Absolutely timeless, classic, tasteful and conservative cufflinks?

• Jan 10, 2015

• #1

Abraham

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I am looking for some absolutely timeless, classic, tasteful and conservative cufflinks. Cufflinks that appeal to both the connoisseur and the layperson alike. Are there some "standards" out there that are always in good taste?

I have a pair of inherited silver Tiffany "knots" and a pair of simple gold "balls" and I would like to add more to my collection.

I would also like to get others' input on wearing french-cuffed shirts for business? I only wear white dress shirts and I was thinking about slowly transitioning over to only french cuffs? Thanks.

 

• Jan 10, 2015

• #2

Rabbit

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Timeless, classic, tasteful and conservative would mean the simplest of designs made in the most usual choice of materials - gold-plated or mother-of-pearl, or onyx. MOP/onyx cufflinks could be plain, or cased in metal. Flat links are probably the most subtle, although any simple three-dimensional design is fine, like knots or teardrops/balls. Flat ones have the advantage of never clacking on the desk or keyboard while writing.
Chain connection would be the pre-war standard and remains the simplest system.

There are other very nice designs that are tasteful, like geometric patterned enamel cufflinks. They're more closely related to the pre-war fashions, though. If you want "timeless" to mean the entire 20th century, I'd say go for gold(-plated) or MOP or onyx.
Silver is fine, too, of course.

 

• Jan 11, 2015

• #3

Abraham

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Thanks for responding. MOP and onyx for business as opposed to formal wear?

 

• Jan 11, 2015

• #4

TSP13

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Abraham said:

Thanks for responding. MOP and onyx for business as opposed to formal wear?

Click to expand...

I have a pair of pearl cuff-links that always look sharp. I've always thought of them as versatile.

 

• Jan 11, 2015

• #5

Shangas

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Most of my cufflinks are gold. I reckon they're fairly classic/timeless. They're all vintage. Modern steel cufflinks hold no interest for me.

 

• Jan 11, 2015

• #6

Rabbit

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Abraham said:

Thanks for responding. MOP and onyx for business as opposed to formal wear?

Click to expand...

No, MOP and onyx as in formal wear. Some designs look like they're specifically made for a dinner suit, though, and not for lounge suits. However, that would be a personal interpretation. Generally speaking, you can wear plain MOP or onyx cufflinks for both occasions.

For formal wear, choosing the simplest of designs in cufflinks is mandatory; for street clothes, it's optional. In formal wear, MOP or onyx cufflinks and studs are often preferred over gold etc. because they don't glitter. Onyx became popular after WWII; before the war, MOP was a frequent choice, with or without metal casing.
Personally, I think MOP cufflinks for daywear in flat shape, with or without casing, are fine. Plain onyx, not so much. MOP and onyx combined into a pattern is often found, though; I'm fairly certain it was intended for street clothes.

I would suggest either gold or MOP cufflinks for street clothes, in any simple shape you like - flat shape, knots, balls,...

 

Last edited: Jan 11, 2015

• Jan 11, 2015

• #7

Flat Foot Floey

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This are three pairs I would consider to fit into your description. I think they are from the 30s. This means they are not too big and flashy yet they have some decorative details that are quite pleasing to the eye. Mother of pearl inserts or fine engraved pattern. They certainly work with daywear and not formal.

My personal favourite are snap cufflinks. Sometimes they are also called Kum-Apart after one brand that sold them. Invented (and popular) in the 1920s they are quite distinctive but still elegant. You can put them in before you put on the shirt. Having two equally beautiful sides instead of a neutral toggle is another plus. I have collected them for years now.

 

• Jan 12, 2015

• #8

David Minton

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Personally, I wear simple mother of pearl discs for business, but I don't put a lot of thought into it.

 

• Jan 19, 2015

• #9

Shangas

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For what it's worth, here are my antique gold cufflinks.

 

• Jan 19, 2015

• #10

Edward

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If you're not averse to wering something in a silvertone for daywear, there are plenty of perfectly decent modern cufflinks to be had fairly cheaply from many gentlemen's outfitters; it's not hard to avoid the novelty stuff. As to wearing double-cuffs and links for business, at least from a UK perspecitive, if wearing a collar and tie isn't OTT where you work, it's not an issue. Certainly it's very common in City law firms, which are far from known for flamboyance of dress.

 

• Jan 19, 2015

• #11

stratcat

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I wore french cuffs everyday to work for years and have returned to wearing them again this year with my return to some sort of proper dress-sense!
Normal cuffs just feel so limp by comparison now.

I have a couple of subtle novelty links but mine tend to be fairly subtle affairs - silver metal with a coloured glass insert (vaguely colour matched to my clothes/tie) or plain gold or silver metal.

 

• Jan 19, 2015

• #12

Edward

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Buttoned, barrel-cuffs have their place; I like them when wearing a collar and tie more casually, such as with an A2 or a halfbelt, but they're definitely justg not quite the same with a suit.

 

• Jan 20, 2015

• #13

Warlord of The Weejuns

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Cincinnati

I consider the double knot (gold) cufflinks as a traditional style. I wear them when I want to convey that impression.

 

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• Jan 20, 2015

• #14

Edward

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My favourite style of cufflink back is the fixed stalk, though most of mine are the more common stalk with rotating bar type. I do have a 30s pair with an early variant of the latter.

 

• Mar 31, 2017

• #15

101 Pathfinder

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I love cuff links and because of that 90% of my dress shirts are French Cuff and fitted. The links I'm wearing to are my favorites as I'm also a vintage watch guy. The movement in these cuff links actually work!

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• Apr 13, 2017

• #16

101 Pathfinder

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Columbus,Ga

Today's cuff links are pocket watches and yes, they really do keep time and work!!

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