Cufflinks

Many individuals may have inherited from their father, uncle, grandfather, etc., a pair or several pairs of men’s cufflinks wore at the end of their shirts by their wrists to close the opening. These pair of men’s clothing fasteners have been popular for many years with all types of styles. Check with relatives to see if they have any ancestors’ cufflinks, also check living relatives for their own personal collection of cuff links.

Cufflinks date back to the 17th century when men began using small chains that were fastened to the end of a gold or silver button in order to hold their shirt cuffs together (they originally used ribbons or ties). Over time, cufflinks became a sophisticated accessory in menswear, often worn with tuxedos and other formal attire.

Cufflinks were easy to mass-produce cheaply in the mid-1800s and became even more popular after the Industrial Revolution. At this time, chains were replaced with rods and fasteners that featured easy-to-close clips. In the 19th century and into most of the 20^th century, cufflinks became popular among businessmen of varying classes, thus expanding their use beyond just formal wear. This was when initials were added by engraving onto the cufflinks. If you have such cufflinks with initials, that is very special.

Styles, sizes and what cufflinks were made from varied for years. Even the backlink varied.

By the late 20th century, manufacturers began to produce dress shirts and tuxedo shirts with buttons on the cuffs, causing a reduction in the use of cufflinks. However, cufflinks remain popular today, although they are often seen as a luxury item to be worn for special occasions rather than for everyday wear.

Photo: Edwardian style, 1900, cufflinks with the back having the bean style.

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