When it comes to accessories for the young fashionable gent, cufflinks are seeing a resurgence in popularity. Not only do they bring a certain je ne sais quoi to a smart work or occasion wear outfit, but they can also be an expression of the wearer’s individual personality.
Similarly, if you’re buying a gift for the man in your life, what better way is there to give them something really personal and which will be kept for a lifetime than to buy them a bespoke set of cufflinks from your local independent jeweller? Your local jewellery shop will be able to advise further on cufflinks, but here’s why we can’t get enough of them:
Origins of cufflinks
The ruffle-cuffed shirts of the 16th century are where cufflinks can be traced back to as these were finished with small openings on either side of the wristband which were tied together with ‘cuff strings’. Then, during the reign of Louis XIV, shirt sleeves started to be fastened with boutons de manchette, or ‘sleeve buttons’ which consisted of coloured glass buttons jointed together by a short chain.
By 1715, this had given way to paste-glass buttons consisting of two decoratively painted or jewelled studs connected by gold links, thus giving birth to the modern format of the cufflink. Your local jeweller will be able to recreate such a traditional cufflink if required, or, if you’re after a more modern look, why not look below for inspiration?
Unusual cufflink ideas
Your local jewellery shop will stock a variety of cufflinks, of course. But if you’re after some inspiration, how about trying some of these ideas on for size? How about having a map of somewhere meaningful shrunk to fit a small cufflink frame? Or have cufflinks made from tiny watch faces? Cufflinks can also be made from Scrabble tiles, Lego bricks and even Rubix Cubes, so if you want something to remind you of childhood days gone by, these are a good choice.
Lucky dice could be given to the man that likes to take a gamble, whereas silver cufflinks imprinted with a baby’s fingerprint make a lovely gift for a new father. A local jeweller will be able to help you to find something which exactly matches the personality involved!
Bespoke cufflinks
Remember that your local independent jeweller will be able to create some bespoke cufflinks just for you or your recipient. These could be anything that takes your fancy, from links shaped like musical notes through to cufflinks designed to look like egg timers or even spirit levels! Similarly, if you’ve got some antique cufflinks which have been passed down to you, why not ask your local independent jeweller to give them a spruce up or a fix? This will give them a new lease of life, allowing you to wear a sentimental piece of jewellery again. The only limit is your imagination when it comes to cufflinks, just ask your local jeweller!
