Just as the tie replaced the cravat, cufflinks, which first appeared in 17th-century France, took over from the ribbons and lace that were once used to hold shirt sleeves and cuffs together. Originally made of gold or silver, sometimes set with precious stones, they were reserved for ceremonial dress.
Shirt makers therefore adapted the cuff, to which ribbons and lace used to be sewn, in favour of the French cuff. Made of a double cuff folded back on itself, into which the cufflink slides, the shirt sleeve can thus be easily closed while being enhanced by a fine accessory that shows it off.
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After enjoying its heyday in the early 20th century, the cufflink virtually disappeared from men's everyday lives once the button-cuff shirt arrived on the market. Jewellers nonetheless kept making them, creating genuine pieces of jewellery that the major haute couture houses brought back into fashion in the 1990s.
Since then, the cufflink has become widely accessible and turned into an essential accessory for any man who likes wearing a tie or a bow tie.
The cufflink, a must-have fashion accessory
Just like the bow tie, the cufflink is the height of refinement for a man. A true touch of elegance, it pairs perfectly with a black suit and a tie. It's best shown off on the French cuff of a white or coloured shirt, peeking elegantly out of a suit jacket sleeve. Whether you choose it in metal, gold, silver or even silk-knot form, your cufflink is the ideal fashion accessory for a chic, on-trend outfit. Today's shapes have moved on from the classic rectangular button. Now round, oval or even set with precious stones, it's now hugely popular with men who wear a suit.
The cufflinks guide will give you everything you need to know to choose your cufflinks:
- The origin of the cufflink.
- Who wears cufflinks today.
- What they're made of: steel, gold, silver or silk knot.
- The shape and size of the cufflink.
- The most beautiful cufflinks.
- And plenty of other topics.
How to choose your cufflinks
There are different types of cufflinks to choose from depending on the occasion: a wedding, a birthday, an evening out:
- Gold.
- Silver.
- Steel.
- Silk knot.
- Wood.
- Mother-of-pearl.
- Silk.
Each of these types comes in different themes:
- Wedding: more classic shapes and sizes.
- Quirky: superheroes, music, sport, animals, etc.
- Trend: watch-movement designs.
Choosing gold or silver cufflinks
These are generally the most expensive cufflinks. A pair of gold or silver cufflinks is very often produced by a jeweller. They can therefore be matched to your watch, tie clip or any other men's accessory. These cufflinks are sold by major jewellery designers. They can be set with precious stones, mother-of-pearl or even diamonds. Wearing a pair of gold or silver cufflinks on your wrist is a sign of refinement for a wedding or a major celebration.
Why not choose steel cufflinks?
Steel cufflinks are more affordable. They're generally metal-coloured or black. The shapes available for this fashion accessory are endless, and its style suits a younger man who likes wearing a tie with a matching clip perfectly well. Thanks to their neutral colour, cufflinks can be matched to a watch made of the same metal. Beyond your watch, you can of course also match the style of your cufflinks to your belt, tie clip, and why not a lovely buckle in the same steel as your shoes or belt. These are the small details that will make you an elegant, refined man.
Discovering silk-knot cufflinks
Passementerie, or silk-knot work, is the art of working threads of various thicknesses to create a fashion accessory. While this braiding technique was once reserved for household items, such as fringing on tablecloths, tassels, rosettes and other small clothing decorations, it quickly found its way into the world of cufflinks. The different threads allow for an endless range of colours, matched to the clothes being worn: the colour of the suit jacket, the dress or the bride's bouquet. Some shirts also have a cuff colour that differs from the body of the shirt. These silk-knot cufflinks are hugely fashionable today. Their price is accessible to everyone. The modern man can therefore build his own collection of cufflinks in varied colours, easily matched to his suit. The size of these silk-knot cufflinks varies from model to model. It's all a matter of taste.
Dare to wear wooden cufflinks with a modern suit
A natural material, wood is now used in the making of cufflinks. Made entirely by hand by certain craftspeople, these wooden designs are one-of-a-kind, top-quality pieces. Nothing replaces the skill of a small local maker based in France.
Some craftspeople harmoniously combine several types of wood to give your future cufflinks an inimitable look. Did you know you can also match them with a wooden bow tie? Here's a charming set, a world away from the classic metal cufflink and fabric bow tie.
Choose mother-of-pearl and metal cufflinks
If you can't afford gold or silver cufflinks, why not opt for a design where steel and mother-of-pearl are combined for the loveliest of effects? Mother-of-pearl gives off reflections in every colour and plays wonderfully with light. Some designers combine mother-of-pearl with steel through inlays of various shapes, creating unique pieces that pair beautifully with your shirt cuffs or your suit. Make sure the mother-of-pearl used is genuine and not a plastic imitation. Jewellers, being true professionals, will guarantee you a design that meets these conditions. Its price will vary depending on the size and amount of mother-of-pearl used in its making.
Silk cufflinks: delicate, but so refined
Silk is also used in making cufflinks. It forms a rounded button mounted on gold, silver or steel, with a small silk-covered padding set into its centre. These cufflinks can be cleaned with care, or taken to be dry-cleaned. They come with or without patterns, depending on the style you're after. For a refined look, pair them with a shirt and suit in a fine fabric.
Matching your cufflinks to your suit, waistcoat or shirt
It's worth knowing how to match your cufflinks to your shirt or your suit. To do this, first think about your choice of suit. It's based on its colour that you'll match your shirt and your cufflinks. Gold cufflinks stand out beautifully against a black suit, as well as against the cuffs of a white shirt. Coloured cufflinks also look wonderful. So feel free to try a quirky style in your outfit, with a humorous, on-trend, or even natural design, such as wooden cufflinks.
If you wear a sleeveless waistcoat over your shirt, and you're planning to take off your jacket at some point during the evening, take care to choose these two accessories to match in colour and style. A sleeveless waistcoat is ideal for cooler evenings. Wearing a matching bow tie, waistcoat, belt and cufflinks evokes a man of good taste.
Weddings, evenings out, work: there's always an occasion to wear cufflinks
You might think there are perhaps particular moments for wearing cufflinks. We'll see that today, this idea tends to be reversed. Plenty of men dress up their shirts, in various colours, with cufflinks of every style, depending on the evening ahead or the kind of day they have coming up. To find out when to wear cufflinks, simply follow your own instincts, and you'll see you can quite happily wear them every day.
At a wedding, it's common to ask the best men and close family members to wear a matching bow tie or tie over a smart shirt collar, or even a matching jacket pocket square and pair of socks. Why not also suggest they dress up their outfit with similar cufflinks? You'll just need to remember to contact your shirt maker or men's accessories shop early enough to be ready for the big day. Marking the day with a coordinated outfit always leaves the family and friends gathered around the couple with very fond memories.
For an evening out, try quirky cufflinks. As we saw above, choose a striking design: animals, superheroes, or, for something more refined, a design reproducing a watch movement. Guaranteed success!
When heading to the office or to see a client, why not dress up your shirt and tie with coloured cufflinks? Don't forget to match them to your tie clip too, for a perfect ensemble.
As for your shirt, we recommend choosing a French-cuff design from among the different types of collar available:
- A shirt with a French collar, for wearing either a bow tie or a tie.
- A shirt with an English collar.
- A shirt with a buttoned American collar, for a slightly more casual look.
- A shirt with a wing collar, ideal for a bow tie at a wedding.
These shirt styles are all available in a button version and a French-cuff version, with a hole for the cufflink to pass through.
To avoid any fashion faux pas, don't choose a shirt with a straight collar or a Mandarin collar, which can't be paired with either a tie or a bow tie. To really stand out, your cufflink should be complemented by other men's metal fashion accessories, such as a tie clip or a belt buckle. Also look at the shape of the shirt cuffs — some are straight, others rounded.
Storing, cleaning and caring for your cufflinks
As we've seen, there are countless designs of men's cufflinks. If you love this fashion accessory, why not turn it into a personal collection? Metal, silk knot, wood — everything is now possible. There are dedicated storage boxes that let you organise them by colour or style. This makes it easy to make your choice when the time comes. To find out how to look after your cufflinks, here are a few tips:
- Metal, mother-of-pearl, gold or silver cufflinks: they generally need little to no maintenance, except silver ones, which need regular cleaning with a suitable product to stop them tarnishing. Never use an abrasive sponge or brush, or you risk scratching them.
- Silk-knot or silk cufflinks: you can clean them with water and a mild soap. However, for silk cufflinks, we recommend dry cleaning.
- Wooden cufflinks: no maintenance needed. Above all, never get them wet, or you risk the wood discolouring, especially if your cufflink is made of several types of wood.
Wearing cufflinks every day: a very on-trend look
You're a man who takes care of his appearance. Cufflinks are now worn every day. More and more young men are making this choice, playing their part in the revival of this fashion, which had rather fallen out of favour in recent years. Knowing how to put on cufflinks isn't difficult. You'll need a shirt with a French cuff — that is, without a button, but with a hole for inserting the cufflink. Fold back the edge of the cuff, line up each hole, pinch the two layers of the cuff together and slide in the swivel head, taking care to keep the decorated side facing outward. Close it up, and your cufflink is fastened.
If you own a cufflink with a fish-tail-style closure, you'll simply need to fold down the swivelling part after lining it up with the hole in the shirt cuff.
Some designs have a small chain or a short, rigid post. Slide the two ends through your French cuff, one after the other.
Finally, other designs are known as reversible. The fastening is fixed and lets you enjoy two designs in a single cufflink. Wear whichever side takes your fancy. Practical, isn't it!
Why not give cufflinks, a tie and a smart shirt as a gift?
When you want to give a man a lovely shirt as a gift, why not also choose a pair of cufflinks? Buying cufflinks can be done in a specialist shop or online, where a number of sites offer top-quality products. If you'd like a higher-priced piece, to pair with a lovely shirt for an on-trend outfit, you could also visit a jeweller. If you're thinking of giving such a gift for a birthday, why not take the opportunity to buy a shirt, a tie and cufflinks all at once?
If your budget allows, we'd suggest giving a watch with a visible movement, paired with stunning cufflinks. This set, presented in a gift box, will look wonderful. This kind of design does come at a certain price, of course, since it's made using genuine watchmaking parts in the assembly and making of the cufflink.
For Father's Day, if your man likes wearing a shirt and tie in colour, think about a silk-knot design. This style comes in a range of colours, from the most classic to the brightest. This kind of cufflink isn't very expensive, so you could give several to start a small collection. Each child could also give their father a pair of cufflinks. It's a lovely family gift idea to complete your man's outfit.
Finally, if your eldest son is starting out in his career, think about giving him a shirt with matching cufflinks. Don't hesitate to go for a steel design, which is very fashionable right now. Maintenance-free and easy to wear, he'll be happy to wear it every day, whatever the colour of his shirt.
You now know more about this fashion accessory that's become fashionable again. So don't hesitate any longer to give cufflinks as a gift. They're perfect for the modern man who cares about his look.
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