Men's Necklaces

Men have worn rings since ancient times as a personal ornament, a sign of social position, official rank, or a symbol of religious beliefs. Handmade jewelry may reflect changes in fashion, but it remains rooted in the history and culture of a people and place. Each unique ring reveals the artistic sensibility of its maker, yet certain symbols and motifs appear frequently. In India, the Om motif has special cultural significance as a sacred spiritual symbol. It signifies ultimate reality, or consciousness. In Bali, the Om Kara, or Ongkara, represents five elements: wind, fire, ether, water, air, and earth, which correspond to different aspects of the human body. Religion and mythology are also manifest in traditional jewelry. Lord Ganesha, one of the most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon, is revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, and the god of intellect and wisdom. In Bali, Barong is a lion-like mythical creature that symbolizes victory and spiritual protection. These symbols and others can be found on handmade rings from around the world and are ways of honoring history, culture, and spirituality.

Handmade necklaces are incomparable works of wearable art. Each one is unique in shape, color, size and design. Artisans from across the globe offer their own distinctive style of craftsmanship. In India, the vibrant colored gemstones have become a signature fashion statement. Balinese jewelry is characterized by ornate sterling tendrils set with tiny silver spheres. In Brazil, womens necklaces are often sleek and contemporary, with gemstones chosen for their particular energies. Many jewelry designs from Bali and Central America feature hand-knotted macram, such as that used in Guatemalas popular friendship bracelets. Handmade finishes may show variations in metal patterns. No two natural gemstones share the same characteristics. Each necklace holds its own individualistic sense of beauty, making it evident that it was crafted by hand. Some even bear the artisans signature.

Sustainable necklaces are designed with reusable materials, and each culture makes use of the objects and materials most readily at hand. For example, many Andean, Central American and Thai artists use repurposed wood. West African artisans use recycled paper, and beads of recycled glass or plastic. In Thailand, Mexico and Bali, coconut shells are often used. Indian artists sometimes repurpose silk from saris. And Brazilian artists collect discarded zippers and soda pop-tops to crochet into stunning, eco-friendly designs.

Many artisans the world over work in lost wax. They sculpt the image they want in wax, encase it in a mold, and pour molten silver or gold into it. The wax melts and flows out, leaving only the precious metal. However some artisans in Peru specialize in handmade silver and gold filigree, and some Balinese necklaces feature chains that are handwoven from slender metal strands. Karen hill tribe artisans in Thailand often use manual tools to stamp decorative motifs on fine silver. Other techniques include macram, beaded or gemstone strands, hammered metals, and carved wood or bone.

Precious metals and natural gemstones are the most popular materials for women's necklaces. Silver, gold and brass all provide durability as well as beauty. Artisans also utilize local materials that can include coconut shells, bamboo, bright African print fabrics, ceramic beads, natural amber, carved bone and bull horn. Both Peru and Mexico have rich silver mines and silver is used for traditional jewelry as well as contemporary designs.

Women's necklaces are versatile and come in many styles and lengths. They can be layered or worn alone as a statement piece. Many designs go with everything from jeans to office wear or an evening out on the town. The best thing about jewelry is that its a customizable form of expression that provides a sense of luxury and individuality.

When assessing the workmanship of a necklace, its helpful to pay attention to certain characteristics. For example, quality necklaces are balanced designs that rest comfortably around the neck. Clasps are secure and work well, and gemstones and beads are properly set. The precious metals should be nicely finished, and beads should not be too tightly strung. Well-made necklaces reflect excellent craftsmanship and attractive materials.

Each culture celebrates its rich jewelry-making history through specific symbols and styles. For example, traditional West African beads, which adorn many necklaces from the region, each have a story and a specific occasion when they are worn. Others may feature the Ghanian adinkra symbols, which convey popular wisdom. In ancient Andean civilizations, the leaders apparel and jewelry showed their rank and also incorporated religious symbols. Similarly, necklaces from Bali often depict deities from the Hindu pantheon. In India, a womans jewelry is linked to her status in society and may depict Hindu gods as well as mantra symbols such as the omkara, the root of all sounds and the emblem of the Most High. Angel necklaces and harmony ball necklaces are often worn by pregnant women in Bali and in Mexico. The pendant makes a delicate bell sound, thought to soothe the mother and the baby she is carrying. Some believe it summons a guardian angel, thus making it a symbol of loving protection.

More than a mere fashion statement, men's jewelry, including bracelets, have been worn throughout history to communicate cultural, religious, and social beliefs. Prehistoric man adorned his wrists with bones and shells to ward off evil spirits. Wealthy men wore bracelets made of gold and silver to display their power and status. Bracelets evolved over time from good luck charms to status symbols to modern style accessories. All the while, they pick up and preserve meaning from the past. In Peru, gold and silver bracelets were meant to complement each other symbolically. Gold represented the sun, the day, and the masculine. Silver represented the moon, the night, and the feminine. These two bright, powerful metals held one another in balance. In Central America, natural materials decorated men's jewelry to signify a connection to place. Metals, bone, shells, bird feathers (especially the beautiful quetzal bird), and carved stones (particularly jade for its power of fertility and life) protected and decorated the wearer.

There is no right way to wear mens rings. Right hand, left hand, ring finger or thumb, where you place your ring is as much a matter of preference and comfort as it is style. Besides the common ring finger to signify love or marriage, other fingers of note are the index finger, which symbolizes power, leadership, and authority in some cultures, and the thumb, which can signify wealth. Wherever you choose to don it, a handmade ring should be as unique as the man who wears it.

Unique, stylish, and handcrafted. These are the guiding principles of wearing men's jewelry with confidence. There are no rules when it comes to men's bracelets. You can wear simple leather, or a combination of metals. You can go understated or bold. Colorful or subdued. However you choose to display your handmade jewelry, what matters most is that you discover pieces that attest to your own originality.

Techniques that rely on handmade craftsmanship honor the cultures and regions from which they come. In Bali, repouss, or the art of silver filigree, is still preserved by artisans today. In Central America, jewelry-makers work with natural stones, especially jade, in order to celebrate the techniques and materials used by their ancestors. In India, sterling silver jewelry is made through intricate jali carving or rawa (silver beading). Hand-casting and gemstone-cutting have also been passed down through the generations, and today, make their way into unique works of wearable art. In West Africa, fabrication (including soldering or welding) is a technique that has stood the test of time, as has leather twisting, which adorns mens jewelry from bracelets to necklaces.

The traditional techniques used to create artisan jewelry are as diverse as the cultures from which they come. In Peru, the ancient technique of handmade goldsmithing continues in the work of filigree, the art of weaving silver threads together. Originally brought to the Andes during the colonial period, filigree acquired local nuances and incorporated designs inspired by nature and daily life. In Bali, handmade jewelry makes use of a method called repouss, a decorative, detail-oriented artform that uses hammers and punches to raise metal in relief from the background of the ring. In West Africa, fabrication, casting, and forging are common handcrafted techniques, whereas in India, it is common to see cut gemstones intricately fitted within silver segments.

Men have worn necklaces throughout history for all kinds of reasons. For protection, for religious or cultural reasons, and for style. Traditional artisans preserve these early meanings by hand-crafting mens necklaces in the style of their ancestors. In Peru, men wore human and divine symbols, integrating animals (like snakes and felines) into their necklace designs, flaps, diadems, and bracelets. In Bali, necklaces were worn for special occasions, such as traditional ceremonies or to honor tribal chiefs or important healers. Across Central America, mens necklaces revealed the rank, social position, and personal beliefs of the wearer. Leaders often wore large necklaces across their necks and chests, and fur, metal, feathers, shells, bone, and other natural stones were used to decorate their jewelry. In India, royal families wore precious and semi-precious gemstones to show off their wealth and status. While these original meanings may have faded with time, traditional artisans keep this history alive by creating new, unique pieces using techniques of old.