For a long time men's jewellery came down to a watch and, with luck, a wedding band. That has changed, and the beaded bracelet is the piece that changed it: understated, without shine, with texture. Almost our whole men's line is built on three black stones that look the same from afar and nothing alike up close. This is the guide to telling them apart and choosing yours.
Onyx: the mirror black
Onyx is a very fine-grained black chalcedony that takes a perfect polish. It is the "cleanest" stone of the three: smooth surface, sharp reflection, no pores. On the wrist it feels cool and smooth, and it does not change with wear. It is the choice for anyone who wants a bracelet that looks almost like classic jewellery, that goes with a shirt and suit, and pairs with a black-dial or polished steel watch. Our Serene Guardian, with an aged steel Buddha head, is the typical example.
Hematite: the metallic grey
Hematite is iron oxide, and it shows: it weighs twice as much as onyx and shines like burnished metal, in a steel grey with almost silvery glints. It is the stone men who do not wear jewellery like most, because it does not look like jewellery; it looks like a piece of machinery. It pairs with steel watches, buckles and anything metallic, and adds weight to a stack that is too light. One detail: hematite can mark with moisture, so take it off to swim.
Lava: the matte black
Lava is volcanic basalt, porous and light. It is the only one of the three that does not shine at all: its finish is matte and velvety, with small visible craters. To the touch it is warm and rough, and on the wrist it weighs almost nothing. It is the most casual stone and the one that goes best with leather, denim and weekend clothes. Its pores hold a drop of essential oil for hours, which has made it the favourite of people who train.
The three together
Placed side by side, onyx, hematite and lava are three textures of the same colour: mirror, metal and matte. That is why they work so well as a trio, and why we built our Quiet Strength set that way. If you are going to wear just one, choose by watch: onyx with a black dial, hematite with steel, lava with leather.
8 mm or 10 mm
The gauge decides how much the bracelet shows. 8 mm beads are the men's standard: visible, but they fit under a shirt cuff. 10 mm beads have more presence and sit better on wrists over 18 cm or on anyone after a single piece that fills the wrist. For a stack of two or three, mix both gauges: a 10 mm base and an 8 mm on top.
The details: steel, not gold
In the men's line we avoid gold plating and use stainless steel, matte black or brushed, in spacers and charms. Steel does not rust, does not fade and does not compete with the watch. The motifs are few and classic: a Buddha head, an elephant, a wolf, a compass, an arrow. Or nothing: Firm Root, our best-selling bracelet, carries only a plain spacer.
How to wear it
On the wrist opposite the watch, if you prefer each to have its own space; next to the watch, if you want a dark block of metal and stone. In summer, alone on the skin; in winter, peeking out from under the cuff. And to gift someone who "wears nothing": start with 8 mm hematite. It is the one that feels least like jewellery and the one people have come back to buy most often.