The Most Preferred Jewelry by Men from Past to Present

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Jewelry has a history as long as the history of humanity. Jewelry, which serves as a symbol of stylishness and elegance and complements clothes today, would have very different meanings in the past. However, from past to present, they have always continued to be a part of human life.

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Men's Jewelry in the Ancient Times

Jewelry, the invention of which is as old as the primitive age, was not an ornamental item at that time. At that time, men used jewelry to show their power, status and superiority. They also believed that jewelry protected them against natural events.

With the transition to settled life, jewelry began to serve as amulets. The first Jewelry would be made from animal bones, teeth, nails, obsidian, onyx, shells of mollusks and mines such as flint stones In this process, Jewelry was shaped by rubbing, pierced and lined up to become necklaces.

With the Hellenistic period, men wore pins and fibulae to fasten their rings and clothes. In the same period, men wearing earrings, neckbands and bracelets were outstanding in eastern culture. As the ostentatious ornaments of the East began to show themselves in Greek Jewelry, it was seen that first gold and then colored stones were worn.

Men in Rome started to prefer precious and semi-precious stones in their Jewelry such as belt buckles, pins, rings, fibulae, and diadems. The purpose here was not only ornaments, but also symbols such as military rank, engagement, marriage, seal and key chain. Jewelries were even used to carry poison.

Anatolian Men's Jewelry

The Seljuks Empire, which was founded in parallel with the Turks' coming to Anatolia after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, mostly preferred gold, bronze and silver Jewelry. The Seljuk sultans and other noble men wore gold as a status symbol. Among the people, men mostly used bronze Jewelry.

During the Ottoman period, Jewelry had become an art branch that was also supported by the sultans. Men continued to use jewelry, although not as flamboyant as women. Sultans and statesmen wore tassel-shaped ornaments called crests on their heads. Men among the people would place ornaments called İstefan on their caps or fez. Belts, which complemented the outfits, were also indispensable.

In addition to these, they would prefer ornamental rings and seals. They used rings called zehgir, which were made from horns or wood and put on the finger like a ring, while shooting arrows. Although it was seen that earrings were used among Ottoman sultans such as Yavuz Sultan Selim, earrings were not a Jewelry preferred by men among the people. However, earrings were worn as a symbol of courage among sailors as well as sultans.

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Jewelry Today

Piercing use began to become widespread in Germany after the Second World War and spread to Europe in the 1970s. The widespread use of earrings among men increased in the 1980s across the world.

Today, men generally wear rings, necklaces, earrings, watches, cufflinks, bracelets, tags and piercings. Among these jewelries, especially watches and cufflinks have become a status symbol.

Jewelry is a part of daily life today as it was in the past. So much so that Jewelry made of precious stones impresses with their mastery of design and embroidery. Istanbul Jewelry Show, which is among the five largest international jewelry fairs in the world, guides the industry by bringing together jewelry manufacturers from both Turkey and abroad. This world-famous jewelry fair, which will be organized for the 50th time this year, also has a rich portfolio in terms of men's jewelry.

Discover Istanbul Jewelry Show

Informa Markets has organised the Istanbul Jewelry Show on 7-10 October 2021 at CNR Expo, Istanbul Fair Center. The event will be attended by jewelry businesses from all over the world, showcasing a wide variety of jewelry styles. Click here to register online.

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