The 5 Golden Rules of How to Wear Mens Bracelets

Introduction

Men’s accessories are trending rapidly right now. Bracelets are one of the easiest ways to bring interest to your look without committing to a full-on statement. The only issue is that many guys don’t know how to wear mens bracelets.

By the time you’re done reading this overview, you’ll have a better understanding of how to pick the size, material, and style, and consider other factors for any occasion.

Know Your Materials (The Top 4 Styles)

Metal Cuffs & ID Bracelets

This is the most formal of the options you can wear. A silver bracelet or a stainless steel piece will work with a suit or a business casual outfit. Metal looks polished and professional.

Gold also works, but just ensure it is all matched with your other accessories. ID bracelets also sit flush to the wrist and will not hinder during meetings or handshakes.

Leather & Woven

A leather bracelet exudes a rustic and masculine character. It is something that you can sport every day with casual t-shirts and denim jeans. Braided leather bracelet will add to any outfit without too much pomp and circumstance and give you a casual tone.

Leather bracelet will get better as time goes by, as the leather softens and conforms to your wrist. Important thing you need to know is that leather bracelet can get wet; just be sure to dry it off properly.

Beaded Bracelets

With beaded styles, you can introduce color and personality. They are easy to layer since they are generally thinner. Selecting black onyx beads allows you to dress up while colored stones make a statement. You can begin with neutral tones like black, brown, or gray before moving to bright colors. Beaded bracelets work well in casual situations where you want just a little something to ‘pop.’

Rope/Nautical

Rope bracelets really come to life during summer. They have a beachy, preppy vibe that complements shorts and lighter shirts very well. Leather bracelets in an anchor theme have the same nautical look. These bracelets are “weekend” bracelets, so you shouldn’t wear them to the office unless your office is super casual.

The Golden Rules of Fit and Proportion

The Fit

A bracelet should have a little wiggle on your wrist. Do the two-finger test: there should always be enough space for two fingers between the bracelet and the wrist. If the bracelet isn’t moving at all, it is choking your wrist. If it’s sliding up your forearm, it is swimming on you. A properly sized bracelet will sit just below the wrist bone and move approximately half an inch in either direction. If you’re not sure what size you should purchase, check the bracelet size chart.

The Size

Your wrist size dictates what styles are appropriate for you.

Thick Wrists: You’ll want to choose wider, chunky bracelets. A thin cord will disappear and look just like a string. You can get away with bold cuff styles if you are feeling bold or thicker leather bands. Multiple thin bracelets will also work, since they fill the space.

Slender Wrists: You’ll want to stay with thinner bands or minimal beads. A massive cuff will look like you’ve borrowed your dad’s bracelet. Simple leather straps and simple metal chains are ideal.

How to Style and Stack

The Solo Act

The best place to start is with a simple bracelet worn on the wrist opposite to your watch, and this is what I recommend to any guy who is wearing a bracelet for the first time.

You have a watch on one wrist, and a simple bracelet on the opposite. This gives a balanced look, and still looks proportionate. Go with something flexible, like you could use a simple dark leather band or a simple metal cuff. You could wear it every day, and it will not clash with anything.

The “Watch Stack”

It requires a bit more thought to add a bracelet next to your watch. You want the bracelet to be thinner than your watch, as you do not want it to compete for attention. Leather or beaded bracelets work quite nicely here, as metal-on-metal can scratch up both items. I found that the hard way when a stainless steel bracelet scratched my watch face. Keep the bracelet simple, and make the watch the defining piece.

The Stack (Multiple Bracelets)

Mixing textures adds depth and interest to your stacking aesthetic. Consider stacking one leather bracelet with one beaded bracelet. Or consider mixing rope with metal.

The rule is simple: do not wear more than 2-3 bracelets on the same wrist. Too many and it looks messy or overbearing. Vary the thickness by combining a thick piece with two or three thin pieces. Avoid wearing three thick pieces together. Leave enough “breathing room” between the bracelets so each bracelet can be seen clearly.

Matching Your Outfit (Context Matters)

Formal/Office

If you want to keep it professional, go with silver or gold-filled jewelry. Dark leather with a minimal look works if it’s a thin band. The key word is subtle. In a business meeting, you don’t want others to be drawn to your bracelet as the first thing they notice about you. Save your colorful beads and rope-type bracelets for the weekend.

Casual/Weekend

This is where you have fun! Introduce color, maybe through beaded bracelets. Experiment with adding different textures, get bold and wear that tiger eye leather bracelet you’ve been holding in your jewelry box. Your casual setting assures you there’s room for personality. Don’t forget the 2-3 bracelet rule that we’ve discussed!

Matching Metals

Do not mix silver with gold, unless you’re really good at this. If you want to wear gold and silver together, stick them on different wrists. This matching principle applies to rings and belt buckles too.

Conclusion

Wearing men’s bracelets comes down to confidence and following a few simple rules. Follow the tips that we offer you’ll be a professional guy to wear the bracelets.

OOTB Jewelry offers over 500 different styles of bracelets for men. If you want to customize a bracelet or pick popular styles from our catalogue for business needs, please send an inquiry to us.