Everyone knows that our wardrobe plays a pivotal role in how other people perceive us. Not for nothing do they say that we dress to impress. At the same time, the importance of jewelry and accessories is often overlooked. They are small so they don’t really matter, right? Wrong! It is our rings, necklaces, and bracelets that reveal the best in our outfits, draw attention to the right spots, and convey a certain message.
Do you imagine a rock star without a skull ring or eye-catching necklace? I don’t. These small things are part (a vital part!) of their stage appeal and their personality off stage. Every self-respecting rocker, even if they aren’t really into accessorizing, has a personal collection of jewelry. In particular, rocker jewelry. It’s not that rockers can’t wear trinkets in other styles (many of them flaunt Gothic and biker bling) but jewelry for rock enthusiasts carries a certain aesthetic important for putting together a cohesive badass look. So what does make jewelry rocker?
Definition of Rocker Jewelry
It is inspired by rocker lifestyle and worldviews. It is designed for those who play rock and those who listen to it. It is versatile enough to be worn by both men and women but you need to know (or, more precisely, be able) to pull it off. Its goal is to set yourself apart from the pack and turn heads anywhere you go. But how does it do it? Well, rocker jewelry blends together a few critical features, which make it irresistibly attractive for some people and, at the same time, repulsive and intimidating for others. Let’s take a closer look at these features.
Symbolism. The key to jewelry’s magnetism is the meaning it carries. It conducts its significance through certain symbols and images. When it comes to rocker jewelry, it pulls symbols from cultures and subcultures that have been around long before the invention of the lelectric guitar. Perhaps, this mottledness is a secret of its appeal to so many people. If you want to know more about symbols seen in these pieces, go ahead and check out https://www.bikerringshop.com/.
Emphasis on size. Indeed, rocker rings, bracelets, and necklaces cannot be called modest and discreet. How would you see his or her trinkets across a dimly lit stadium? So, it makes sense to flaunt stuff sitting on the weighty and enormous side. However, even being away from the stage and cameras, rock stars prefer rocking large jewelry to maintain that statement style. So, if you’re considering buying a ring or bracelet to show your passion for rock and roll, make sure it is big enough to be seen from afar.
Silver finish. Because rockers tend to sport black outfits, the only color that looks great with it is white. Silver and steel are responsible for introducing this white color. Besides, rock fashion was heavily affected by biker subculture (basically, it branched off biker fashion), and men on motorcycles accept jewelry only in white finishes. It doesn’t mean that rockers don’t wear gold, it is just a second-best option.
Symbolism in Rocker Jewelry
As already mentioned, rocker jewelry is a younger brother of biker jewelry. Therefore, they share a bunch of symbols. The most common of them is a skull. In the biker community, it means life and death, protection against death, as well as equality in a biker club. When it comes to rock symbolism, the meaning of a skull is slightly different. It still represents death (how many rockers had near-death experience, huh?) but its main mission is to show that rockers are not scared to be different and embrace their dark side.
Besides skulls, rockers flaunt trinkets with flame patterns – yes, pyromania is in their blood, and every rock concert will testify it. Demons and evil creatures are not uncommon either.
One more subculture that contributed to the development of rocker fashion is Gothic. Gothic rock exists on its own but its imprint is seen across various rock genres. The macabre subculture, not surprisingly, elaborated on death symbolism, so all those skeletons, bats, vampires, Grim Reapers, and coffins depicted on stage jewelry are clearly Gothic influence. At the same time, it contributed to the refine and romantic side of rock and roll. Fleur de lis, floral patterns, chivalry symbolism, hearts, crowns, and various swirls are the more gentle and sophisticated version of Gothic.
Not only did rock fashion borrow from here and there but it also created a lot of stuff singlehandedly. More often than not, an inspiration for this jewelry became music itself. Notes, instruments, headphones, microphones, etc. became a running theme in rock decorations. It is impossible to imagine an A-list celebrity without branded merch, so rings and pendants featuring group logos, quotes, song fragments, etc. is another category of rock jewelry symbolism. Musicians don’t really wear their own merch but fans are excited to manifest their love for a favorite artist through branded jewelry.
Finally, our favorite type of music-related jewelry depicts rock legends but it does it in a creative way. For example, Bob Marley’s skull ring or John Lennon’s glasses pendant is a nice way to pay tribute to your favorite musicians.
As you can see, rock jewelry is quite diverse. It lets you be creative, badass, striking, or all of that at the same time.
