Diamonds are a guy’s best friend

Who remembers when men’s red carpet dressing meant one thing: a black tux and zero personality? Unless you were Jeff Goldblum or Lenny Kravitz, there was nothing to see. The vibe was firmly, “Move along, boys, and let the women answer ‘Who are you wearing?’”

Thankfully, that era is over. On Sunday night, Hollywood’s most style-savvy men did not just show up, they showed out, turning the Golden Globes red carpet into a parade of bold watches, diamond accents and unapologetic jewellery-wearing. It’s a phenomenon that’s been creeping its way into fashion culture steadily in the last few years.

While Hollywood leans fully into boys and bling, the men in the Currency team – rocking their Woolies chinos – were, dare we say it, rather flummoxed by this development. The confusion was heightened when we suggested that jewellery might be a little sartorial twist they could consider – and the same applies to our good gentleman readers too.

To this end, you don’t have to re-pierce that ear you did yourself on a school trip to Umhlanga 20 years ago (unless you want to). Anyone can add a little ice, real or fake, to an outfit. Start small: a retro tie pin and cool pair of cufflinks go a long way.

So, consider this article your sign that it’s time to branch out with the man jewels. For inspo, here’s our roundup of the very best Golden Globes jewellery for men, from simple rings to full-on brooch moments.

Brooching the subject

It is no surprise that actor Colman Domingo delivered once again. As Valentino menswear house ambassador, he has built a reputation for immaculate tailoring, dramatic silhouettes and a confident love of statement accessories – particularly brooches.

At the Globes, he kept things ultra sleek in classic black. The drama came courtesy of a cascading arrangement of Boucheron diamond ivy brooches running from shoulder to waist.

The pieces form part of Boucheron’s Untamed Nature selection, from its Histoire de Style high jewellery line, soon to be unveiled in Paris during Couture Week. Ivy is one of the maison’s most enduring motifs, inspired by the climbing vines at its original Palais-Royal address. On Domingo, it felt contemporary and cool.

Still on brooches, a “slutty little brooch moment” (as the youth insist on calling it) may be the fastest way to take a look up a level. For jewellery nerds, Connor Storrie delivered a masterclass in sparkle.

Storrie has made it big in the television series of the moment, Heated Rivalry. For the Globes he wore Tiffany & Co.’s iconic Bird on a Rock brooch in platinum. It’s centred on an emerald-cut diamond of over 13 carats, and was first created by design icon Jean Schlumberger in 1965. The diamond-encrusted bird perched on a vivid gemstone has become one of the house’s most recognisable motifs.

Styled with shaggy mullet hair and a black Saint Laurent tux, Storrie’s look included additional finishing touches: white gold hoops, a pavé-diamond bangle, a double-knot ring and a Tiffany & Co. Union Square watch.

Snake charmer

If you want to start small, Storrie’s co-star Hudson Williams may not be your most relatable style guru. Not all of us are ridiculously good-looking, in our mid-20s and comfortable wearing multiple Bulgari pieces at once.

Still, the rising star turned up in a jewellery lover’s dream edit of the Roman house. Former Ekurhuleni city manager and known “jewellery connoisseur” Imogen Mashazi would approve. Williams wore a Bulgari Serpenti necklace, proving once and for all that men can wear gold chains and look very good doing it.

He added a Serpenti Tubogas spiral watch, rings, a Tubogas bracelet and two B.Zero1 earrings. A full Bulgari takeover – and we are crazy about it.

Neck tie or necklace…

Timothée Chalamet, who took home an award on the night, has lost the plot slightly when it comes to recent fashion choices. From a bright orange “couple’s look” with Kylie Jenner at the Marty Supreme premiere to a rather muted Chrome Hearts velvet suit at the Globes, his style run has been uneven.

At the latter event, little Timmy’s saving grace was his Panthère de Cartier necklace. Crafted in 18k white gold with diamonds and emeralds, the piece landed perfectly because the rest of his look was so restrained.

The panther is one of Cartier’s most enduring motifs. It first appeared in 1914 on a spotted wristwatch, but it was Jeanne Toussaint, the house’s legendary creative director in the 1930s, who cemented its legacy. In 1948, she commissioned the first three-dimensional panther brooch, created for the Duchess of Windsor and set with a large cabochon emerald.

Watcha looking at?

Probably the easiest and simplest – albeit by no means the cheapest – way to accessorise is with a watch. At the awards night, major maisons were clearly competing to secure the most famous wrists in the room.

Patrick Schwarzenegger wore an OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional in Moonshine Gold, paired with a quirky collection of, yes, more brooches. The watch retails at close to half a million rand and features on many a collector’s wish list.

The undisputed king of watches on the night was Kevin O’Leary. The Canadian businessman, a judge on Shark Tank and surprise star of Marty Supreme, arrived wearing two timepieces – because why stop at one?

O’Leary is known for setting his watches to different time zones. On his right wrist was a Cartier Tank Asymétrique Skeleton with an orange-red strap. On his left, an F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance in a matching tone. He also brought along two watches worn in the film: a 1952 Patek Philippe Hour Glass dress watch in yellow gold and a vintage Seiko from the brand’s early years. Fabulous!

In the mood for more jewels? Read this.

_{Top image: Rawpixel/Currency collage.}