Anyone who has shopped recently for necklaces for men knows just how many options there are to choose from. As men’s accessories in general grow in popularity, necklaces for men are being produced in a large variety of styles and materials. Here are the three most common types of necklaces for men seen on the contemporary jewelry market.
Chain necklaces
Probably the most classic type of necklaces for men, you may be surprised by the dizzying array of options available for chain necklaces. In addition to varying lengths and widths, chain necklaces for men are available in a number of link styles. The most popular link styles for chain necklaces for men include curb, bead, box, cable, Figaro, rope, serpentine and omega chains. Link style is one of the most defining features of any chain necklace, and can utterly transform the overall look of a chain.
Like most modern necklaces for men, fashion chain necklaces can primarily be seen in lower cost materials like stainless steel, sterling silver, titanium and tungsten carbide. While more expensive precious metal options can include platinum and palladium, gold is a more common choice due to its price point and workability.
Pendant necklaces
While chain necklaces may pre-date pendant necklaces for men, pendant necklaces are probably the foremost style preferred by the majority of modern guys. A pendant necklace is any necklace that utilizes a hanging piece of jewelry, charm or decoration. Most pendants are fully removable rather than fixed on their chains, meaning that they can be removed so that the chain can be worn a la carte as well.
Pendant necklaces for men offer a dose of personality that many chain necklaces simply don’t have, as well as a more modern look in general. Men’s pendants are being seen on necks everywhere, from the runway to main street America.
Some of the most sought after styles of men’s pendants include dog tags, crosses and tribal inspired pendants. In addition to sterling silver, stainless steel, titanium and tungsten carbide, ceramic is also a frequently seen choice of pendant material for fashion necklaces for men. For those with a higher budget in mind, platinum, palladium and gold are again the primary precious choices.
It’s not uncommon for a pendant necklace to utilize one particular material for the pendant and another for the chain (for example, a stainless steel pendant on a sterling silver chain). This can be done for various reasons, including cost, the malleability of one or more of the materials or just for the sake of aesthetics.
Lariat necklaces
Though still far less common than chain and pendant necklaces for men, lariat necklaces for men are becoming increasingly popular. Rather than using a clasp for closure, lariat necklaces for men loop one end of the necklace through the other to enclose around the neck.
While lariat necklaces were popularized mainly by their prevalence in women’s jewelry, they still can offer a distinctly masculine look, especially when employing more solid chain styles. Lariat necklaces for men can range from sleek minimalist designs to rustic bolo tie-inspired styles to items with more prominent pendant ends. All styles of lariat necklaces have an innately elegant look due to their eye-catching closure.
For all types of necklaces for men, standard lengths usually range from 18 inches long for choker style necklaces and for smaller necks to 24 inches for more dramatically long necklaces (20 inches long tends to be the standard length, however). Widths can similarly vary, particularly with chain necklaces for men – both lariat and pendant necklaces tend to use slimmer chains so as not to detract from their other ornamentation.
