Alternative Metal Jewelry Trends for Men

Men's style is very different to women's. Most men want modest designs yet still have enough appeal to attract attention. They tend to use accessories like ties and belts to break the unvariedness of their style. And as time progressed, some men learned to accessorize wearing stainless steel jewelry including rings, cufflinks and pendants to enhance their looks, no longer bound by the tired classic fashion.

Though precious metal jewelry is popular to both sexes, alternative metal jewelry for men got a particularly positive reaction due to the distinct properties of the metals. Alternative metal jewelry, which includes stainless steel jewelry, titanium jewelry and tungsten carbide jewelry, has become a vogue in the past decade in men's fashion, with more and more contemporary mid-range and high-end designers getting on the bandwagon.

For 2011, here are some of the predicted trends in alternative metal jewelry for men:

Chunky pendants, necklaces and chains

Promoted at this year's Milan Men's Fashion Week, chunky alternative metal jewelry for men including pendants, necklaces and chains are the trend to follow. Though many may think it is a bit unusual trend, high-end designers like Armani and Vivienne Westwood presented collections with bold and chunky alternative metal jewelry for men.

Solid metal jewelry

Though plain and classic looking, solid metal alternative jewelry is gone far more interesting over the years. And experts say that their favorite material for alternative metal jewelry for men in 2011 is stainless steel. Versatile and durable, stainless steel jewelry proves to be every man's best friend as it can enhance a lot of styles and matches almost anything, more so when it is on solid metal form.

Statement accessories

Whether it texture, shape or design, alternative metal jewelry for men that gives a bold and powerful statement are said to get hot this year. Brands like Bulgari, Tiffany & Co. and D&G Jewels appear to have started offering alternative metal jewelry for men that are not only stylish but also very bold. Alternative metal jewelry for men, especially stainless steel jewelry, is very versatile when it comes to detailed designs and can meld beautifully with gemstones and other metals which make it perfect for statement accessories for men. It seems that the age of simple and bland accessories is ending due to growing choices offered by alternative metal jewelry for men.

Now that there is a lot of choices available due to the continued growth in popularity of alternative metal jewelry for men (particularly, stainless steel jewelry), men's fashion, like everything else, is evolving. After decades of stagnant trends and limited selections, men can once again express themselves and finally own their personal style with the use of alternative metal jewelry.

Continuing and Growing Viability of Mens Steel Jewelry

 

It is quite apparent that the men's market on fashion and accessories is still small when compared to its female counterpart. But recent trends and surveys show that the steady growth of men's market may soon decrease this gap as more and more consumers take their cues on male athletes and celebrities like David Beckham and Robert Pattinson on what kind of clothes and jewelry they should wear and buy.

Many mens steel jewelry retailers are excited with this growing trend as it will result to higher profits and business success. Looking at the hype in mens fashion today, the excitement is quite justifiable as even pricey mens steel jewelry and other accessories are expected to surge this year due to the revival of using jewelry as a sign of status and power.

Euromonitor International estimates that this year's mens jewelry sales for items priced at $700 or higher can rise up to 9.9%. Rings and bracelets appear to be the hottest-selling mens goods.

The homogenized view in fashion by many men today fuels the trend and growth of the market. More and more men are willing to experiment with their looks and mens steel jewelry provides a perfect extension for personalization of their style. But mens steel jewelry retailers must take into account that male customers shop differently compared to women.

Men tend to spend less time browsing a store and takes time to consider each purchase, some even go online first before buying. Also, male customers buy mens steel jewelry to enhance their masculinity and therefore, retailers must build or "package" their brands in a way that will appeal to this need.

This trend is a good sign for the continued viability of mens steel jewelry in the coming years, not just in the US but all around the world. It is expected that in India a 59% increase in sales is due for 2011 and will make it the third-largest market in mens jewelry in the world, next to China and UK. Also, there will be significant demand for mens jewelry in the Pacific region.

If this trend continues, the profitability of alternative metal jewelry for retailers will a great sign for investment even as years pass.

Mens Fashion and the Stainless Steel Effect

In the past, mens jewelry has been in a stand still; no innovations, no improvements, just the same old plain and safe styles. The limited selections on mens jewelry also did no help the situation. But the introduction of mens steel jewelry in main stream fashion brought dramatic changes on how men look at their style and how they project themselves to the world.

In a recent survey, a majority of women say that men should wear more jewelry because it shows confidence and success. Also, women say that men who wear the right amount of jewelry can look very sexy and brings back the old sophistication of a gentleman.

Mens steel jewelry now provides a wide range of choices for men who wishes to accessorize more. Currently, the market is getting flooded with mens steel jewelry in a variety of designs and brands. The freedom to choose is also not limited to style as the price range of mens steel jewelry is quite flexible unlike precious metal jewelry that are quite expensive even for simple designs.

With the introduction of stylish and inexpensive mens steel jewelry appears to be shifting fashion as a whole in a new era. In recent years, designers have always been reluctant to dive into mens fashion due to the limited perception. But as this misconception got broken when mens steel jewelry started to become popular, the emphasis for mens fashion started to increase once again. This is great, not just for consumers who now have more choices but also to business as a new market emerge. An alternative metal jewelry for men and women.