How are cufflinks used? What is the origin of their use? In this article, discover the history of men's cufflinks, the main characteristics of these jewels and how to wear them flawlessly for the most important occasions.
What are cufflinks
Cufflinks are double buttons used as an ornament, used to close the cuffs of men's shirts that do not have fixed buttons. In fact, cuffs of this type do not have a button and a buttonhole, but two buttonholes, and the cufflinks are used to connect the two edges of the cuff.This is the simplest description of men's cufflinks, but by continuing to read this article you will be able to discover many more details.
The history of men's cufflinks
The exact history of the birth of cufflinks is not very clear, however some convincing hypotheses can be formulated. The first known traces in the history of the use of cufflinks are found in England in the post-Renaissance period. At the time they were ornaments used by the upper middle class and the nobility, consisting of two buttons joined by a chain. Prior to that time, pins, straps or laces were used to close garments.
In 1600 the use of cufflinks became a real fashion among the nobles, who showed them off as representative elements of power and class, and commissioned jewelers from tailors and goldsmiths, who indulged themselves in creating personalized jewels of various materials and shapes for the most important worldly occasions.
Cufflinks were usually made of gold, silver and precious stones, but in the 1700s the use of another particular material, glass paste, also spread in the men's jewelery sector.
The use of cufflinks spread over time from England to France, arriving at the court of Versailles, where in 1788 the term "cufflink" was used for the first time. This ornament becomes a real must in the men's clothing of the nobility, a must-have as a precious accessory.
These jewels remained the prerogative of the wealthier social classes for a long time, until the industrial revolution. The latter changes many things in the world of clothing and fashion, and the use of men's cufflinks is no exception. In fact, these ornaments, since they could be mass produced at much lower costs, became of much more widespread use even in the lower social classes.
After the end of the Second World War, the use of cufflinks as an accessory for ceremonies and important occasions was now extremely reduced.
It was in the 80s that things changed: great designers re-proposed cufflinks on the catwalks as refined accessories, not only for elegant occasions but also for casual and even sports clothing, bringing these ornaments back into fashion.
The parts that make up a cufflink
But how is a cufflink made up today? Knowing its characteristics is very important to know how to take care of and wear these jewels, in order to always have an impeccable appearance.The structure of a cufflink is made up of three basic parts:
- Front face: it is the upper part of the cufflink, which can have different designs and decorations, even with precious stones or other precious materials
- Pin: This is the part that goes through the slot and connects the face of the cufflink to the clip
- Clip: this is the part of the cufflink that serves to close it, in fact connected to the pin it prevents the cufflink from coming out of the slot
How to wear cufflinks
Knowing the characteristics of jewels is very important and interesting, but it is necessary to know well how to wear them in order to be sure of not making mistakes and thus compromising our formal appearance.The fundamental precaution is to wear them on the right shirt, because not all of them are suitable for applying cufflinks. The shirt must have French cuffs, also called double cuffs, which instead of having a button and a buttonhole have two buttonholes.
This type of shirt with French cuffs is very elegant and lends itself well to being worn on the most important occasions, perfect for wearing during ceremonies such as a wedding.
French cuffs give a very formal look, moreover they are very rigid, and therefore not a suitable choice for less solemn situations or in which you want to be more comfortable. Another option is therefore to choose classic shirts with cuffs suitable for cufflinks, therefore with two buttonholes.
Whatever type of shirt you choose, you must always pay close attention to the size and length of the sleeve, since, to have an impeccable appearance, the cufflinks must protrude by the right amount. Therefore, make sure that the sleeve of the shirt is longer than that of the jacket by about one centimetre.
Cufflinks for men: choose the right cufflinks for a special occasion
There are many types of cufflinks, of various shapes and materials.Some precious metals that are used for men's shirt cufflinks are these:
- Cufflinks in Silver
- Cufflinks in Yellow Gold
- Cufflinks in White Gold
- Cufflinks in Gold and Ebony
- Cufflinks in Gold and Diamonds
Elegant cufflinks made with these materials can be worn in combination with the color of the watch and the details of other accessories of the look, such as other rings or necklaces.
Custom Cufflinks
An infallible way to make your look stand out is to create personalized cufflinks: in fact, with small and refined customizations entrusted to expert goldsmiths, cufflinks for men's shirts can become a unique and distinctive element that does not go unnoticed.If you want to be sure of choosing the most suitable elegant cufflinks for you, you can browse our online catalog to be inspired by our selection or contact the expert advice of our goldsmiths by visiting our Jewelery in Florence.
Our master goldsmiths are experts in the creation of personalized jewels, they will be able to advise you in choosing and create for you the creation of refined and elegant personalized jewels, made to make your special occasions perfect.
