A personal journey into men's jewelry draws lessons from Hollywood icons like Redford and McQueen for starting simple with chains and pendants.
Men's jewelry can feel like treacherous territory. The author, a self-described watch enthusiast since elementary school, has gradually expanded his repertoire over the years—adding a bracelet in college, rings for more than a decade, and most recently a single silver hoop earring inspired by a Harrison Ford interview. Yet the necklace remained unexplored territory until recently.
The turning point came while researching Robert Redford's signature style for an unrelated project. Across paparazzi shots, film stills, and memorial tributes, one detail appeared consistently: Redford wearing some form of necklace, typically peeking from an unbuttoned western shirt. This pattern held true across Hollywood's golden age of off-duty dressing—Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and their contemporaries routinely sported chains, pendants, or medallions both on and off screen.
The author acknowledges the obvious pitfall: "a good cheekbone and clavicle will get you pretty far in life." No accessory magically transforms ordinary appearance into leading-man looks. Yet these professionals whose livelihood depended on favorable presentation offer genuine styling guidance.
Against the maximalist tide of social media—where influencers stack four necklaces and double-ring every finger—the approach here favors restraint. Start simple with a chain. The author currently favors Bloedstone's Curb Chain, a sterling silver piece that hits nearer the sternum than the neck, following the classic Hollywood convention. Alternatives include Miansai's thicker 2mm Cuban chain, Mejuri's Round Box Chain, Shinola's 4mm Box Chain, and David Yurman's substantial option featured in campaigns with Michael B. Jordan.
Chains alone, however, rarely satisfied the icons. McQueen frequently wore a St. Christopher medallion, patron saint of travelers now enjoying cultural resurgence. Vintage enamel versions surface on eBay; Imogene + Willie occasionally assembles sellout vintage edits; Yearly Co. offers a new 14K version with a 24-inch chain. The author, despite Protestant reservations about saint imagery, recently acquired Yearly Co.'s Perseverance medallion as an alternative. Secondhand gold presents another avenue through Alloy Market's certified men's collection.
Beyond medallions, options multiply: Redford's turquoise piece, Shinola's tag necklace, Salty Dagger's Greek mythology pendant, Pattaraphan's locket, Miansai's aventurine design, or Prévaut's diamond ring pendant. The author suggests borrowing from women's offerings when inspired, citing a With Clarity birthstone necklace purchased for his wife.
A final stylistic note: chains worn over T-shirts abound currently, but the leading man's technique keeps the necklace beneath the shirt, revealed through unbuttoned openings rather than displayed atop fabric.
The author closes with Shakespeare—"all the world's a stage"—and a reminder that Redford, McQueen, and company were professional pretenders. Jewelry may feel like performance at first. Their example suggests dressing for the role until it becomes natural.