The modern man’s love affair with jewellery continues to the present day. Today’s cosmopolitan, sophisticated and suave men wear their unique styles comfortably, with jewellery playing a significant role in defining their look.

Even if we take a look at our history, the royal passion for bejewelled luxury extended beyond bodily ornaments to create some of the world’s most spectacular and unique products such as the peacock throne. Their favourite pets like the cheetah, falcon, elephant or the horse – all had precious jewellery to adorn them. Such lavish lifestyles always made way for ornamentation, creating a lasting association of the regal power of the Maharajas with their gemstones.

As society aims to become more liberated and fluid, men’s attitudes towards jewellery too are changing. From cufflinks, tiepins and timepieces, they are now experimenting with the kind of adornment hitherto regarded as exclusively feminine. On the other hand, they are also sporting funky jewellery such as skull rings, fancy brooches, Heroes and willing rings etc. – for the macho effect.

Men are wearing jewellery as a means of self-expression. They want to convey that they are cool, interesting, intelligent and hopefully, sexy.

Indian men wore many rings on their fingers. Even the thumb had special ‘thumb ring’. Worn by Hindus since ancient times, signet rings were considered good luck amulets by Buddhists from the first to the tenth centuries. They were also prized by Muslims from the twelfth century. The archer’s thumb ring was used to increase the accuracy and distance of an arrow and became popular in India during the Mogul Empire. Wealthier men wore archer’s rings made of gold and inlaid with gems, including diamonds and rubies.