There was a time when ornate jewelry was only reserve for the most elegant and luxurious of women. But these days, thanks ironically to the rise of hip-hop culture, more and more men are seeking out ways in which they can stand out with high-end accessories. Some culture observers have called this the "Diddy Effect," in reference to Sean "P-Diddy" Combs, a hip-hop producer known for his lavish lifestyle. His trends were taken up by other musicians, who try to buy more and more jewelry and in many cases, the finest in men's watches.

When you look at high-end watches, there are many types, including military watches and Italian-made watches. Men who are looking for a glamorous edge in their race with their friends and peers have been seeking out very specific military watch brands, which sometimes go for up to five figures. Watches like Panerai Luminor Watches, Panerai Radiomir, the IWC Watch and the IWC Portuguese Watch are among the best. The U Boat Watches, and specifically the U Boat Flightdeck Watch, are popular with businessmen, pro athletes and entertainers.

These men chasing after the Diddy lifestyle aren't limiting themselves to watches those, some of them are draped in diamond-encrusted jewels, while other go for expensive suits and even more expensive cufflinks.

And none of these luxuries come without a substantial investment. When a man is looking at the best in military watches and military watch brands, he will often be paying more than $10,000 for some of the top of the market. Watches like the Panerai Luminor Watches and the Panerai Radiomir are expensive, but have become status symbols across many of the leading professions of men. The same can be said for U Boat Watches (including the U Boat Flightdeck Watch) and the IWC watch (including the IWC Portuguese Watch).

Since this is called the Diddy Effect by some, you can't overlook what a impact the purchase of this high-end 'bling' by sports and entertainment celebrities has had on men. While men may dismiss whether or not they look at celebrities as fashion role models, you can't discount the changes in hairstyle (George Clooney's Caesar cut, perhaps?) and footwear (Air Jordan, anyone?) over the years. Look at some of the other men who have become fashion icons, like Pierce Brosnon, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Johnny Deep. In the world of sports, it seems like every other NBA player, like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal, not to mention footballer David Beckham, is wearing a cutting-edge suit with the best in watches and jewels. And, even if you are a man, you know that they look good.

Now, with more and more luxury in music videos and wore by athletes during pre-game and post-game interviews, men can be safe in feeling they need to look that good, too. It may just be a trend, but for the investment and the return with such a great piece of jewelry, suit or watch, it may just be worth it. Just like women, men should buy a few really great pieces that they know they can hold onto forever - and even pass onto their kids.