Culture & Style
Men’s Style: Diamond Jewelry Essentials for the Modern Dandy
The modern-day dandy uses diamonds in a way that’s elegant and edgy.
Written by: Jill Newman
May 2, 2025
The First Monday in May is nigh. Fashion’s biggest night, the annual Met Gala, will ensue on May 5, and we can’t wait to see all the dazzling and decadent modern dandy diamond jewels glisten on the stairs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This year, the exhibit, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” will open on May 10 and will showcase a historical and cultural exploration of Black style over 300 years through the concept of dandyism. The theme and dress code for evening is “Tailored for You,” reflecting the spotlight on menswear and suiting.
The 2025 Met Ball co-chairs include jewelry-obsessed gentlemen, from actor Colman Domingo, Formula 1 racecar driver Lewis Hamilton, to rapper A$AP Rocky, and multihyphenate talent Pharrell Williams. Serving alongside the gala’s longtime honorary host Anna Wintour, legendary basketball star LeBron James will serve as honorary chair.
Ahead, we explore the enduring allure of dandyism—both past and present—and how it continues to influence the way men wear megawatt natural diamond jewelry. From historical style icons to today’s most fashion-forward grooms, the modern dandy proves that diamonds are are for the guys too.
Meet the Expert
- Anita Ko is an award-winning fine jewelry brand based in Los Angeles, founded in 2006.
- She creates contemporary, luxury pieces with a unique twist.
What is a Dandy?
The term dandy was coined back in the late 1700s and came to define men who put an exaggerated sense of importance on their personal appearance. The term seems particularly relevant today in describing swaggering young men who favor distinctive diamond jewelry to define their style. It’s not about piling on jewels; it’s finding a signature diamond piece, like Kendrick Lamar’s Jean Schlumberger diamond brooch at the 2022 Super Bowl.
Next Gen Men’s Diamond Jewelry Style
In the late 19th and early 20th century, affluent men comfortably wore diamond pinky rings, lapel pins and cufflinks. A symbol of success, diamond jewelry wasn’t particularly showy but was considered a smart and stylish accessory.
By mid-century, diamond jewelry on men virtually disappeared. That is until hip-hop style emerged in the ‘80s and those performers wore diamond bling to define their success and bold style. But there’s been a change in diamond expression over the past few years.
Younger men are embracing diamond jewelry both on and off the red carpet. Among the most popular pieces is the diamond necklace or choker worn by everyone from Justin Bieber’s Anita Ko chain with t-shirts to Timothée Chalamet’s diamond Cartier choker and long Panther pendant necklace on his bare chest at the 2022 Oscars.
Designer Anita Ko, who has a cult following for her chokers—among both men and women, says men have always had a love and appreciation for diamond necklaces. “I’ve had over the years men say: ‘what about for me?’,” she says. “Now that fashion has become more fluid men feel comfortable expressing their love for sparkle and I fully support that, and I think they look fabulous.”
The Modern Dandy Diamond Style
In comes the modern dandy, the men who clearly enjoy diamond jewelry and styling it in their own way.
This year’s Super Bowl proved that more men are putting more importance on their appearance, and diamonds play a big role. Odell Beckham Jr., the L.A. Rams wide receiver, arrived at the game wearing Jean Schlumberger’s Bird on a Rock diamond and citrine brooch on his varsity jacket.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar performed at the event wearing a Schlumberger Maltese Cross clip on his jacket, along with Tiffany & Co. necklaces, bracelets and rings.
Other rappers like A$AP Rocky are evolving their jewelry style with beautiful vintage diamond pieces. He’s been spotted in antique Victorian diamond and pearl jewelry. It’s another signal that men’s diamond jewelry taste is changing—and it’s more about sophisticated design than just bling.
But bling isn’t going away. It’s been around for more than 40 years, and it continues to appeal to new generations of young men, too.
Dandyism for Contemporary Grooms
A wedding tradition for decades, the bride or future in-laws typically gave the groom a gift of a watch, but a diamond chain seems like a more modern choice. Brooklyn Beckham, the destined-to-be-famous son of David and Victoria Beckham, nailed men’s diamond jewelry and the modern dandy style at his April 2022 wedding to Nicola Peltz in Palm Beach.
On the evening before his wedding, Beckham wore the versatile emerald-cut diamond necklace as a wallet chain peering out of his pocket, and restyled it on his wedding day. It shows he’s got his own creative flare for styling. Beckman’s wedding ring is a diamond eternity band. It’s another signal that everyday diamonds are for men, too.
His choice wasn’t just about jewelry—it was a statement of individuality. As groom style evolves, we’re seeing a growing embrace of dandy-inspired details: tailored tuxedos with unexpected silhouettes and lush fabrics, lapel adornments, personalized embroidery, and of course, diamonds. The dandy groom isn’t afraid of flair, he wears jewelry not just as an accessory but as an extension of personality. From heirloom brooches to bespoke diamond chains, this modern take on formalwear is about self-expression, elegance, and a little bit of drama.
Diamond Jim Brady: The Original Diamond Dandy
Looking back, men and diamonds have a long and dynamic history. Originally, diamonds were worn by royalty, including Indian Maharajahs. But as industrialists made it big, these business moguls also wanted to show their wealth with big diamonds. Perhaps the most famous American diamond jewelry lover of the era was Diamond Jim Brady.
Born James Buchanan Brady in New York in 1856, he earned his name because of his love of mega-watt diamonds. The railroad tycoon, who died in 1917, wore huge diamond rings, and diamonds on his tie, vest and cufflinks. It was rumored Diamond Jim Brady even wore diamonds on his undergarments.
A century after his death, Diamond Jim Brady’s love of sparkling jewels reminds us that diamonds serve a multitude of purposes. For Brady, it illustrated to the world that the self-made millionaire was a success. Today’s high-profile style makers like Beckham wear diamonds because they love the look and the way it makes them feel, and that’s why we call them the modern dandy.
As the spotlight turns once again to the grand steps of the Met on the first Monday in May, it’s clear that dandyism is not a relic of the past—it’s a thriving, evolving expression of identity, power, and personal style. This year’s Met Gala theme, “Tailored for You,” underscores just how personal menswear—and by extension, men’s diamond jewelry—has become. Whether it’s a brooch from the archives, a bespoke diamond chain, or an antique pin worn with intention, the modern dandy isn’t just dressing for the occasion, he’s telling a story. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that diamonds remain the ultimate punctuation mark for men with something to say.
