A History of Cufflinks – and How To Sell Them

Cufflinks have been used as a fashion accessory by men, and women, all over the world for many centuries and have a long and varied history.  Indeed, according to the National Cufflink Society, evidence of their use has been found in ancient hieroglyphics in Tutankhamun’s tomb!

Prior to the 13th century pins, strings and belts were used to fasten garments but when fitted clothes became popular buttons became the fastener of choice.  However, during the early 17th century noblemen used ribbons, known as cuff strings, to tie the lace cuffs of their shirts.  This was considered both elegant and very much a status symbol.  By the end of the century jewelled or decorated buttons connected by a chain were also being used to fasten the cuffs and what had been considered a matter of practicality became an opportunity for adornment and individualism.  The buttons were expensive to make and therefore only available to the wealthy and privileged.

The Industrial Revolution saw the advent of precious metal electroplating and by the start of Queen Victoria’s reign the middle classes were able to purchase less expensive replicas of the cufflinks.  They became even more affordable when an American, George Krementz, invented a machine enabling production of one-piece buttons and cufflinks.  What was once enjoyed solely by the wealthy became accessible to all.  The 1920s were probably the height of cuff-link invention when manufacturers created a variety of devices and designs allowing the cufflinks to be fitted with a minimum of difficulty.

During the 1970s shirts with built in buttons replaced cufflinks to a large extent but fortunately the foresight of the haute couture brands kept the cufflink tradition alive and by the 1990s their influence had spread to a younger generation, who now view their cufflinks as an essential accessory!

How to choose your cufflinks

With thousands of different cufflinks of all shapes and sizes available it may seem like an impossible task for your customer to choose a pair, or for you to select a collection for your shop, so here are a few tips to help.

Classic and contemporary cufflink collections are a good choice for menswear shops, tailors, suit hire and wedding hire as they offer a smart selection for grooms, guests and those looking to find the finishing touch to a formal outfit.

Cufflinks are often worn to formal events, so coordinating cufflink material and colour with an outfit or other jewellery – perhaps to a gold or silver watch, a wedding band or a set of dress studs can be very effective.  Matching sets of cufflinks, ties, dress studs and tie bars creates a stylish look.

Themed or novelty cufflinks have become increasingly popular over the years.  Cufflinks with sports, animals, music, professions, hobbies and comedy themes are good for less formal occasions and casual wear.  These themed cufflinks are often the preferred choice for gift shops, boutiques and jewellers as they offer a gift solution for the man or woman who has everything!

 

Customers looking for something really special may wish to choose a precious metal cufflink.  Sterling Silver is a popular choice being a contemporary metal and available in a wide range of cufflink designs.  Yellow and white gold cufflinks are also available in a range of carats or for something a little different – platinum or gunmetal.  You can also find cufflinks featuring precious and semi-precious stones and gemstones.  These are well suited to jewellers as they cater well for anniversaries and christenings, for example – ruby set cufflinks are perfect if your customer is looking for a ruby wedding anniversary gift.

A few retailers are now creating personalised or custom cufflinks, often with engraving of your choice, or featuring a message, photo or fingerprint.  These add a lovely touch of personality to a gift or accessory so look out for this service, or for plain cufflinks that can be engraved.

Lastly, when choosing a cufflink or a cufflink supplier, do not get too fixed on finding a bargain.  Price often reflects quality so look out for a quality guarantee, good reviews and a supplier offering a nice presentation box that will help keep your cufflinks lasting a lifetime.

How we can help…