How to Design Your Own Jewelry for Men

Designing your own jewelry allows you to express you creativity and personality.

Jewelry comes in many shapes, styles and sizes. It includes such adornments as necklaces, bracelets, watches, earrings, and rings, and is worn by both women and men. Men's jewelry is often distinguished from women's jewelry by its size and style, as well as by the materials with which it is made. While you can purchase jewelry for men at all sorts of clothing and accessories stores, as well as at jewelry retailers, it is also possible to design it yourself. You can take your jewelry design idea to a professional jeweler and have it made, or make it yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper

Instructions

1. Determine what type of men's jewelry you want to design. Consider designing a men's bracelet, necklace, ring, earring, or watch.

2. Decide what type of metal, if any, you want the piece of men's jewelry to be made with. Note that metals used in jewelry include: gold, silver, titanium, platinum, brass, and copper. Consider such factors as durability, color, and overall appearance when choosing a metal. Remember that titanium is among the most durable of all metals, and is commonly used to make jewelry for men; gold and silver are precious metals that are traditionally used in jewelry, and gold comes in many colors, including yellow, white, green, and rose; and brass and copper are less expensive metals.

3. Formulate how metal will be featured in your design. For example, it may take the form of a chain if you design a necklace or a bracelet; it may serve as the post of an earring, or the band of a ring. If you design a piece of jewelry that incorporates metal chain, decide how big you want the links of the chain to be. Also, determine what type of finish you want the metal to have; it may be glossy, brushed, or matte.

4. Establish which gemstones, if any, you want to incorporate into the piece of men's jewelry. Note that gemstones include: diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, turquoise, onyx, and many others. Remember that gemstones can add color and value to a piece of jewelry; they can also add significance, as each gemstone symbolizes a different meaning.

5. Determine where you will position each gemstone if you intend to incorporate them into your jewelry design. For example, if you design a stud earring for a man, you might place a single diamond in the center of the earring, and surround it with a sterling silver bezel, or frame.

6. Draw your design on a sheet of paper in pencil. Make note of all the different elements of your piece of men's jewelry, such as type of metal and gemstone, placement, size, and more. Make your drawing as complete as possible, and write down what you cannot draw. Share your design with a professional jeweler, or use it as a guide to make the jewelry yourself

Tips & Warnings

• Get inspiration for your design by looking at images and examples of men's jewelry in magazines, books, and online.

References

• American Gem Trade Association: Gemstone Information
• "Complete Metalsmith: Professional Edition"; Tim McCreight, 2004
• The Diamond Buying Guide: Precious Metals Guide