Our selection of vintage cufflinks for men and women
How to choose vintage cufflinks?
In recent years, cufflinks have been making a comeback. The preserve of elegant men, they are a discreet piece of jewelry to fasten the cuffs of a shirt. Major jewelry brands have always produced luxury cufflinks. Cartier, Hermès, Dior, Dunhill, and Mont-Blanc are the most sought-after for their classic yet remarkable designs.
Traditionally, gold or silver cufflinks were adorned with their owner's initials. Over the years, more novelty emerged. Materials like enamel or mother-of-pearl and more colorful patterns brought a subtle touch of color to the bottom of shirt sleeves. Bee motifs, seals, and patterns like the four-leaf clover, a symbol of luck, are frequently used to embellish the surface of this piece of jewelry.
How to put on cufflinks?
Vintage cufflinks come with a variety of closures. Among the most practical models, the Hermès Chaîne d'encre cufflinks with fish closure are both simple to put on and refined. Chain closures are the oldest: they are seen on men's cufflinks from jewelry workshops. The two sides are strictly identical. Some stand out for their originality, like the Cartier Santos cufflinks; in solid silver, they feature the aviator's famous biplane, and the wings fold back to secure them.
Which shirt should you choose for luxury cufflinks?
Cufflinks are worn exclusively with shirts with French cuffs, which are twice as long as classic models and fold back on themselves. Plain or pinstriped shirts are recommended to highlight this accessory. Blue shirts pair very well with silver cufflinks. Mont-Blanc cufflinks, set with diamonds or made of steel, can be worn daily with printed shirts. Gold cufflinks are usually worn with a plain white shirt. You can reserve them for a ceremony (wedding or baptism) or a special event.
What accessories should you match your cufflinks with?
Traditionally, cufflinks are paired with a tie pin. Refined men can also match their vintage Dupont cufflinks to their iconic Ligne 2 lighter or the finish of their belt buckle, if not their pen. Dior cufflinks with the engraved logo can also be combined with a silk pocket square or a discreetly signed scarf. The art of wearing vintage cufflinks is all about discretion. It's about showing off without ostentation through the attention to detail in your outfit. Dunhill cufflinks in silver and gold plate have the advantage of being able to be worn with everything.
