Men's Jewelry Guide: Earrings & Bracelets (2026)

This guide covers men's earrings and bracelets: which styles to start with, stud sizes in millimeters, the metals that are safest for a new or sensitive piercing, the aftercare the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) recommends, how to measure your wrist for a chain or a cuff, and what the gold and silver markings on a bracelet mean.

Men's earring styles: studs, huggies and small hoops

Start with one of three styles. Each is small enough to wear every day, and they are listed here from most to least discreet.

Studs

A stud sits flat against the front of the lobe on a post, with a back behind the ear. It is the most discreet option and the easiest to wear with a suit. The face can be a diamond, a cubic zirconia (CZ), moissanite, or plain metal such as a polished disc or a small ball. For stones, a bezel setting (a metal rim around the stone) sits lower than prongs and has nothing to snag on a collar, scarf or towel. Match the metal color to the watch or chain you wear most.

Huggies

Huggies are small, thick hoops that sit tight against the lobe instead of hanging below it. They look more deliberate than a stud but stay almost as close to the ear. Look for a hinged closure that clicks shut: it is quicker to put in than a hoop you have to thread through the piercing.

Small hoops

A small hoop hangs a little below the lobe and moves when you do, so it reads as more relaxed than a huggie. Save heavier hoops, dangles and charms such as crosses for healed ears and occasional wear, because heavy earrings worn every day can stretch the piercing over time.

Wearing earrings in both ears or just one is a matter of style. Two matching studs look balanced; a single stud looks more casual. If the piercing is new, keep the stud your piercer put in until it has healed. A hoop can turn in a healing piercing, and the APP advises against twisting or rotating jewelry while a piercing heals.

Stud earring sizes in millimeters

Stud size means the diameter of the face you see from the front. For diamond studs, carat weight and diameter track each other: a round diamond of about 0.25 ct is about 4 mm across, about 0.50 ct is about 5 mm, and 1 ct is about 6.3 to 6.5 mm. These conversions are approximate, because two diamonds of the same weight can be cut to different depths.

Diamond studs are usually sold by total carat weight (ctw) for the pair, so a pair listed as 1.00 ctw holds two stones of about 0.50 ct, each roughly 5 mm across. If you are unsure where to start, 4 to 5 mm is a sensible first size: visible without being loud. For carat-by-carat sizes and prices, see our diamond studs size guide.

Safest earring metals for new or sensitive ears

An earring post sits inside the skin, so the metal matters more than it does for a ring or a bracelet. Nickel is the most common metal allergy, and it is a common component of low-quality jewelry.

Of the materials the Association of Professional Piercers lists for new piercings, these four are also the safest choices if cheap earrings irritate your ears:

• Implant-grade titanium (Ti6Al4V ELI, ASTM F136). It is light, and the APP calls it ideal for people with concerns about nickel sensitivity. Look for the ASTM F136 grade on the listing, not just the word "titanium".
• Niobium. Piercers have used it with good results for many years, although it has no implant-grade designation of its own.
• Solid 14k or 18k gold that is nickel-free and cadmium-free. The APP considers gold above 18k too soft for body jewelry. Ask about white gold in particular, because white gold may contain nickel.
• Platinum. Extremely inert, but expensive.

Be careful with the label "surgical steel". It covers several alloys, and the common 316L grade contains about 10 to 14 percent nickel. The APP accepts only specific steel grades for new piercings: those compliant with ASTM F138 or ISO 5832-1. If you know nickel bothers you, choose titanium or one of the other metals above.

The APP also says gold-plated, gold-filled and vermeil jewelry is not acceptable for fresh piercings, and sterling silver is not on its list of materials for new piercings. Once your lobes have healed you can wear a wider range of metals, but if your skin reacts, go back to the list above.

Aftercare for a new ear piercing

Get pierced by a professional piercer who uses a sterile, single-use needle. The APP does not allow its members to use reusable ear-piercing guns: plastic guns cannot be sterilized in an autoclave, and the APP describes the effect of a gun as more like a crush injury than a piercing.

After that, follow the APP's aftercare guidelines:

• Rinse with sterile saline as needed. Use saline sold as a wound wash, not a homemade salt mix. Don't over-clean: the APP warns that over-cleaning can delay healing and irritate the piercing.
• Don't twist, spin or rotate the earring. Moving it is not needed for cleaning and may irritate the piercing.
• Skip harsh products: alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soap, iodine and ointments.
• Leave the starter earrings in. Earlobe piercings usually take about 6 to 8 weeks to heal. A piercing can seem healed before it is, so if it is still tender, give it longer. Even a healed piercing can shrink or close quickly without jewelry in it.

If you think the piercing is infected, get medical help, and leave the earring in unless a doctor tells you to take it out. For the styles that are easiest to heal in, see best earrings for newly pierced ears.

How to measure your wrist for a bracelet

1. Measure. Wrap a soft tape measure around your wrist just below the wrist bone, where a bracelet sits. Keep it snug but not tight. No tape? Wrap a strip of paper or string around your wrist, mark where it overlaps, and measure it flat against a ruler.
2. Add length for the style. For a chain bracelet, add about 0.5 inch for a standard fit, or up to 1 inch for a looser drape. For a cuff, add nothing: cuff size charts match each size to a wrist measurement, and because a cuff is open it adjusts a little, so exact sizing matters less than with a chain. Between cuff sizes, go up for a looser fit or down for a snug one.
3. Check the fit. A bracelet should move a little on your wrist without slipping over your hand, with room to slide a finger underneath.

Eight inches is one of the most common men's bracelet lengths, and 8.5 inches is the usual next size up. With the allowance above, an 8 inch chain fits a wrist of about 7 to 7.5 inches, and an 8.5 inch chain fits about 7.5 to 8 inches.

For a cuff, use your wrist measurement itself as the size.

Men's bracelet styles: chain, cuff, leather and beaded

Chain bracelets: Cuban, figaro and rope

A chain bracelet is a short version of a neck chain, and the same link styles apply:

• Cuban link: a heavy curb chain whose rounded links interlock tightly and lie flat against the wrist.
• Figaro: groups of short, flat links broken up by one longer link, a classic Italian pattern.
• Rope: small links twisted into a spiral that catches the light.

Width changes the look more than length does. On a wrist, 5 to 6 mm reads as substantial without looking heavy, and 8 mm and up is a statement piece. Check whether the links are solid or hollow: hollow links are lighter and cheaper but dent more easily. Our men's gold chain guide covers link styles, clasps and solid versus hollow chains in more detail.

Cuffs

A cuff is a rigid, open band that you slip on sideways at the narrowest part of the wrist. A plain polished or brushed cuff looks clean with a suit, and a twisted or hammered finish adds texture.

Leather

Braided or flat leather with a metal clasp. Leather absorbs water and sweat, so take it off before you shower, swim or train, and let it dry if it gets wet. It is a good choice next to a watch because it will not scratch the case.

Beaded

Stone or wood beads on an elastic cord. Onyx (black), tiger's eye (brown and gold) and lava rock (matte and textured) are typical choices. Elastic wears out and can snap, so look for thick cord or beads strung on wire, and roll the bracelet on and off rather than stretching it over your hand.

Wearing a bracelet with a watch

Metal against metal scratches both pieces. Wear a metal bracelet on the wrist without the watch, or put leather or beads next to the watch. Mixing metals is fine: a gold bracelet with a steel watch looks deliberate if the finishes match, both polished or both brushed. If you are new to bracelets, start with one.

Bracelet metals: solid gold, gold-filled, plated, silver and steel

The stamp on a bracelet tells you what you are paying for. In the US, the FTC's Jewelry Guides set what these terms may mean.

• Solid gold (10k, 14k, 18k): gold alloyed with other metals for hardness. 14k is 58.3% gold and 18k is 75%. For a bracelet that knocks against desks and doorframes, 14k is the more practical choice because the extra alloy makes it harder.
• Gold-filled: a layer of karat gold bonded to a base metal. It may only be called gold-filled if the gold layer is at least 1/20 of the item's metal weight. It wears far better than plating, but it is not solid gold.
• Gold-plated: a thin layer of gold over a base metal such as brass or steel. "Gold electroplate" needs only 0.175 microns of at least 10k gold, and "heavy gold electroplate" needs 2.5 microns. A bracelet rubs against everything, so plating wears through faster on a wrist than on a pendant.
• Sterling silver: at least 92.5% pure silver, stamped 925 or Sterling. It tarnishes but polishes back, and it costs far less than gold for the same size of chain.
• Stainless steel (316L): tough, inexpensive and resistant to tarnish. It contains about 10 to 14 percent nickel. Cleveland Clinic lists surgical-grade stainless steel among the metals to choose if you have a nickel allergy, but if steel has given you a rash before, pick titanium, sterling silver or yellow gold instead.

Not sure whether a bracelet is solid gold? See how to test gold at home.

More men's guides

• Men's gold chain guide: solid versus hollow chains, karats and the most durable link styles.
• Men's rings and wedding bands: ring materials from gold to tungsten, top styles and sizing.
• Brilliant Earth men's wedding bands: what the bands cost by metal, and the one to pick.
• Men's gold watches: solid gold, gold-capped and gold-tone watches compared.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I wait before changing my first earrings?

Earlobe piercings usually take about 6 to 8 weeks to heal. Leave the starter studs in for that whole time, and longer if the lobe is still tender: the Association of Professional Piercers notes that a piercing can seem healed before healing is complete.

What earring metal is safest for sensitive ears?

Implant-grade titanium (ASTM F136), niobium, nickel-free solid 14k or 18k gold, and platinum. The common 316L surgical steel contains about 10 to 14 percent nickel, so it is not the best choice if nickel irritates your skin.

What size bracelet should a man buy?

Measure your wrist just below the wrist bone, then add about 0.5 inch for a standard fit or up to 1 inch for a looser drape. A 7 to 7.5 inch wrist usually takes an 8 inch chain bracelet. For a cuff, use your wrist measurement as the size.

Is gold-filled better than gold-plated?

For a bracelet, yes. Gold-filled jewelry must have a gold layer of at least 1/20 of its metal weight, while gold electroplate can be as thin as 0.175 microns, so plating wears through much sooner. Neither is solid gold.