Finding an affordable gift for a man can be surprisingly difficult. You want something better than another bottle of wine or pair of socks, but buying jewellery can quickly become expensive and rings come with the added problem of needing to know his size.
A handmade sterling silver tie bar sits in a rather useful middle ground. It is genuine jewellery, it can last for years, it doesn't require a ring size and it can be worn for work, weddings and other occasions where a suit makes an appearance.
For someone looking for an affordable jewellery gift for a man that still feels considered, an Australian-made tie bar is hard to beat.
Why does a tie bar make such a good gift for a man?
The best gifts usually manage two things at once: they feel special when they are opened and they are actually useful afterwards.
A tie bar does both. Its practical job is to secure a tie to a shirt, but it also adds a small piece of jewellery to an outfit without asking the wearer to become Mr T.
It is particularly useful when you are buying for a man who doesn't normally wear much jewellery. A ring, bracelet or pendant can feel like a significant style decision. A tie bar is much easier. If he owns a suit and wears a tie occasionally, he already knows where it goes.
If you're interested in the mechanics rather than the gift question, we've covered that separately in our guide to what tie bars are for and how they work.
You don't need to know his ring size
This may be the most underrated advantage of buying a tie bar as a surprise.
Buying a ring without knowing someone's size involves detective work, educated guessing or ruining the surprise by asking. A tie bar removes that problem completely.
There is no finger to measure, no chain length to choose and no concern that the recipient will need to exchange it because it doesn't fit.
That makes a tie bar particularly useful for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, work milestones, Father's Day and Christmas as well as gifts for grooms and groomsmen.
How much should you spend on a men's jewellery gift?
There isn't a correct amount. The better question is what you are getting for the money.
A cheap mass-produced tie clip can certainly do the basic job of holding a tie in place. If that is all you want, there are plenty available.
Handmade jewellery is a different proposition. You are paying for the material, the design and the time and skill of an identifiable jeweller rather than simply buying another factory-made accessory.
At Lord Coconut, the Bop Men's Tie Bar by Melbourne jeweller Aimee Sutanto is currently $190. It is handmade to order in sterling silver and measures approximately 46mm long by 3.5mm wide.
That puts a genuine piece of handmade Australian jewellery within the sort of budget many people consider for a significant birthday, anniversary, graduation or wedding gift, without moving into the price territory of many larger pieces of jewellery.
Sterling silver or a cheap mass-produced tie clip?
There is nothing inherently wrong with an inexpensive tie clip. But there is a difference between buying something because it clips a tie to a shirt and choosing something because you want to give it as a gift.
Sterling silver gives a tie bar the material qualities of jewellery rather than simply being a plated fashion accessory. More importantly, when it is handmade by an individual jeweller, you know who designed and made it.
That distinction matters if the gift is marking an important occasion.
The recipient isn't simply getting a useful object. He is getting a piece made by an Australian jeweller that can continue to be worn years after the birthday, wedding or anniversary that prompted the gift.
We've explored that distinction in more detail in why buying handmade jewellery is different from buying mass-produced jewellery.
Can a tie bar be personalised?
Yes and this is where a relatively small piece of men's jewellery can become a particularly personal gift.
Aimee Sutanto's Pinch Men's Tie Bar is handmade in Melbourne from sterling silver and can be personalised with two initials of your choice.
It is approximately 50mm long and currently $240.
Those two initials might be his own, the initials of a couple, or simply letters that have personal meaning. It turns a practical accessory into something that belongs specifically to him without covering it in an enormous message that everyone at the wedding reception needs to read.
For more on this option, see our guide to personalised tie bars.
Are tie bars good wedding and groomsmen gifts?
They can be particularly good ones.
A tie bar can be worn on the wedding day and then used again afterwards, which gives it an advantage over wedding accessories that spend the rest of their lives in the back of a drawer.
For the groom, a handmade tie bar can become part of his wedding outfit and a keepsake from the day. For groomsmen, matching or related tie bars can create a connection between the group without requiring everyone to wear identical jewellery forever after.
A personalised design such as Pinch also allows the gift to be individualised while retaining a consistent look across the wedding party.
Just remember that handmade takes time. Both the Bop and Pinch tie bars are made to order, so allow approximately three weeks for them to be made and posted.
Why choose an Australian-made tie bar?
Buying Australian-made jewellery means there is a real maker behind the piece.
Both Bop and Pinch are handmade to order in Melbourne by Australian jeweller Aimee Sutanto.
That maker connection is part of what separates handmade jewellery from an anonymous accessory produced in large quantities. Small variations can occur because each piece is individually made rather than stamped out to look exactly like the one before it.
If Australian craftsmanship is important to you, we've also looked at Australian-made tie bars and craftsmanship separately.
So, is a tie bar a good affordable gift for a man?
Yes particularly if you want to give jewellery without needing to know his ring size or spend the amount associated with a substantial ring, bracelet or precious-metal piece.
A handmade sterling silver tie bar offers a useful combination: it is small enough to remain relatively accessible, substantial enough to feel like a proper gift and practical enough to be worn again.
Choose something like Bop if you want a clean, contemporary Australian-made design with a little personality. Choose Pinch if the occasion calls for something more personal and you want to add two initials.
Either way, it beats panic-buying another pair of socks.
Explore Lord Coconut's Australian-made men's tie bars
Frequently asked questions
What is an affordable jewellery gift for a man?
A sterling silver tie bar can be an affordable way to give genuine jewellery without moving into the cost of many rings, bracelets or gold pieces. It is particularly useful as a surprise because you don't need to know the recipient's ring size.
Why does a tie bar make a good gift?
A tie bar combines a practical purpose with jewellery design. It can be worn for work, weddings and formal occasions, doesn't require sizing and is small enough to suit men who don't normally wear much jewellery.
How much should I spend on a tie bar?
There is no set amount. Consider the material, how the piece is made, whether it can be personalised and who made it. At Lord Coconut, the handmade sterling silver Bop tie bar is currently $190 and the personalised Pinch tie bar is currently $240.
Is sterling silver better than a cheap tie clip?
They serve the same basic practical purpose, but they are different products. A sterling silver tie bar handmade by an individual jeweller is a piece of jewellery designed to be kept and worn over time, whereas inexpensive mass-produced tie clips are generally made primarily as fashion accessories.
Do I need to know someone's size to buy him a tie bar?
No. Unlike a ring, a tie bar doesn't require you to know the recipient's finger size, making it much easier to buy as a surprise.
Can a men's tie bar be personalised?
Yes. The Pinch Men's Tie Bar by Aimee Sutanto can be personalised with two initials of your choice. The initials are supplied in the comments section when ordering online.
Are tie bars good groomsmen gifts?
Yes. A tie bar can be worn as part of the wedding outfit and then used again for work, formal events and future weddings. Personalised tie bars can also give each groomsman an individual keepsake.
Are Lord Coconut tie bars Australian made?
The Bop and Pinch tie bars featured here are handmade to order in Melbourne, Australia, by Australian jeweller Aimee Sutanto.
How long should I allow when ordering a handmade tie bar?
The Bop and Pinch tie bars are made to order. Allow approximately three weeks for the tie bar to be made and posted, plus delivery time.