First he raided your grooming products. Then he usurped your aesthetician. And now, babes, not even your jewelry box is safe.
Guys are buying themselves bracelets, rings and pendant necklaces with increasing frequency, and wearing their bling with a confidence and flair heretofore unseen in the Western world, according to fashion experts and industry observers.
So much so that insiders estimate the industry has seen a 20 percent growth in men's jewelry in the past few years. Many manufacturers, most of whom have focused solely on women, have launched new lines aimed at men for the first time.
But male-oriented jewelry isn't strictly for the diamonds-in-both-ears hip-hoppers or the fashion-experimental young. Bling for men is in!
From the ball court to the boardroom, men of all ages, lifestyles and income levels are finding themselves more inclined to throw on a little something shiny.
"There are different segmentations of men (buying jewelry). Some men are more of the Ralph Lauren set, penny loafers and blue blazers," says Meddy. "Then you have the Wall Street business types. It has really taken hold in all segments of the market." Word-of-mouth has helped fuel this upswing, which industry insiders say is more the start of a new era in jewelry than a trend or fad.
Athletes and celebrities' obsession with "ice" and "bling-bling" filtered from the urban to the suburban market and created a demand for jewelry for the mainstream man, says Alexandrakis. "These super-masculine guys are saying, "Jewelry's cool, and I'll show you why, because I'll wear it." So as a result, men are thinking, "Hey, it's OK for me to wear this."
"It really started maybe two or three years ago," says Alexandrakis. "It really changed rather noticeably. The brand evolved from a functional brand to style - men's bracelets, rings and these sorts of things. Full-fledged men's jewelry."
"I think that this will actually help women," says Sam Meddy. "What I think will happen is that men will develop a better comfort level about purchasing jewelry, and won't feel so intimidated by the whole jewelry-buying experience."
About Nuvostyle.com
Nuvostyle.com markets a range of both traditional and contemporary jewelry, presented on various styles of rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, charms and body jewelry, in platinum, gold, sterling silver and stainless steel.