For many of us guys, the closest thing we have to jewelry is a watch.
Some of us, sooner or later, put on a wedding ring.
But beyond that, we don’t always go out with a whole lot of accessories.
Why is that?
Accessories like bracelets add visual interest to your wardrobe. There’s an effortless style that comes along with the well-placed bracelet.
Just look at this cool guy.
There’s a right way and a wrong way to wear bracelets.
(If you want to read about my bad history with bracelets, check out this article.)
So how do we know when we’ve nailed the look just right? Well, we’ve put together a list of our favorite bracelets and the seven guys who’ve taught us everything we know about how to rock them.
Types of Men’s Bracelets
Leather Men’s Bracelets
Leather sits on the casual end of the spectrum. It’s best to go with richer tones like black and deep brown leather.
If you choose to go with a thin leather bracelet, like this one from The Steel Shop, you can wear it solo or pair it with a watch. They’re super versatile and work with a lot of different styles.
Go casual by pairing with a set of beads or dress it up with a cuff bangle.
Gold Men’s Bracelets
If you have a darker skin tone, a gold bracelet is a great look. Gold always fits into a boardroom, and it’s best paired with more traditional colors like navy and burgundy.
Gold bracelets can be tricky because they’re easy to overdo. We don’t recommend stacking multiples here. Just stick with one thin gold bracelet only and you’ll be a-ok.
You need to choose a high-quality piece—otherwise, it’ll be obvious. Gold isn’t forgiving, and the difference between high quality and low quality are immediately clear.
If you’re going with a gold band, you’re showing off a bit. So back it up with a quality piece.
We recommend this Gold Franco Link from The Steel Shop.
Men’s Bracelets with Beads
Beaded bracelets are becoming more and more popular. They’re even more casual than leather—though they can work in harmony, too.
It’s easy to add a pop of color with beads. You can range into white, turquoise, emerald—the options are endless.
The main thing to watch out for here is oversized beads. If the beads are too large, the bracelet looks out of proportion. If you’re not sure what size is right, always go with the smaller bead size.
Beads look great teamed up with thicker-cased watches, too.
Men’s Bracelets in Silver
If you’re looking for a versatile bracelet you can wear with just about anything, we recommend starting with a silver piece.
Silver looks great on most guys and fits perfectly into both casual and formal looks. It makes a casual look more refined and cool while making a formal outfit look richer.
You don’t need to go-out-of-the-box here. Just get something classic and sleek. Pair it with beads or leather when you want to make it unique, or just wear it solo.
We had a chance to look at the silver Franco Link from The Steel Shop and we were fans.
7 Celebrities That Can Teach You How to Wear a Bracelet the Right Way
1. Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp is the king of layering bracelets. His early punk rock days inspired his look, and he’s inspired us in turn.
When Johnny layers his bracelets, he varies between leather, steel, and twine. The difference in textures is key here. If you’re going to wear more than two bracelets on the same wrist, make sure you’re switching up the material.
Leather and steel pair well together. You can also throw in one or two inexpensive twine bands that add some depth to the look.
Depp also pairs stone and wood together for a more natural look. As a general rule, dark wood will pair with leather bands and light wood will pair with minerals like turquoise.
2. David Beckham
David Beckham only wears one bracelet. It’s so simple, so minimal, you might miss it.
It’s a simple string.
You don’t always have to go all out with your wristwear. Your watch shouldn’t have to compete for attention. If you want to add an accessory but don’t want to overdo it, start with a string bracelet. You can always add a greater variety later on.
Beckham’s also been known to pair navy and gold together.
Again, here he keeps it simple—no watch, and just a single bracelet.
3. Chris Hemsworth
First, he taught guys how to look cool while shooting lightning from our hands. Then he taught us how to rock beads.
Chris stacks three or four different beaded bracelets but pairs them against a sturdy silver watch.
Beaded bracelets are super casual. They’re great if you want to add a little surfer flair to an otherwise classy look. But be careful—if you go with a t-shirt, flip flops, and shorts, you’ll look more beachbum than anything.
4. Joe Manganiello
Joe Manganiello can teach us guys a whole lot more than just how to wear bracelets.
The film director, actor, and producer just wears a lone silver cuff.
The band plays off his watch, creating a visual balance.
You don’t always have to go crazy with your accessories. Most of the time, it’s best to keep it simple.
5. Zac Brown
This country music star’s go-to bracelet is a leather braid with a steel clasp.
Leather and stainless steel always make a great pair (here’s our favorite leather and steel bracelet).
Feel free to bust out a guitar at the party. Just whatever you do, don’t be the guy that ends up playing in the backyard for three hours putting everyone to sleep.
We added Zac Brown to this list to show you don’t have to be a European soccer legend to look great in a bracelet. You can rock one as a down-home country boy, too.
6. Nas
Nas knows how to match his accessories. The thick metal link bracelet here mimics the look of his watch.
If you have a favorite timepiece, pair it with a look-alike band. Like we saw with Joe Manganiello, the watch and bracelet combo creates a balance that looks rich but seems effortless.
7. Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa is the essence of man. That’s why he can wear things like this pink velvet scrunchie.
You don’t always have to go traditional and masculine with your bracelets. After all, accessories are all about being playful and having fun.
Just make sure it fits your look. A slim tuxedo won’t work with a pink scrunchie. But a loud cheetah print coat? That just might.
Conclusion
A bracelet is one of the simplest ways to elevate your style.
They’re not like watches, which have a function beyond style. So when you wear a bracelet, you’re telling the world you care about how you look. People notice that confidence.
Heck, look at Jason Mamoa. The guy wears a pink velvet scrunchie and looks awesome.
We’re not going to recommend you wear something designed for a 12-year-old girl, but we think he proves a point.
Have fun with your style.
And if you’re getting a few bracelets to make your wardrobe more dynamic, go with high-quality products only.
Bracelets are meant to be noticed, so make your statement with pride.
The Steel Shop has put together an extensive catalog of accessories that can help elevate your style. While the engraving feature was a bit simple for my taste, the quality of the bracelets was undeniable.
