Man jewelry is always tricky territory to pull off. You're always one ring or one beaded bracelet away from being contrived or becoming the Big Douche-bowski. Here are the basics.
YES
Less is More: A watch and another piece of jewelry (ring, necklace, bracelet or tie clip) is all you need for beginners. Leave the stacking and mix-and-matching to the experts.
If you dare to pile it on, just add one more piece for a total of three. Once you get past three, you are in dangerous territory. The combination isn't always clear either on which three you can stack together. Personally, I leave the house with a watch, ring and bracelet. Or I would do a watch and two bracelets or two rings sans bracelet. It's even trickier with a wedding band. That thing can never come off. At the end of the day it's all about balance. If there's too much to look at take a piece off.
The Neck Situation: If you don a necklace, you either keep it super simple or you go full Depp and own it. But remember that Mr. T taught us that quality gold chains trump the cheap ones you fool. Sometimes, the rope of the chain tucked underneath a t-shirt is more interesting than the actual dog tag dangling at the end of it.
Try Something Different: Normally, I like to match my watch to similar metals. It's a no brainer. But sometimes, I mix it up with woven leathers of different colors (neon is one of them), prayer beads, my mom's black Tahitian pearls and and colored rubber bands. And if you want versatility, there's always bracelets that's both gold and silver.
Size Matters: Yes, your jewelry should be proportionate to you. A fat wrist means you need something thicker. A long torso means longer chains. Short stubby fingers mean thinner bands.
NO NEVER
Too Matchy Matchy: Never do so much of the same thing at once. When you put a stack of string bracelets on, you look like you're asphyxiating on rope. And all the Buddhist beads don't even work on the Dalai Lama. So what makes you think you can pull it off?
Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing Baby: Avoid the green metals…you know the ones that will change the color of your skin once you make contact. Invest in a trend that will last and that's usually made of real metals. Even plated silver or gold is better than brass. Don't let the men's magazines or stores try to sell you on an overpriced brass bracelet.
The Dreaded Double Cuff: Just because God gave you two wrists doesn't mean that you have to successorize both sides. If you feel the need to, then one wrist should have less than the other or you'll run the risk of looking like you're self-handcuffed.
MAYBE
The Tacky Heirloom: Let's say you inherited a piece of family jewelry. It may not be the most fashionable thing in the world but it came from someone you cared about in your family. For example, my grandmother wore dog tag sized yellow gold Jesus necklaces. When I wear it, it's like I'm a rap star going to Trader Joe's for milk. I will never let it go, but I also bury it under a shirt because having it on is better than flaunting it. You can always rework a piece as well. Just make sure you go to a reputable jeweler.
Bling Ain't Yo Thing: You're a nudist and jewelry is the last thing on your mind. There's always piercings.
