Critiques With an Obtuse Angle: Designer Cufflinks and Their Creators

First Things First; Enter Vivienne Westwood
The orb has landed, embossed in leather wallets, purses, bags and belts. Cast in pendants, necklaces and cufflinks. Printed and woven in ties and scarves. And on it goes. A symbol recognised internationally as Vivienne’s signature. The cufflinks take on the Orb in variation. Using rhodium as a base and encrusted with crystals, they glean boldly from subtle stems, skull and cross bones, love and hate, or just simply the Orb, into what is unmistakably Westwood -- a designer brand, impossible to mimic. Radicalism is captured cleverly, using “tongue in cheek” styles balanced with smart design and a classical edge.

A Rare Breed of cufflink
A new range of enamel cufflinks by Ian Flaherty have quietly arrived on the market. They’re beautifully formed from English Pewter, gleaning vitreous enamels that impress upon you textural influences that give life to lifeless forms. There is a horse and rider in breathless pursuit of the unfortunate Fox, the Mallard and Partridge, Pheasant, and Trout, all brought to still life by the artistic prowess of Ian Flaherty. You can surf the net and trod the high streets, but you’ll be hard pressed to find anything that compares with Ian’s latest work.

“Short and sweet”

Veritas the Truth in Cufflinks
Veritas is a Latin word meaning “truth” and the truth is, Veritas design and manufacture a range of cufflinks of superior elegance. They take on architectural principle and form, engineered to take the load, just a brief handle will satisfy your senses and make you feel immediately you’re in touch with stylish quality. Another English cufflink makes its way into the international arena, sitting comfortably on the shelf with his compatriots.

“And here they are, presented for your pleasure and convenience”

A Swank Cufflink
Swank Inc a popular designer and manufacturer of men’s cufflinks were incorporated on April 17, 1936. When Cufflinks peaked in the 1960’s they were making 12 million a year. Even though these were aimed at the lowest end of the market, retailing for an average of $2.50 a pair, that still adds up to a lot of men wearing cufflinks. These days the figure is closer to 200,000, but cufflinks are making a strong comeback with gross sales having increased consistently over the last ten years, while the French cuff continues to be the most prestigious type of shirt.

The most expensive cufflinks ever sold were a pair given to the soon-to-be King Edward VIII by his later wife Wallis Simpson. These featured diamonds
set in platinum and sold at auction for $440,000.

“Swank looking cufflinks”

Precision Engineered Cufflinks: The Lbb London Contribution
Gazing over a collection of cufflinks so consistent in mathematical correctness and when gathered, resemble soldiers in immaculate uniform, marching in perfect formation, poetic stride. Abstractive is dominated by high tech precision, with zero tolerance. The subtle, abstract placement of colour, ordered within, take the edge off discipline

A designers hand possessed with such discipline to marry perfect form and function, while gleaning materials that impress upon you textural influences. Smoothly extending the stem to cradle adornments and display all colours of a rainbow: Concluding, a sophistication expressed by precision, abstract and sense of colour, a truly beautiful cufflink.

Lbb London, Perhaps the very first precision cufflink”

Who’s Nathan?
Nathan Tim is a new name to the fashion industry, armed with a mission and a collection of floral Cufflinks that reflect the brilliant hues of nature, showcased in rigid Murano Glass. The flowers captured within, reflect not just the timeless beauty of its petals, but also a richly textured history of fine glass making, stemming back many hundreds of years. And Nathan Tim has unearthed the best of the best.

“There’s no need to say anymore, the products speak for themselves”.

And Fused Glass
Every now and then I stumble upon designers (fashion or otherwise) that are hidden away somewhere in the woodwork (why hidden?) The other day was one of those “every now and then” occasions. I stumbled upon, Jo Downs, a jewellery designer located in Cornwall, while searching for objects befitting men’s collectable fashion accessories. An opportune time to reflect, we balance mass production with bespoke; enter Jo Downs.

Simplicity: The Simon Carter philosophy
Simon Carter’s reputation stems from his revolutionary approach to cufflink design following his introductory men’s brooches, in the mid to late 80’s. Some of his original designs are classified vintage. Simon Carter maintains a philosophy of simplicity in the design of all his accessories; they simply perform a function without loosing stylish edge. His cufflinks not only firm to cuff, they glean a touch of elegance and frame perfectly an object of expression. This lovely display of style and engineering will harmonise with any outfit, formal or casual, here an important function inherent in Simon’s philosophy of simplicity, a cufflink for all occasions.

And Fred Bennett
A name familiar in fashion accessory circles, he’s been around a while and so have his cufflinks. They don’t resonate originality and perhaps the essence once prevalent has been lost as the business becomes more business like. Never the less the new range is compelling enough.

Babbette Wasserman Cufflinks: The scent of a woman
Here is a brand that’s on the up; she’s made all the right moves and a name befitting a jeweller, or exotic dancer. Babette Wasserman, a lover of the Swarovski Crystal, she displays it maximisation style and sets her place as a cufflink designer amongst men. Women bring a refreshing slant to men’s accessories, a little femininity firmed to cuff, a constant reminder of soft and inviting contours and sweet scented women. Like the cufflinks, like the woman.

And Now Timothy Everest; Cufflinks on the cards
A Savile Row Tailor in Spitalfields and creator of the modern Spitalfields flower pattern. His underground approach takes him down an infrequent road travelled -- many follow. In a career spanning the rise and fall of countless fashion cycles, from the hazy days of Tommy Nutter to the Creative force behind the rebirth of British fashion icon Daks. Miniscule perhaps, but, Introducing a range of cufflinks would conclude nicely a growing range of signature accessories. And it’s on the cards.