The Elusive Handmade Cufflinks
As a buyer for an online shop selling men’s luxury fashion accessories, including, silk ties, cufflinks, wallets and belts, I have to adhere to customer demands and source products accordingly. And so begins an arduous task.
The men’s fashion accessories market in England is undersupplied and the demand for English made products is strong and getting stronger, so the balance is in my favour, however meeting this demand is not easy.
To find cufflinks that conform to core principles of good design .i.e. “form and function” amongst all the imitations. The task gets harder and even more so when searching for cufflinks that are handmade in England with a maximum retail price of £65.00. However through persistence, my searching tactics were well rewarded.
The first designer I discovered that conformed to my selection criteria was Ian Flaherty who works out of his London studio. His cufflinks stems are made from pure English Pewter, double coated with rhodium and inset with Swarovski Crystal cuffllinks or hand enamelled. Ian’s designs are smartly presented and true to good form and function and priced accordingly.
A pair of Ian’s Swarovski Cube cufflinks were hand picked by Victoria Gray editor of The Sunday Express Magazine and recently featured under the title “Twelve of the best gifts for father’s day” They were an instant hit.
There are few ways men can express themselves without their character being called into question. Wearing cufflinks and neckties are two ways to do this. If you’re going to express yourself then do it with style. So if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary without looking like a garish novelty then Ian Flaherty’s cufflinks are worth more than a glance. And when you consider the materials used in their construction and the fact that they are handmade in England the price is no longer an issue.
And if price is an issue then there is no need for concern. Thanks to Simon Carter another premier British designer who recognised the demand for affordable cufflinks that differ from the rest, but without carrying the price tag. Simons’ cufflinks for men are not handmade in England; nickel is used instead of pewter or silver. Less expensive materials are used to adorn the cufflinks, like cat’s-eye glass in varying shades. Another favourite material of Simons’ is Mother of Pearl and Paua Shell, which comes from the far away shores of New Zealand. The way the materials are combined and arranged ensures individuality and from a starting price of £29.00 you’re assured value for money. One of his latest designs is very clever, called the Aspirin; you can store your headache pills, which are just a twist of the lid away.
A closing anecdote: 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.
And don’t forget, best of all Vivienne Westwood has been producing men’s cufflinks for many years.
About the Author
Purveyor of finely crafted Designer Silk Ties and handmade silver cufflinks by, Ian Flaherty, Simon Carter, Vivienne Westwood, Lbb London, Veritas, Timothy Everest, Michelsons and Victoria Richards, Louis Feraud, Shane McCoubrey and Cressida Bell, plus a selection of Vivienne Westwood silk ties
0.5 Liter Rope Handle English Pewter Tankard
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Alchemy Of England – Glastonbury Cup – Polished Pewter & Crystal Wine Goblet – AAG26 $99.00 A grail-form goblet of Celtic design, mounted with two vivid red abalone cabochons. Approx 6″ high and 4-1/4″ in diameter. Beautiful Gaelic patterns imprinted on the collar and encircling the cabochons, and with a stepped base, this is a polished piece of pewter craftsmanship. Alchemy Gothic Goblets, Chalices and Glassware are created from the finest English Pewter, and most glassware is traditio… |
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Glass Bottom Pewter Tankard $32.95 Beer stein has a unique history to brag about. Always keep your eye on the game and know just how much beer or ale you have left when using this fine pewter tankard. Crafted from top quality English pewter and glass. Measures 4.5 tall; 18oz….. |
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Topaz with Celtic Weave Handle English Pewter Quaich Bowl $84.00 Product Specifications: * The Quaich was for centuries, a common domestic utensil which originated in the West Highlands of Scotland. It was the dish from which the Scot supped his porridge and drank his ale. * Quaich is derived from the Gaelic ‘cuach’ which, in turn, derives from low Latin ‘caucus’ – a drinking cup. These drinking cups were very widely used in Covenanting times and are mentio… |
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Daniel Powter $3.48 “Bad Day,” the first single off Daniel Powter’s small masterpiece of a debut disc, has been divebombing TV-watching Americans for months. Turn on “American Idol” and there it is, accompanying the latest axed contestant off the stage. Switch over to Showtime, and it’s on promos for “Weeds.” The VH1 video is inescapable. Yet nobody knows who the guy is (a 35-year-old French Canadian, it turns out), … |
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Dick Dale and his Del-Tones Greatest Hits $24.95 In 1986 Dick Dale issued this collection of studio covers of his greatest hits plus three new songs (‘Those Memories of You’, ‘Get Back The Feelin” and ‘Peter Gunn 1986′). The song list includes: 1) Misirlou; |
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Sailor Moon Limited Edition Box Set II $58.98 Sailor Moon Super S: English & Japanese Language with English subtitles Chibi Usa dreams of a beautiful and mysterious Pegasus that becomes her friend. Meanwhile, Sailor Moon and her friends barely have time to celebrate the peace from their latest victory when suddenly, an eclipse darkens the city. |
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Sharpe’s Complete Collection $166.50 This limited-edition, 15-disc collector’s set features all 14 “Sharpe’s” films starring Sean Bean, along with the overview program “Sharpe: The Legend,” and comes packaged in a wooden Napoleonic-Era box with an antique map reproduction and pewter letter opener. 25 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo…. |
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Metal Spinning Workshop DVD Advanced Tools & Techniques $39.95 Metal Spinning Workshop DVD “Advanced Tools & Techniques” is the sequel to the highly popular metal spinning home tutorial “The Four Basic Shapes” first published in 2005 by award winning artist Terry Tynan. The author takes the viewer through the more advanced tools & techniques needed to achieve more complex shapes while using harder to form metals…. |
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Colonel Conk Progress Model 1020 Full Volume Pure Badger Shaving Brush, Handle of English Pewter $83.00 This fine quality brush comes from PROGRESS (VULFIX) LTD, located on the historic Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea, a self governing Crown dependency. Made using traditional and time honored processes; hand selection of only the finest quality boar bristle and badger hair, individually weighed, shaped and hand knotted. Badger hair varies in quality from the FINEST WHITE/SILVER TIPPED “SUPER BADGER”, … |
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Empire Sterling Silver Oval Beaded Boy’s Comb & Brush Set $75.00 Baby boys who want the finer things in life–or anyway baby boys whose relatives want them to live like English lords of a certain era–will not have a complete nursery without a silver brush-and-comb set. This one almost makes the mark, with an attractive silver-backed brush with a beaded border that looks the part. It’s 2.75 inches long by 1.75 inches wide, with 1-inch soft nylon bristles s… |
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Alegria Paloma Charmer Pewter $110 The Alegria Paloma Charmer mary jane is what happy looks like! Set in an embossed leather upper, this mary jane features button detailing. Sure to become a staple of your everyday wear, this clog is fitted with plenty of technology to keep you comfortable and on your feet.Technical Features:Removable InsoleFoot problem? No problem! Removable footbed allows insertion of custom orthotics to reduce your problems. Leather InsoleDon’t sweat it – naturally breathable leather insole with built-in arch support to bring even more happiness to your feet. Anatomically Correct FootbedFootbed designed to form the natural shape of your feet for long lasting comfort. Rocker OutsoleEngineered to roll naturally reducing heel and central metatarsal pressure. Rocker outsole also encourages proper posture and normal gait. In English? You ROCK! Extra DepthExtra depth makes a roomier fit and a roomier fit makes wiggling all five toes easy and fun. Flat, Stable BottomFlat bottom maximizes contact with floor for incresed stability. Ooh look, butterflies! |
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Alegria Paloma Charmer Pewter $110 The Alegria Paloma Charmer mary jane is what happy looks like! Set in an embossed leather upper, this mary jane features button detailing. Sure to become a staple of your everyday wear, this clog is fitted with plenty of technology to keep you comfortable and on your feet.Technical Features:Removable InsoleFoot problem? No problem! Removable footbed allows insertion of custom orthotics to reduce your problems. Leather InsoleDon’t sweat it – naturally breathable leather insole with built-in arch support to bring even more happiness to your feet. Anatomically Correct FootbedFootbed designed to form the natural shape of your feet for long lasting comfort. Rocker OutsoleEngineered to roll naturally reducing heel and central metatarsal pressure. Rocker outsole also encourages proper posture and normal gait. In English? You ROCK! Extra DepthExtra depth makes a roomier fit and a roomier fit makes wiggling all five toes easy and fun. Flat, Stable BottomFlat bottom maximizes contact with floor for incresed stability. Ooh look, butterflies! |