To perfect your style, nothing beats cufflinks. They finish off your outfit and are guaranteed to give you a chic, distinguished look, just like a bow tie or a tie.
Cufflinks are a fashion accessory used to fasten the two ends of a shirt cuff together. While they serve a useful function, they're also a way to accessorise your outfit. Just as the collar of a dress shirt can be set off with a bow tie or a tie, the ends of your cuffs can be set off with cufflinks.
While a shirt-cuff fastener is generally made up of three parts (the visible face, the post and the back), there are different types of cufflinks offering a wider range of looks. It's just a matter of finding the ideal type of cufflink for your wedding outfit or even your work attire.
To help you choose the pair of cufflinks that best suits your needs, here are the different types of cufflinks, along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Fish-tail cufflinks
Fish-tail cufflinks are certainly the most common type of shirt-cuff fastener. They're widely stocked by menswear brands and specialist shops alike.
The fish-tail cufflink gets its name from the shape of its closure, which resembles a fish's tail. This type of cufflink has a visible face and a swivel closure that pivots to fasten the cufflink to the shirt cuff.
Thinking of choosing this type of cufflink? Here's what you need to know:
- Putting on a fish-tail cufflink: turn the back so it lines up parallel with the post. Once in place, turn it back to its original position (perpendicular to the post).
- Advantages of fish-tail cufflinks: they're very easy to find in shops. They're also mass-produced, which keeps the price affordable. They're also very easy to use.
- Disadvantages of fish-tail cufflinks: the only downside of this type of cufflink is the possibility of wear or even breakage from repeatedly moving the back to fasten them to your shirt cuffs.
Bullet-back cufflinks
The bullet-back cufflink is very similar to the fish-tail cufflink. Only the shape of the closure mechanism differs. Here, the closure mechanism is shaped like a bullet, which is where bullet-back cufflinks get their name.
Thinking of choosing this type of cufflink? Here's what you need to know:
- Putting on a bullet-back cufflink: to fasten your cufflink, make sure the post is parallel with the back.
- Advantages of bullet-back cufflinks: just like fish-tail cufflinks, they're easy to handle and widely available in menswear shops, keeping their price affordable.
- Disadvantages of bullet-back cufflinks: frequent use of the closure mechanism can weaken lower-quality cufflinks over time.
Chain-link cufflinks
Chain-link cufflinks differ from the previous two designs, as they have no closure mechanism at all. The two identically decorated faces of the cufflink are simply linked by a small chain.
This style of cufflink is a very traditional one. It could indeed be seen on men's outfits as far back as the Industrial Revolution.
Thinking of choosing this type of cufflink for a more traditional touch? Here's what you need to know:
- Putting on a chain-link cufflink: simply insert one of the two faces directly into the buttonhole of your shirt cuff.
- Advantages of chain-link cufflinks: no closure mechanism to break, and both faces of the cufflink are decorated for a more traditional style.
- Disadvantages of chain-link cufflinks: the chain design doesn't let you tighten or adjust your cuffs as you please, so the cuff will sit a little looser.
Ball-back cufflinks
Ball-back cufflinks have a rounded face and a ball-shaped lower end, linked to the face by a chain or a curved post.
For a classic touch to your wedding suit, this style is a great choice. Here's what you need to know:
- Putting on a ball-back cufflink: tilt the lower ball-shaped part and slide it through the cuff buttonholes.
- Advantages of ball-back cufflinks: no closure mechanism to wear out over time, and they add a classic touch to your style for a wedding or special event.
- Disadvantages of ball-back cufflinks: this style can be trickier to handle.
Stud-style cufflinks
On the same principle as ball-back cufflinks, stud-style cufflinks also have no closure or fastening mechanism, just an end linked to the face of the cufflink.
To accessorise a suit while keeping a discreet style, we recommend a pair of stud-style cufflinks.
- Putting on a stud-style cufflink: it's fitted much like a standard button, by sliding the lower end through the cuff opening.
- Advantages of stud-style cufflinks: they allow for patterns or colour on both faces of your cufflinks and are very hard-wearing.
- Disadvantages of stud-style cufflinks: they're a little trickier to fasten.
Double-action fastening cufflinks
For a more modern touch to your outfit, double-action fastening cufflinks are a great option. They're indeed the most sophisticated design, with a closure mechanism inspired by watch clasps.
For a modern look, we recommend double-action fastening cufflinks.
- Putting on a double-action fastening cufflink: lay it flat, insert it through the cuff openings, then swing the back up to lock it in place.
- Advantages of double-action fastening cufflinks: they add a modern touch to your style and offer a secure closure (the cufflink stays firmly in place).
- Disadvantages of double-action fastening cufflinks: you'll need to get used to the closure mechanism before it becomes easy.
Silk-knot cufflinks
Finally, you could also opt for a truly original pair of cufflinks: silk-knot cufflinks. This style is made up of two coloured silk knots linked by a cord.
They give a more relaxed touch to your outfit.
- Putting on a silk-knot cufflink: slide one of the two knots through the cuff opening.
- Advantages of silk-knot cufflinks: they're affordably priced and allow for a more relaxed style.
- Disadvantages of silk-knot cufflinks: they're more fragile.
We also recommend these other pages:
Discover our best sellers: {productsoncms_2}