Men's British Cufflinks

Cufflinks are decorative fasteners typically used to secure the cuffs of dress shirts. They serve both a functional and aesthetic purpose, replacing buttons and adding a touch of style to formal or semi-formal attire. Cufflinks consist of two parts: a decorative front piece and a closure mechanism. The decorative front piece can come in various shapes, designs, and materials, such as metal, precious metals like gold or silver, gemstones, enamel, or even novelty shapes and designs. The closure mechanism may include a swivel bar, a hinged toggle, or a chain link that passes through the cuff holes to hold the cuffs together.

To wear cufflinks, you first slide the decorative front piece through the holes on both sides of the shirt cuff, with the design facing outward. Then, you secure the closure mechanism to hold the cufflinks in place, ensuring that the cuffs are neatly fastened.

Cufflinks only need to be worn with shirts that do not have a buttoned cuff. Today, cufflinks are primarily worn for aesthetic reasons as most shirts have buttons on the cuff of the sleeve that serve the same function as cufflinks.

Cufflinks became a common accessory within gentlemen’s clothing during the 1600 and 1700s. Before cufflinks, men would often tie their shirt cuffs together with ribbons, but cufflinks quickly became far more fashionable. Early cufflinks were usually made of gold or silver and featured precious gemstones.