Grammy Awards 2020: Men's Jewelry Won The Night

Sunday’s Grammy Awards in Los Angeles served up the usual muddled mix of jewelry looks, occasionally worn with fashion oddities such as mesh face masks (big winner Billie Eilish) and wide-brimmed hats with retractable crystal fringe (Billy Porter). Yawn. Kidding!

But really, what proved most exciting about last night’s display of jewelry was how many men were wearing it—and wearing styles traditionally marketed to women.

Music’s biggest night showed that the sands are shifting when it comes to how young, fashion-conscious guys perceive and wear jewelry. They dig it. And not just the “manly” jewelry that’s been marketed to men since forever (think blocky sterling silver styles and woven necklaces). These fashion explorers are also embracing traditionally “feminine” jewelry looks, including pearls, diamond drop earrings, and bib-style necklaces. Is fine jewelry finally shedding its gender constraints?

Truly, it warmed this jewelry editor’s platinum-cold heart to see producer Diplo wearing an elegant Bulgari Heritage necklace dripping in diamonds and turquoise and Shawn Mendes (who recently wore a classic string of pearls to an event) sporting a delicate diamond and malachite necklace, also by Bulgari.

It’s simply been too long in our culture that men have been shut out of wearing incredible, intricately wrought fine jewelry. But now it feels like the door’s been pried open. Though I don’t think we’ll be seeing Brad Pitt in a David Webb diamond bib or Tom Hanks in an Andreoli cocktail ring at the Oscars, their heirs apparent, Timothée Chalamet and Ansel Elgort among them, have worn some pretty bling-tastic jewelry on red carpets recently. Here’s hoping the upcoming Academy Awards gives us more grist for the male jewelry mill.

In the meantime, here’s a roundup of guys looking undeniably great in jewelry at the 2020 Grammy Awards.