JEWELRY Guys get some options from designer pieces

Whether your man can wear them is another story.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
MIAMI -- Let's just get this out in the open: Jewelry almost always becomes a women but it rarely does a man.
As a general rule, only a wedding band looks hot on a guy -- and only if he's your own husband.
But, as with any rule, there are exceptions. If you want to reciprocate this holiday season with jewelry for "him," there are a few designers whose pieces in silver, gold or leather don't look half bad. Now, whether your guy can wear them with the proper cool is another story.
Neiman Marcus has a lot of options when it comes to men's jewelry. Designer Kerry MacBride has a few handsome hammered silver pieces, one in the shape of an arrowhead on a black leather cord, for $125.
And famed designer John Hardy uses oxidized silver to give designs a hint of ruggedness. Drawing heavily on inspiration from Bali, the Canadian designer recently offered a handsome silver link bracelet for $350 and boxy silver cross pendant on a black leather cord for $100, through Neiman Marcus, as well.
Greek designer Konstantino Sioulas is showing a series of "dog tags" whose smooth, silver pendents have a bit of ornamentation. The pendants cost up to $195; leather cords are an additional $45, also at Neiman Marcus.
And David Heston's pieces, another Neiman exclusive, are interesting, particularly his interlocking silver ring, which appears more like a spiral, for $180. Heston suspends many of his designs with black rubber, but that doesn't make them less expensive.
Designer David Yurman's titanium rings are sleek and unimposing. They'll probably appeal to the tech-y guy.
Choices for her
Buying jewelry for women comes with a different problem, namely, the overabundance of choices. Plenty of boutiques offer pretty or quirky pieces, so there's no need to play it safe at a major department store.
One reliable arbiter of taste is the boutique at the Raleigh Hotel (1775 Collins Ave., Miami Beach). While the shop has only a small selection, its items are unusually well chosen. Recently, the Raleigh boutique's least expensive pieces were by Wendy Mink, whose big, blue, plastic earrings cost $95; her chandelier earrings with garnets were $198.
A cuff-like bronze bracelet by Miguel Ases, entirely filled with carnelian and other semi-precious stones, was $490. An array of earrings by Alexis Bittar ranged from $113 to $420.
Versace, of course, is always represented, usually with something clunky, bold and gold. But customers buy a lot of delicate items, too, said boutique manager Christina Evans.
Very popular
"Every time we get something in here that's pearl based, we sell out immediately," Evans said. "And gold- and brass-colored things have been really popular."
Intermix (634 Collins Ave., Miami Beach) is good for striking pieces, particularly necklaces, although prices are generally over $100. Here, you're paying mainly for design. Also in South Beach is Mia, a tiny store that stocks a huge range of items, from ethnic necklaces to Italian bracelets (1439 Alton Rd., Miami Beach).
The International Jewelry Exchange (18861 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura, Fla.) has a wide variety, but be prepared to sort through many a ho-hum piece.
Don't forget the museum shops, always good for oh-so-artsy items. The gift shop at the Miami Art Museum (101 West Flagler St., Miami) recently had necklaces from maverick artists. There's also jewelry to be had at the Wolfsonian Museum (1001 Washington Ave., Miami Beach), the Bass Museum (2121 Park Ave., Miami Beach) and the Museum of Contemporary Art (770 NE 125th St., North Miami).