Tag: Cufflinks

Twist at The Wrist: More than any off-the-cuff remark, customised cufflinks speak volumes about your sense of style

Cufflinks have been a staple in men’s fashion for centuries, serving as a functional and stylish way to secure shirt cuffs. When crafted from gold or platinum and embellished with precious stones, they are elevated beyond fashion statements to symbols of status, wealth and refinement. Less elaborate designs still spell sophistication and a sense of decorum. They come in a myriad of shapes, sizes and styles, and are a great choice of gifts for loved ones especially when customised through engravings or unusual ornamentation.

Jewelled buttons replaced ribbons in the 17th century as a mean to keep men’s shirt cuffs tidily in place. By the next century, shirts with double or French cuffs became the rage for noblemen, and ornate cufflinks as we know them today began to glint on wrists. Despite the popularity of buttoned shirt cuffs from the 1970s, cufflinks have retained their place when dressing with panache and for formal attire.

Bespoke cufflinks take this decorative and practical accessory to the next level, offering a unique, creative touch that reflects the wearer’s individuality. Services for bespoke cufflinks that embody elegance, sophistication and personalised style are available at a handful of shops in Hong Kong. Here, fine craftsmanship, quality materials and exclusive designs make these tiny but essential pieces of jewellery stand out in a crowd.

Ame Gallery

Named for the Latin word for love and soul, Ame Gallery is a showcase of contemporary fine jewellery by international and local designers. The pieces are curated by founder Anna Cheng, whose family has been in the jewellery business for four generations. UK jewellery designer Rachel Yeung is onsite to offer customers a bespoke design service.

Ame’s artistic selections, which are handcrafted using precious materials like gold, platinum, diamonds and gemstones, include exquisite, eye-catching cufflinks. Each pair reflects the unique style and personality of the artist, while the bespoke designs are a materialisation of clients’ needs. Established in 2011, the gallery is located in SoHo, Central, a hub of independent creativity in Hong Kong. The cosy, tastefully decorated space provides the perfect setting for appreciating the collections or working with their team to devise a special piece that reflects your individualism. ame-gallery.com

Dee Gogh

Founded by designer Carey Ip a decade ago, the Dee Gogh accessory collection is proudly handmade in Hong Kong. The business grew after Ip posted a few of her coin-led creations online and she soon built up a loyal customer base. Pieces have a regal style and embrace earrings, necklaces, bracelets and brooches as well as studs and cufflinks. Inspired by the history and heritage of coins, these distinctive accessories make memorable and sentimental gifts.

The cufflinks collection is especially strong because of the royal and noble connotations of each design. The pieces not only feature coins but also silhouettes of kings and queens. Beginning with a carefully selected coin, the cufflink is formed and tooled by hand using techniques perfected through many hours of trial and error. Whether made of silver, 14-carat gold filled or fine steel, it is skilfully shaped, cleaned and polished into a unique object that becomes a talking point whenever it is worn. deegogh.com

Haywards of Hong Kong

The father-and-son team behind Haywards of Hong Kong, a jewellery shop established in 2006, provides a combination of British bespoke service, French flair and Asian handicrafts. When Briton Paul Nazer began working for a French jewellery manufacturer in Vietnam, his ten-teenage son David cut his teeth in the factory’s casting room. Today, their collections of rings, necklaces and cufflinks are known for their exceptional craftsmanship, attention to detail and commitment to excellence. Each piece is carefully handcrafted using traditional techniques and is the result of careful conceptualisation, precision-cutting and meticulous assembly.

Haywards’ bespoke cufflinks feature an array of luxurious materials, including solid sterling silver, 18-carat gold, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, exotic woods and enamel. Their design process allows the customer to be involved in every step of creating the one-of-a-kind pair. Beginning with an idea, they work from rough sketches and photos, or adapt and combine existing styles to ensure that the finished jewel is exactly what the client imagined. haywards.com.hk

Imperial Bespoke Tailors

From its shop in the bustling neighbourhood of Tsim Sha Tsui, Imperial Bespoke Tailors – IB Tailors for short – has served tourists and locals for more than 30 years. They are best known for their made-to-measure topcoats, suits and dress shirts, but since cufflinks go hand-in-hand with a sophisticated tailored suit or tuxedo, these essential adornments can also be ordered by well-dressed clients.

IB offers a range of designer cufflinks, particularly pieces crafted from sterling silver. Their expert team also specialises in customisation by engraving or personalised styling. For the latter, they follow a simple four-step process from initial concept to handmade sketch to virtual design, followed by skilled production. Their designers will work with you to ensure the final cufflinks meet your requirements and can deliver your unique wrist accessories within four to six weeks. ibtailors.com

Bespoke cufflinks are a testament to a fusion of tradition and innovation. With exceptional craftsmanship, luxurious materials and talented designers, these tiny accessories make all the difference when dressing to impress. Whether you are looking to make a statement yourself or bestow a treasured present, bespoke cufflinks are the perfect choice.

Sleeve style: Make formalwear fun to wear with carefully-picked cufflinks

As most men would know, men’s formalwear has stood the test of time and changing fashion trends to remain a truly classic, timeless piece of clothing. But while wearing a suit never fails to get a nod of approval, some may say wearing formalwear is ‘playing it safe’, as it seldom leaves any room for experimentation. In fact, it is only the tiny cufflinks adorning the sleeves that give us any clue as to the wearer’s unique personality.    

Tateossian’s designs will appeal to the mechanical-minded man

However, cufflinks are not a recent trend. Far from it, actually. Originating in the 16th century, the first makeshift cufflinks were actually strings that were used to tie the sleeve ends in place. It was only when French King Louis XIV ascended the throne in 1643 that these functional items evolved as status symbols, with the nobler classes wearing bejewelled versions to show off their wealth and power.

Dior’s teddy bear cufflinks add a dash of cute to an outfit

Centuries later, cufflinks have shifted from being status symbols to fashion statements, adding a dash of individuality to an otherwise strict dress code. In fact choosing the right cufflink can not only add a touch of uniqueness to your suit, it can also add oodles of charm to your outfit.

Burberry’s signature check pattern will keep things classy

Gentlemen who prefer to keep things classic can choose time-honoured patterns like Burberry’s popular ‘House Check’, the very same print that is found on the underside of its famous trench coats. Those who like to shake things up a bit, however, may opt for something a bit more outré, like Prada’s futuristic robot motif or Tateossian’s mechanical designs.

Prada’s robot motif can lend a bit of futuristic fashion to your suit

Meanwhile, car lovers can wear their heart on their sleeves with Paul Smith’s racing car cufflinks, while those who want to evoke their youthful side may choose Dior’s Teddy Bear cufflinks that were re-introduced to celebrate the brand’s 70th anniversary.

Paul Smith’s racing cars are for speed lovers

Whatever your choice, there’s a cufflink for every mood and occasion – one that is sure to make your formalwear much more fun to wear.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Top 10 quirky cufflinks from our favourite luxury brands

Top 10 quirky cufflinks

Freshly polished shoes? Check! Perfectly tailored suite? Check! Quirky cufflinks? …

Much like the matching of shoes can help to elevate an outfit, or a coordinated pocket square adds a special touch to a suite, cufflinks, are an essential accessory of any well-groomed man’s wardrobe.

So what is the history behind this form of jewellery? The cufflink originally appeared in the early 1500s when prominent figures began wearing their shirts with ruffled wristbands tied together with strings. While this style remained popular until the 1800s, the early 1700s saw the introduction of gold and silver linked chains.

Legend says that the modern day cuff link was born through a character in the pages of Alexander Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, who wore large diamonds on his shirt cuffs. These sparked great envy and tailors quickly realised how important the details of a gentleman’s clothing could be.

It has become apparent through time that cufflinks carry more significance then their size would indicate. They represent a rare opportunity for men to display their personality through the use of accessories. While classic cufflinks represent elegance and refinement, quirky cufflinks embody an ability to stand out from the crowd.

For some added inspiration, we have rounded up a collection of the top ten quirky cufflinks from our favourite luxury brands.

Text: Hira Desai 

Images courtesy of:

Alexander McQueen
Cartier
Dior
Burberry
Gucci
Hermes
Louis Vuitton
Montblanc
Salvatore Ferragamo
Versace