Jewelry falls into two categories. The first of these is “sentimental” or “personal”. These pieces include things like wedding rings, heirlooms, religious objects, and so forth. Frankly, if something has meaning to you, and you want to wear it, then do so. Far be it from anyone to tell you not to wear your grandfather’s watch because the band is starting to wear out. The key to all fashion is confidence, so be proud in wearing something that has significance to you.

The second category revolves completely around style, meaning what looks best on you. Obviously we all have differing tastes, but there is something to be said about a baseline that can be built off of. The baseline is as follows. Firstly, your jewelry should really only be gold, silver, or plain metallic in color. I find that niches like rose gold are incredibly difficult to match with other facets of your style, and tend to get lost in most people’s skin tone. The next key is to keep in mind that jewelry exists to show off what you already have, meaning if your ring is so flashy that it draws all the attention, it shouldn’t be on your hand in the first place. Lastly, jewelry should go with what you’re already wearing. Don’t base an outfit off of a bracelet, select jewelry that enhances the aesthetic you’ve already built.

Let’s start from the top, and work our way down. Firstly, ears. Some guys love them; some guys hate them, and just like every other part of fashion, its subjective. What I will say is that that they can be done very well, or extremely poorly. To correctly wear earring(s), the first decision is to decide what part of the ear you want to pierce (and yes, there is more than one). If you decide on the lobe, then pierce both. The middle school stigma about which ear has certain connotations is over, and piercing one just looks juvenile. In my opinion, the best way to pull off this look is to forget studs, and go as soon as possible to thin hoops that hug the bottom of your lobe. Often, these aren’t noticed outright from a distance and really draw attention to your face up close. In addition to this, they suit absolutely everyone. The only other place I can truly say a man should pierce is the cartilage slightly below the point of the ear. If this is your choice, then only pierce one ear, and again use a small hoop in one of our three cardinal colors.

What you wear around your neck says a lot about you, and people pick up on it very quickly. Some basic rules include no dog-tags unless you are in the military or they have very significant meaning to you. No chains that have links large enough to have a pattern. Leather or cord should not be worn with anything remotely formal. No chokers. If you can feel the weight of a pendant or amulet, and it’s significant, don’t wear it. Lastly, if you have a necklace made of twine/hemp with some kind of glass ornament, people will assume you are a stoner. Other than that, do whatever your heart desires, and keep in mind that sometimes it’s best to tuck it under your shirt.

Wrist jewelry is complex because it is broken up into two separate categories, watches and bracelets. As far as watches go, everyone has their own taste (even more so than any other specific piece of jewelry). One remark that I would have is to avoid digital unless you are in the great outdoors. If you want to disregard that for a smart-watch, that’s your prerogative; but for the most part go analog. If you decide to wear a bracelet or bracelets, avoid leather cuffs at all costs. They’re not edgy, just ugly. Leather, if worn, should be thin, or braided. Easily the most versatile look that I’ve seen is the use of plain wooden beads, which can even be stacked and look good. They can be dressed up (to a point), and dressed down with ease; but make sure to keep them on one wrist, and opposite from your watch. If you decide to stack them, keep in mind that one more loop can be the difference between stylish and tacky. Please, unless you are in the wilderness, leave paracord at home with your digital watch.

Last but not least, rings. If you’re not married, these exist solely to show off your hands, and or prove you won a Super Bowl. If you haven’t the latter, stick to bands that are either plain, or have a subtle design etched into the band itself. For the most part, stay away large stones, noticeable mountings, and general gaudiness. That means leave the class rings at home, unless you need to prove you went to high school. Furthermore, if a ring is uncomfortable on your hand, it’s usually a good indicator that it’s too big, or looks out of place.

When buying jewelry, keep these rules in mind, but more importantly, do what feels right. As we know, fashion is subjective. If you don’t feel comfortable in something, don’t wear it, and if you have a piece that isn’t on the list but you love, by all means, wear it. This is a baseline, meaning you should build off it. The goal isn’t to dictate what you should wear, but to help you develop the look that works best for you.

The post The Gentleman’s Guide to Jewelry appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Now, if you remember, we recently worked with our friends over at Shane Co to give you a guide on how to buy a diamond, but let’s be honest – that’s only part of it. There is far more to it than that. You can spend hours looking through the diamonds available to find the perfect one, but the setting is really what will make it pop. So here we are, ready to help once again, and make sure that you not only find the perfect stone, but ensure its shown off perfectly. So with that, we have two parts to finding the perfect ring.

First off – know what she likes. Many moons ago, I was a salesman for a local jewelry store, and I cannot count the number of times I would have a gentleman come in wanting to buy a ring, but not knowing what his lady liked. Now, these were the days before Pinterest and other design website, but really? So, I always helped them out the best way I could by asking these questions. If you can answer them, I feel it will point you in the right direction.

1. Is her taste in home decor classic, contemporary, or modern?
2. Is her sense of style more individualistic, trendy, or ageless?
3. What kind of jewelry does she wear already? Is it big and bold, or subtle?

Let’s be honest – your lady deserves something unique, not something from a big-box jeweler. If you could walk in and pick a ring based off those three answers, you wouldn’t be here. Beyond knowing the shape of the diamond and color of the gold, you need to understand the elements of the ring. I want you to walk into that store informed, knowing what to ask, the differences in the setting features, and to leave satisfied and excited. This is your homework done for you; settings 101.

There are different terms used to describe an engagement ring, the most common being prong, channel, bezel, and tension.

Prongs: This is the most common element of the ring that is holding the diamond in place. Often popping above the main ring, this “head” is make of 3 to 6 claws. The biggest thing to know is the fewer prongs, the more that beautiful diamond will be shown off. While it may not protect the stone as much as other settings, its displaying of the brilliant stone will make the disadvantage worth it.

Channel: Not as common in women’s rings for the center stone, a channel setting is where the stone or stones are held inside the band itself with no metal separating them. The protect the girdle of the stones, but don’t allow the brilliance to be shown. It’s often recommended to use channel for complimenting features.

Bezel: This has always been a favorite of mine, often described as a halo or belt around the stone. It is a thin piece of the metal protecting the edge fully around the perimeter of the stone, secure and clean, but can give the impression of a lower quality stone if not paired perfectly. It still allows most the brilliance to be displayed of the center stone, and can often be highlighted by other stones surrounding it.

Tension: Let me be honest – this is the coolest, most unique setting you can find. At the same time, it’s the setting I would be most worried about. Tension is a design that uses the pressure of the shank (also known as the ring) to hold the stone in place. This allows for the most light to appear, but can prove difficult when it comes to resizing, repair, and softer stones.

There you go. It really is more than a diamond, and displayed properly, you are going to give her the ring she will love forever. Of course, there are other elements that help define the perfect ring, but walking in informed will help make the process of finding the right one a lot easier. A final tip: find a store and representative that is there to help you, not just sell and move on. It’s about the relationship you make, the comfort you feel, and the education you receive. And always find a store with a reputation and a warranty. This is a big purchase, and you want it to be protected.

Now, here’s to you’re future.

Looking for ideas? Check out Shane Co,’s selection of engagement rings to get the creative mind thinking.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Shane Co. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post It’s More Than A Diamond appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.