You want one piece that you and your husband, your brother or your closest friend could both wear, and plenty of "unisex" listings turn out to be men's jewellery with a new label. Unisex jewellery is jewellery designed to look right on anyone: the shape, weight and symbol work on a broad wrist and a slim one, a man's ear and a woman's, and in 925 sterling silver it is often the easiest gift to get right.
Some of India's most familiar adornments have always been worn by men and women alike: the kalava on the wrist, the rudraksha bead, the black nazar battu thread. Many of the pieces we make in Jaipur are tagged unisex for the same reason. This guide covers why unisex silver suits Indian gifting and couples, what changes in sizing between two people, and how to style the same piece two ways.
In short
- A piece is unisex because of its shape, weight and symbol, not because of the word on the label.
- Adjustable unisex rings, like our 3 g Snake Serpent Unisex Ring, take the size guesswork out of gifting.
- The same pendant can sit at her collarbone and on his chest; our box chain has adjustable options from 16 to 31.5 inches.
- Ear cuffs and murkis sold as single or pair let a couple split a pair.
- Check for 925. "Silver" on many couple rings is a colour option, not a metal.
What makes unisex jewellery actually unisex
Three things decide it. First, the design leans on a symbol or a clean form rather than decoration that reads as one gender: an Om, a trishul, a serpent, a plain bead. Second, the weight sits in the middle, heavy enough to feel real on a man's hand, light enough that a woman can wear it all day. Third, the fit flexes, through an adjustable band, a thread or a choice of chain length.
A good test: if the product photo works on both a man and a woman without looking borrowed, the piece is unisex. Our Unisex Square Beads Thread Bracelet is photographed exactly that way, on a woman's wrist and a man's, side by side. Angular 925 silver beads on braided black cord look as right on one as on the other.
Why unisex jewellery suits Indian gifting
Indian gifting runs in both directions. Sisters give to brothers on Bhai Dooj, brothers give back, husbands bring gifts on Karwa Chauth, couples exchange them on anniversaries, and cousins swap presents at every wedding. A unisex piece takes away the hardest question in all of that, which is whether the gift suits the person.
It also suits couples who do not want matching his-and-hers sets that look like a uniform. The same symbol in two forms works better: an Om ring for him and an Om pendant for her, or one ear cuff each from a pair. Traditions already do this. The kalava, or mauli, is traditionally tied on the right wrist for men and the left for women, as the Wikipedia entry on the kautuka notes. Same thread, two wearers, two wrists.
Sizing unisex jewellery for two different people
Unisex does not mean one size fits everyone. It means the piece adjusts. Here is how each type handles the difference between two wearers.
| Piece | How it adjusts | Often worn by her | Often worn by him |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjustable ring | The band opens and closes a little | Index or ring finger, stacked | Index or middle finger, alone |
| Pendant on a box chain | Chain sold separately, adjustable lengths from 16 to 31.5 inches | Shorter lengths, at the collarbone | Longer lengths, on the chest |
| Thread bracelet | Black or red braided cord | Left wrist, with bangles | Right wrist, or beside a watch |
| Ear cuff | Our trishul cuff comes as a single or a pair | With studs or small jhumkas | Alone, on one ear |
| Murki | Our unisex murkis come as a single or a pair | Paired with a stud in the same ear | One ear, on its own |
Adjustable rings have a range, not infinite stretch, so if either of you has very slim or very broad fingers, measure first; our guide to measuring ring size at home takes five minutes. For pendants, our necklace length guide shows where each length falls.
One piece, styled two ways
The serpent ring
The Snake Serpent Unisex Ring wraps an etched, scaled snake around the finger with head and tail meeting, about 3 g, and it is adjustable. On her, it stacks on the index finger next to a plain band. On him, it sits alone on the middle finger, where the scales read as texture rather than ornament.
The Om pendant
The Om Unisex Pendant is about 4 g, and its chain is sold separately. On a 16 to 17.5 inch Silver Box Chain it sits at her collarbone over a kurta neckline. On a longer box chain it drops under his shirt, out of sight at work and visible at the temple.
The trishul ear cuff
The Unisex Trishul Ear Cuff weighs about 1 g and comes as a single for the left ear or a pair. Buy the pair and split it. She wears hers with small studs; he wears his alone. Our guide to ear cuffs and ear clips explains how cuffs sit on the ear.
The unisex label is not proof of silver
Here is the part listings skip. Search for unisex couple rings and you will find plenty of stainless steel bands where "silver" is simply one of the colour options, next to gold and black. That is not dishonest, exactly. It is a colour description that most people read as a metal.
Look for 925 instead. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. Every Smith Jewels piece is stamped 925, and every order we send comes with an authenticity certificate confirming the silver is 925. Wherever you buy a couple ring, check three things: the 925 stamp on the ring itself, "925 sterling silver" written on the listing, and an authenticity certificate with the order. And remember that real silver tarnishes. If a "silver" couple ring is still mirror-bright after a monsoon, ask what it is made of.
Why I like giving unisex pieces
I like them because they remove the performance from gifting. Nobody has to pretend a piece was chosen "for a man" or "for a woman". It was chosen for that person, and the symbol carries the meaning.
I also like what happens after. Unisex pieces get borrowed: a sister might take her brother's thread bracelet for a wedding, or a husband might wear his wife's Om pendant on a longer chain for a puja. Our family has worked with silver since 1985, and solid 925 handles being passed between hands for years; it just needs a wipe with a soft cloth and a night in its pouch.
Frequently asked questions
What does unisex jewellery mean?
Unisex jewellery is designed to suit any wearer, regardless of gender. In practice that means a clean shape or a symbol rather than gendered decoration, a weight that feels right on both a man and a woman, and a fit that adjusts through an open ring band, a thread or a choice of chain length.
Can a man wear a ring sold as unisex?
Yes. A unisex ring is designed for any hand. Men usually wear one on the index or middle finger, where it reads as personal style rather than a wedding band. If the ring is adjustable, check that it opens wide enough for a broader finger before you gift it, especially for larger hands.
Are unisex rings adjustable?
Many are, because adjustability is what lets one design fit two different hands. Our Snake Serpent and OM unisex rings are both adjustable. An adjustable band has a range rather than unlimited stretch, so for very slim or very broad fingers, measure first and compare with the product page.
What is a good unisex gift for a couple?
Choose one symbol in two forms rather than a matching set. An Om ring for one partner and an Om pendant for the other works well, as does a pair of ear cuffs split between them. Shared symbols feel personal without looking like a uniform, and each person wears theirs their own way.
Choosing unisex jewellery you will both wear
The best unisex jewellery is real 925 silver, built around a symbol or clean shape, and flexible enough to fit two different people. Pick the piece first and the person second, and let each of you wear it your own way. Real Silver. Made to be worn every day.
