There are a few accessories in this world that can seem like a zero-sum game. For example, if that man is “a jewellery man”, you surely can’t be. There are only so many men who can pull off jewellery, right? Furthermore, those men typically have long hair, are clad head to toe in Gucci and are giving a Grammy acceptance speech. You, a humble man, can’t possibly be one of them, right? Wrong.

It’s time to dip your toe into the crystal-clear waters of jewellery for men. Start small with a sleek ring on your index finger or get yourself a simple chain (it worked for Mr Paul Mescal in Normal People) that you can tuck into your shirt if you’re shy. Then work your way up slowly to the big leagues. Turns out jewellery is a treat and one of the easiest ways to add a little flare to your outfit. See below for some easy pieces to work into your rotation.

If you’re a millennial of a certain age (ie, at the top of the range), you might already have a pierced ear. The 1990s boy-band craze made us do some wild things, but dare I say an earring on a man is sexy? Yes, I’ll stand by it. So go ahead, revisit that piercing and adorn it with a simple silver hoop that hugs close to your lobe. This Le Gramme piece clocks in at 10mm in diameter, which means it’s a discreet piece of metal that will nonetheless toughen up your look.

Do not take your jewellery tips from the Duke of Cambridge, who famously chooses not to wear a wedding ring. A gold band, whether worn as a sign of marital status or not, is always classic and stylish. Simple rings, such as this 9-carat, squared-edge example from Alice Made This, can also be flattering. They make fingers appear more slender by some metal magic. A ring like this, worn on your middle or index finger is perhaps the simplest, most easily removable, way to add a little shine without, say, poking a hole in your ear (or anywhere else on your body).

What we like about this bracelet is that it has a bit of a surfer vibe, if surfers wore precious metals instead of puka shells. Jeweller M. Cohen has managed to thread the needle of extremely laid-back and extremely luxe with this 18-carat gold beaded bracelet that fastens with a simple T-bar. The beauty of bracelets is that they’re stackable, so if you buy this one and love the way it looks, you can get another, and another, and another. The bigger the stack, the cooler the dude (to a limit, of course, maybe 10).

We have already extolled the virtues of a simple chain necklace. For proof of its appeal, check out @connellschain on Instagram, an account with 186,000 followers that is dedicated to images of Connell Waldren’s chain necklace in Normal People. If you’re ready to move on to something a little more advanced, might we suggest a chain with a pendant? This one from Miansai is part of our Gone Surfin’ capsule, which means it has a particularly beachy-cool feel to it. Pendants allow you to add a little extra oomph to a piece of jewellery and to show off your personal style. Have an important meeting? Tuck it into your shirt. Such is the beauty of a necklace.

And finally, a real rock ’n’ roll piece. This Undercover bat ring is the very definition of cool, if worn in the right way. With jewellery, as with all things in life, you must take care not to veer into costume. When you slide this ring on, leave some of your more adventurous pieces in the wardrobe in favour of simple and sleek. A worn-in T-shirt with black jeans is perfect. A black corduroy suit styled with a band tee would also look good. This piece is badass. Wear it with pride.