Cufflinks and Tie Tacs

[Dr. Shocker]

So if this as already been visied many appologies.....

I have noticed recently Cufflinks are making a comeback.....I for one have loved them since I inhereted my great grand fathers when I was in Jr. high......since then I have collected some 20+ pairs ranging from flashy/ silly to classic/elegent

I was wondering how many of you collect them or just avoid the issue all together

I would post pics but have no dig camera

 

[Brad Bowers]

Over the past year, I've gotten into cufflinks and French-cuff shirts. Until last month, my cufflinks were all new, but when I was in Scottsdale visiting my dad in December, he noticed I wore cufflinks and gave me a pair of his that his mother had given to him when he was young. They are a nice gold pair with the initial "B" on them. Best gift I've gotten in a long time.

Brad

 

[Pen Collector]

I wear them...

I have about 10 pair. Some I have bought new and have purchased previously owned cuff links in thrift stores. Some of the ones I have bought at thrift stores are very nice and for a good price.

I wear mine every time I dress up to go to church or to a party or whenever I just I want to look dressy.

French cuff shirts ARE making a come back. It is easier to find them now then it was a few years back.

 

[The Wingnut]

I have very specific tastes when it comes to cufflinks. I'm incredibly picky about the design, I prefer retangular designs with stones or streamline deco designs. Thankfully, they're easy to find and cheap, especially on eBay. I have three pair, 2 from the late '40s, both made by Swank - these are silver with onyx and gold with tiger eye, boths sets are faux and have the neat flat mesh that goes around the outside of the cuff and attaches on the backside. The third pair I picked up as a set with shirt studs, they're made by Lavico and are gold filled settings, with dark mother of pearl. The cut is quite nice, a peaked octagonal geometric design. VERY deco, I'd guess at either '20s or early '30s. I suspect the chased edging around the mother of pearl is platinum, as it did not need much polishing and had little if any tarnish on it.

Got them all off of eBay. I have only one french cuffed shirt other than my tuxedo shirt, light blue with contrasting white collar.

 

[LetterJ]

Heh. I mentioned cufflinks to a couple of friends and family before Christmas and found myself with 3 pairs of cufflinks, 2 tie tacks and 1 tie clip as gifts this year. Made me go out and buy another french cuffed shirt. Hate it when that happens.

Of course, I didn't get the brown suspenders I asked for, so I'm going to have to go buy those as well.

 

[Buick Mackane]

As far as "getting one of those wafers through four layers of buttonholes one-handed," can't you just put them in before you don your shirt and then wiggle your hand through the cuff?

Latey I've been wearing more French-cuff shirts as well. I have a small collection of cufflinks, tie tacks, and necktie bars from both of my grandfathers. While taking my girl out on the town last night, I was dressed up to have dinner at this fancy local joint and after being seated at the table she quickly took note of my vintage cufflinks. She remarked that not many men know how to dress anymore and she wanted to know exactly how such an odd device kept my shirt cuffs together. It was quite funny explaining the whole thing to her! It was also nice of her to notice such a detail.

 

[Buick Mackane]

Yeah, I have small hands myself and it is sometimes tough for even me to squeeze my hand into a "snapped" French-cuff.

Such a dapper site you guys all have here! I think I'm going to enjoy this place. Glad to meet you all.

 

[Canadave]

Unfortunately, I inherited from my father a prejudice against swivelbacks...I have to admit, though, that although the "post" types are not bad...the "link" types are a blasted nuisance to put on.

What is the difference between what you are calling swivelbacks and the "post" type. I can think of two types...one where the post stabs through, then swivels to form a "t". Is this a swivel or a post? The link, I presume is where both sides look similar, and are held together with a couple of small links? You have to push on of the sides (or wafers, as you call them) through?

Which do you wear?

I'll post a couple pics later...maybe that will spur others on!

David

 

[Canadave]

Thanks, that clarifies it. I've seen the post-type...I forgot about them. The "monkey's fists" too.

Here are a couple of mine. Sorry about the poor photo quality.

Swivel type, two views. These are from Brooks Brothers and were inexpensive ($35).

Below are my sentimental favourites. I received them as a gift from my paediatrician for my Bar Mitzvah over 30 years ago. They are gold and have my monogram engraved in them. Both sides are the same (except for the initials), so I have to thread the oval convex disk through 4 layers of fabric, as Old_Hat describes. Not easy but worth it.

Old_Hat, do you have any of the cuffs that receive cufflinks that aren't French...just like a regular cuff with no buttons and two buttonholes?

David

 

[Canadave]

...The gold pair is especially elegant and timeless...

Exactly! Thank you.

I've seen them once or twice, but never owned a shirt with them. I wonder if cufflinks would ride properly, especially heavier ones? I'd think the fabric of the cuffs would have to be pretty heavy, or reinforced, to pull it off. Most cufflinks seem to be "spaced" for four layers, I'd hate to have them flop around.

Very good points. I've never actually seen one, but when I was fitted for my custom shirt*, that type of cuff was one of the options.

David

*I've received the shirt, and will post a follow-up with pics soon.

 

[LetterJ]

All of the shirts I've gotten from MySuitShop have had either french cuffs or the hybrid cuffs with both buttons and the extra buttonhole for cufflinks.

I've only worn cufflinks with a couple of them, but find that the cuffs not only fit and move just fine, but that, with the extra weight on the sleeve, they tend to hang better and I don't need to adjust my sleeves as much to keep the little bit showing out the end of the jacket sleeves.

 

[AlanC]

Just took this of my cufflink collection, which I put together over the past three months or so. The ones on the card are sterling knots from Jos. A. Bank (ebay), the Tiffany are from my wife, the other barbells are from Brooks Brothers (ebay). The rest are vintage from ebay. I didn't pay more than $10 for any of the vintage ones, and some as low as $2.

 

[Canadave]

..I didn't pay more than $10 for any of the vintage ones, and some as low as $2.

Wow, great deals, nice cufflinks and good pic. (How'd you get the little preview pic that links to a larger one?)

David

 

[AlanC]

Wow, great deals, nice cufflinks and good pic. (How'd you get the little preview pic that links to a larger one?)

David

Thanks!

As for the thumbnail pic with link, use ImageShack free picture hosting, and it will provide you automatically with the html you need to copy and paste into a message board. It's a great site.

 

[AlanC]

Okay, and a few more...

The latest from my cufflink acquisition addiction. All are vintage:

 

[Dr. Shocker]

I like those.....good score....I need to break down and photo mine I think....

 

[AlanC]

Thanks. Do take a pic of yours; I'd love to see them.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Like I posted in a previous thread (which I'm too lazy to look up ), I like coin cufflinks. They are readily to be had on Ebay and you can get some interesting coins (e.g., the farthing, the Buffalo Head nickel ). The neatest one I have is an imitation 18th century Latin American coin.

 

[PADDY]

Irreplaceable cuff links and memories stolen...

I LOVE my double cuffs, and the kids at school LOVE Mr Middleton's cuff links! the things I do to put a smile on their munchkin faces eh!! Anyway, I have a sad story to tell...

I'm very attached to family heirlooms like my grandparents' wedding clock from 1920 (an American clock, and lovely too, I inherited it). Also my late father's cuff links (the type with a mini chain in-between)from the 1930s/40s (a regimental crested pair and a gold and mother of pearl pair...just gorgeous). I'll not drag on, but a while back I was burgled to the tune of £13,000! all-in-all. But the most hurtful thing was losing the clock and the cuff links. And the thought of them being sold for next to nothing in a back-street bar gets me rather upset to say the least. The clock was probably damaged in the burglary, as these idiots probably wouldn't know how to treat it.

Since then, I have hunted high-and-low for similar, tasteful and understated cuff-links, but alas, nothing has ever appeared. I make do with modern cuff-links to hold the old double cuffs together and give the kids in school a smile, but they don't come close to those family heir looms that were taken from my home. It leaves an emptiness guys, as in those items I see the faces and smiles of loved ones who have passed onto greener pastures...

 

[scotrace]

Terrible, terrible

First, my sympathy on the loss of your father and the items you describe - rotten thing indeed. Things are unimportant, but the memories attached to them make them beyond price. I hope the culprits pay for their wickedness in some way.

Perhaps...

Have you any photographs of these items? I'm not extremely well-traveled but I do have some good connections to chaps who scour the markets. I'd be happy to help in the hunt.

Just a thought.