The bro brooch is the must-have men’s accessory this season

If there’s anything to be said about men’s fashion in 2024, it’s that brooches are back in a big way. From Cillian Murphy and Mark Ruffalo to Colman Domingo and Robert Downey Jr—all the best dressed celebrities had a little shiny, sparkly something pinned on their collars, lapels, and ties through awards season.

And today’s statement pieces are a far cry from the humble old brooch from your family trinket box. They’re big, bold, and encrusted with juicy coloured gemstones and an eye-watering price tags, much like the obligatory watches that end up being hidden under the sleeve of a jacket or sherwani. “There’s this boldness in how men are embracing jewellery now whether it’s a statement brooch, a collar pin, or even diamond buttons. It’s no longer just about traditional pieces like rings or necklaces; they’re exploring new ways to accessorise,” says designer Manish Malhotra, who designed the outfits and jewellery for Bollywood couple Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra’s wedding in 2023.

Last year, Sotheby’s held its first selling exhibition titled ‘For The Boys’ dedicated to men’s jewellery in New York which featured about 100 pieces of antique and contemporary jewels for men. “While what I did with ‘For the Boys’ was trying to encourage out-of-the-box thinking with men wearing jewellery—bracelets, necklaces, things that maybe are not necessarily intended for men originally but can be worn by men—I think what we’re seeing now is very traditional guys even wearing a little tie pin or lapel pin,” Frank Everett, Sotheby’s vice-chair of jewellery, told Financial Times. 

In India too, there’s growing demand for accessories to style suits with as big celebrations are back on the table. Formal events with a black-tie dress code may have been a snoozefest for men’s fashion enthusiasts earlier, with only timepieces to look out for, but no more. Now men are gravitating towards pieces that add character to their otherwise uniform wardrobes. “There’s a certain flair, a willingness to experiment while still keeping it elegant and sophisticated. It’s about making jewellery a natural part of the ensemble, not just an afterthought,” adds Malhotra. For his latest high jewellery collection, Malhotra is focusing on tanzanites—the rare blue and violet gemstones were believed to offer protection and prosperity in ancient times—along with Russian and Zambian emeralds, rubies, and of course, diamonds.

Personally, the designer prefers to keep his wardrobe minimal and add flourishes of jewels to elevate the look. “You’ll often see me in a black sherwani or a bandhgala, but I like to play with my jewellery so you will often see me wear brooches, or maybe a collar pin to add a little detail. And, of course, there are diamond buttons to elevate the whole look.” Whether you’re a groom who is looking for something striking (a layered necklace or kalgi, perhaps?) or someone attending a festive celebration, just remember to put a pin on it, and you are good to go.