Real men can wear pearl, too

Someone once said that the pearl is the queen of gems and the gem of queens. While most women learn by adulthood that a pearl necklace and earrings are musts for her jewelry wardrobe, few fellows realize that pearl can be a classic component in their collection of sartorial accoutrements. One easy way for men to incorporate pearl is in a tie tack or bar. Another, more interesting, way is in a set of handsome cuff links. They make good gifts for groomsmen and for occasions such as Fathers Day, birthdays and anniversaries. Pearls are organic gems produced by living organisms, which puts them in the same family as coral, amber, ivory and shell.

Rogue Tusk mother of pearl t-bar cuff links by Links of London; click on image to buy

They’re usually carved and polished rather than faceted like mineral gems, and are fairly low-maintenance. They occur naturally in black, champagne and other colors. But they are most common in their natural whitish hue, which ages ago caused some Arab cultures to view pearls as tears of the gods.