Men’s Jewellery: The Key Trends of 2022

October 22, 2021

By Katerina Perez

6 min read

Men are becoming bolder in their jewellery choices. In recent years, emerging trends in the field of men’s jewellery have been of even greater interest thanks to some dazzling red carpet appearances. But what jewellery should men think about buying today to be ahead of the game in 2022? Here are my predictions.

Trends rise from statement images from the red-carpet that spark our imagination, which are often followed by catwalk shows, multiplied by the pages of magazines, compounded by Instagram, and then, finally, they burst onto the streets of our cities as fully-fledged trends. To avoid being the last to know in this production line, I suggest you take a closer look at some of the innovative male looks from the most recent Cannes and Venetian film festivals, as well as the Met Gala 2021. You may argue that the latter is one of the most controversial red carpet shows, but it is precisely this format that allows guests to ‘forget’ about their preconceptions in favour of rule-free self-expression.

Timothée Chalamet at the Cannes Film Festival 2021 wearing a selection of Cartier rings and bracelets

Timothée Chalamet at the Cannes Film Festival 2021 wearing a selection of Cartier rings and bracelets

 Timothée Chalamet is a men's jewellery trend-setter having been seen wearing brooches and rings, typically by Cartier

Timothée Chalamet is a men's jewellery trend-setter having been seen wearing brooches and rings, typically by Cartier

In 2021, three men’s trends really stood out: wearing a variety of necklaces, several rings at the same time, and large brooches (again sometimes two or three at a time). It’s safe to say that this year’s dazzling jewellery looks were preceded by a more muted style, usually limited to a brooch on a jacket lapel or a pearl necklace. But the thirst for self-expression and being seen again in public after the pandemic has made male actors, singers and public figures generally more daring in their jewellery choices.

French actor Nicolas Maury wears the Opalescence brooch, set with a 71.69 carat oval cabochon, and the Opalescence pendant earring set with opals and diamonds from the Boucheron Holographique High Jewellery collection

French actor Nicolas Maury wears the Opalescence brooch, set with a 71.69 carat oval cabochon, and the Opalescence pendant earring set with opals and diamonds from the Boucheron Holographique High Jewellery collection

NOT Your Grandma’s Brooches

If you still associate brooches with jewellery designed for older ladies, surrounded by old-fashioned paraphernalia, probably from the century before last… you are probably missing a trick! For several seasons now, both women and men have boldly toyed with this accessory. Brooches have migrated to men’s suits and there appears to be only one rule: there are no rules! Cartier’s new pal Timothée Chalamet chose a snow-white Haider Ackermann suit for his appearance at the Met Gala, which was adorned with a vintage Cartier New York Clinquet diamond pin and a star brooch. At the same event, rapper A$AP Rocky chose an imposing South Sea pearl and diamond jabot pin from Lang Antiques, while record producer Swizz Beatz chose a Dior and Peter Doig diamond brooch. Broadway actor Jeremy Pope accompanied a conceptual off-the-shoulder outfit by Australian designer Dion Lee with a cotton boutonniere flower by Denim Tears – I’m sure if a similar aesthetic were embodied using precious stones, it would have looked even better. Rewind to the Cannes Film Festival and there we saw French actor, Nicolas Maury, who made everyone gasp when he walked onto the red carpet in a classic black suit with a huge Boucheron fish brooch adorned with opal from the Holographique collection. Nicolas was also wearing a solo ear cuff from the same collection – a very unusual choice for a man.

Tennis player Naomi Osaka and her partner, singer Cordae wearing a floral brooch at the Met Gala 2021

Tennis player Naomi Osaka and her partner, singer Cordae wearing a floral brooch at the Met Gala 2021

 Actor Timothée Chalamet wears two Cartier brooches at the Met Gala 2021

Actor Timothée Chalamet wears two Cartier brooches at the Met Gala 2021

 Rapper A$AP Rocky wears a jabot pin from Lan Antiques to the Met Gala 2021 alongside his partner, Rihanna

Rapper A$AP Rocky wears a jabot pin from Lan Antiques to the Met Gala 2021 alongside his partner, Rihanna

 American theatre actor Jeremy Pope in a floral brooch at the Met Gala 2021

American theatre actor Jeremy Pope in a floral brooch at the Met Gala 2021

 Rapper Lil Baby wears custom crystal brooches by A-Morir Studio to the Met Gala 2021

Rapper Lil Baby wears custom crystal brooches by A-Morir Studio to the Met Gala 2021

 Record producer Swizz Beatz wears a Dior & Peter Doig brooch to the Met Gala 2021 alongside his wife Alicia Keys

Record producer Swizz Beatz wears a Dior & Peter Doig brooch to the Met Gala 2021 alongside his wife Alicia Keys

A pearl necklace and more

For many years we have only seen necklaces made for women; luxurious necklaces for men were only ever mentioned by fashion historians. Cyclical and capricious, fashion has gone through another life cycle and has once again returned to this forgotten trend. Chokers, rivière necklaces, tie necklaces and long threads: this year the assortment is richer than ever. Where men had previously been seen wearing pearl necklaces, at the Met Gala this year they mostly wore jewellery around their necks made of diamonds or coloured gemstones. Lil Nas X complemented what was in every sense a brilliant suit by Atelier Versace with a gold choker; American theatre producer Jordan Roth wore an amethyst Rene Boivin necklace from A La Vieille Russie in addition to a Lydia Courteille creation; singer Frank Ocean wore a diamond necklace from his new jewellery brand Homer; singer and producer Finneas Baird O’Connell sported a necklace from the Cartier [Sur] Naturel collection; Russell Westbrook showcased a gorgeous sapphire and diamond piece by Greg Yüna, and fashion designer Kerby-Jean Raymond donned a sautoir with rubies and diamonds by Shelley & Co. Both the necklace and brooch trends were combined by singer Leon Bridges wearing Panthère de Cartier and by comedian Pete Davidson who wore ruby and diamond necklaces by Fred Leighton and Kwiat alongside brooches with matching stones by Fred Leighton and Cartier.

Rapper Lil Nas X at the Met Gala 2021 wearing a gold chain choker

Rapper Lil Nas X at the Met Gala 2021 wearing a gold chain choker

 Theatre producer Jordan Roth wears a Rene Boivin amethyst necklace from A La Vieille Russie and a Lydia Courteille necklace to the Met Gala 2021

Theatre producer Jordan Roth wears a Rene Boivin amethyst necklace from A La Vieille Russie and a Lydia Courteille necklace to the Met Gala 2021

 Basketball player Russel Westbrook wears a Greg Yüna sapphire and diamond necklace and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton wears a pearl necklace to the Met Gala 2021

Basketball player Russel Westbrook wears a Greg Yüna sapphire and diamond necklace and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton wears a pearl necklace to the Met Gala 2021

 Singer Frank Ocean wears a Homer diamond necklace to the Met Gala 2021

Singer Frank Ocean wears a Homer diamond necklace to the Met Gala 2021

 Actor Troye Sivan wears a Cartier diamond necklace and singer Leon Bridges wears Panthère de Cartier jewellery to the Met Gala 2021

Actor Troye Sivan wears a Cartier diamond necklace and singer Leon Bridges wears Panthère de Cartier jewellery to the Met Gala 2021

 Singer Dadju wears Messika to the Cannes Film Festival 2021

Singer Dadju wears Messika to the Cannes Film Festival 2021

 Actor Dan Levy wears a diamond line necklace and rapper Kid Cudi wears a Ben Baller x KAWS ‘Space’ astronaut necklace to the Met Gala 2021

Actor Dan Levy wears a diamond line necklace and rapper Kid Cudi wears a Ben Baller x KAWS ‘Space’ astronaut necklace to the Met Gala 2021

 Helen Lasichanh and Pharrell Williams, wearing a Richard Mille watch, at the Met Gala 2021

Helen Lasichanh and Pharrell Williams, wearing a Richard Mille watch, at the Met Gala 2021

Ring-ring

In a previous article, I wrote about the fashion of wearing several mismatched rings together. And if this questionable trend was initially more noticeable among women, now it has moved on to men. Its great admirer is Timothée Chalamet, whose fingers were manifestly adorned with several Cartier rings at both the Cannes and Venice film festivals, and at the Met Gala this trend was followed by Shawn Mendes and Pete Davidson. Some musicians and actors have remained faithful to the tendency to wear just a single ring, but a large one and often with a stone in the centre. For example, American musician Finneas O’Connell wore a Cartier gold panther ring, and Pharrell Williams wore a ring with a large yellow diamond.

Comedian Pete Davidson at the Met Gala 2021 wearing Fred Leighton and Kwiat jewellery

Comedian Pete Davidson at the Met Gala 2021 wearing Fred Leighton and Kwiat jewellery

 Finneas O’Connell wears a Cartier Panther ring and a Cartier [Sur] Naturel necklace to the Met Gala 2021

Finneas O’Connell wears a Cartier Panther ring and a Cartier [Sur] Naturel necklace to the Met Gala 2021

 Model Evan Mock wears gemstone and diamond rings and singer Maluma wears an Aslan gold glove and Maria Tash earrings to the Met Gala 2021

Model Evan Mock wears gemstone and diamond rings and singer Maluma wears an Aslan gold glove and Maria Tash earrings to the Met Gala 2021

Finally, I would like to draw your attention to those who chose to wear watches. Classic timepieces are quite a well-established phenomenon on a man’s wrist, but this year just blew my mind with all the bright, unique models on show. If up to this point you have never dared to wear a mini-galaxy made of precious stones or a miniature painting made of enamel – go for it, your time has come! This new trend already has the support of actor Simu Liu who was spotted wearing the Astronomia Solar Baguette watch by Jacob & Co. Elsewhere, Swizz Beatz was pictured wearing the Midnight Poetic Wish timepiece by Van Cleef & Arpels, which displays a romantic landscape with shooting stars over a Parisian sky, and the renowned stylist and publicist Law Roach has been seen wearing the Big Bang Unico Rainbow King Gold watch by Hublot.

Actor Simu Liu wears the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Solar Baguette watch to the Met Gala 2021

Actor Simu Liu wears the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Solar Baguette watch to the Met Gala 2021

 Rapper Kid Cudi in a G-Shock watch at the Met Gala 2021

Rapper Kid Cudi in a G-Shock watch at the Met Gala 2021

If I were a gambler, I would bet on each of these trends! I am sure anyone who doubts me will soon see proof of my convictions on the red carpet in 2022.

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