Hypothetically speaking, if a man you barely know notices you staring at his belt buckle, should you defuse any possible awkwardness by brightly chirping, “Nice belt buckle!” or does that just cement in his mind the fact that you were focused intently on his belticular region?
Also, is it better or worse to follow his, “Er, thank you,” with the question, “Is it malachite?”
Hypothetically, that is.
No, really. I’m asking.
macbebekin.wordpress.com 
Of coure you COULD have stuck your hand out and asked “Can I touch it?”. Just to clarify things for him.