skull is a common motif. They also use animals, such as a complacent black swan or a powerful snake head.
While these motifs may have stood for blood and aggression in the past, today they can represent a softer side of the Gothic aesthetic. Many Goths are fans of rock music, and the genre’s music reflects the Gothic worldview.
In jewelry, Gothic design combines medieval romance and horror with themes such as bats, roses, swords, crosses, and stained-glass elements. This style of jewelry is usually made of black or other dark materials. You can find a wide variety of Gothic rings at 1stDibs, and some pieces have a spooky element that adds to the mysterious appeal. For example, one ring features a vampire fang and a bat creatively woven together between the wearer’s fingers.
