Throughout history, ornamental objects for men have often served as a means of expressing status and power. Today, the definition of contemporary men's jewellery has broadened, granting quite a bit more freedom to make a distinctive personal statement.

British luxury jewellery designer Stephen Webster has been in the business for more than 35 years; he received the prestigious De Beers accreditation in 1982. Webster's collections are crafted in an array of colours and from a variety of precious materials, including white gold, sterling silver, black rhodium, diamond and pigmented enamel. His design concept – not for the faint-hearted, he says – puts the focus on primitive masculinity, with wild motifs such as beasts and their body parts, deadly thorns, mythological ravens and sophisticated geometric shapes that resemble ancient totems.

Jan Leslie has taken a radically different approach; the American designer is well known for her collection of cufflinks and tuxedo studs. Playful, fun and light-hearted, her pieces are aimed at unlocking the child-like wonders of men’s hearts. She opts for bright colours and unconventional motifs, with meticulously crafted details on small accessories made of precious materials such as sterling silver and hand-painted enamel. Check out the cobalt blue owl lapel pin with one removable winking eye, her take on the good-fortune maneki neko (the famed "welcoming cat" seen at the entrance to many stores) with a bobblehead, and the angel-and-devil monkey cufflink combo with movable arms and legs – matching tuxedo studs are also available to achieve that formal yet fun look.

Black Sapphire Star ring

[Photo/Stephen Webster]