A great pair of cufflinks will elevate your look and take you to the next level of style and class. What makes a great pair of cufflinks? Here at Cufflinks Depot, we painstakingly select only the best of the best, ensuring that our shoppers get nothing short of excellence. We have spent years perfecting our selection of stylish, high quality and all-around fabulous cufflinks. So, let us give you a crash course in Cufflinks 101.

First, let’s go through some terminology and the anatomy of a cufflink. After all, any fashion aficionado will always appreciate and understand the intricate details that make up their style so exceptional.

The Face of a Cufflink

As you know, cufflinks are jewelry pieces designed to adorn the cuffs of a long-sleeve dress shirt with single cuff or double cuff (aka French cuff) buttonholes on both sleeves. Cufflinks can be made using a variety of materials including stone, glass, metal, precious stones, silk and of course, a combination of such materials. The most prominent part of any cufflink is, of course, the face. The face of a cufflink is what everyone sees. It can range from a smooth, circularly shape with perhaps a custom monogram of the wearer’s initials, to a unique and fun design displaying the wearer’s favorite hobby.

The face can also be decorated with inlays, gemstones, enamels, and more. They frequently take on a two or three-dimensional form, such as an airplane or golf club. Behind the face is the back of the cufflink, which can take on several different designs as well.

Whale Tail Backing

One of the most popular types of backings are whale back cufflinks which feature a flat head or face, straight post, and a “whale tail” backing that flips completely flat against the post. These cufflinks usually have a simple design but are still very elegant. They are considerably popular not only for the stylish look but also their ease of use and affordability.

Bullet Backing

Another common type of cufflink backing is bullet backing.

Like the whale tail cufflink, the bullet back features a post with a hollow frame and narrow cylinder closing mechanism (aka bullet) that nests itself in the frame of the cufflink. Securing these cufflinks is as easy as flipping the cylinder outwards so that it becomes perpendicular with the frame.

Studs & Fixed Post Backings

Studs (aka button cufflinks) or fixed post backings have no hinge mechanism for closing, but instead feature a larger head, straight post, and a small fixed backing. They close by gently pushing the smaller backing through a sleeve’s buttonhole and then straightening it in place. An added benefit to this type of cufflinks is their durability since they are all one piece of hardware instead of several intricate pieces.

Chain Link Backings

Chain link backed cufflinks features two commonly identical heads connected by a short, elegant chain. This style of cufflink usually has a bit of a looser fastening than traditional backing cufflinks, as the chain itself is considered a part of the unique style which is to be seen and shown off.

Silk Knot Cufflinks

Silk Knot Cufflinks are like the chain link backings in that they both feature two identical heads connected by a short, delicate length that is flexible. Knot cufflinks are connected by a soft cord that is usually silk, or a similar fabric, and the heads are decorative knots, also of silk. These cufflinks are most commonly used with more casual styles, especially when the wearer is going for a colorful look, as knot cufflinks come in just about any color imaginable and are excellent for complimenting and polishing off a colorful style.

While the securing mechanism can be quite fascinating and fun, keep in mind that while some forms are easier to use than others, anyone can quickly learn to use each of the backing styles with a little practice. It’s up to the wearer to decide their preference.

When to Wear Cufflinks

Now that you have a further understanding of cufflink anatomy, we’ll turn to an essential aspect of cufflinks, and that is when to wear them. Since we are on the topic of cufflink anatomy, we should turn first to shirt-sleeve anatomy, which plays a significant role in when to wear cufflinks. The easiest way to tell if cufflinks should be worn is if one has a dress shirt featuring buttonholes and no buttons. Any dress shirt featuring buttonholes and no buttons means it’s the perfect time for your favorite pair of cufflinks shine. This type of dress shirts is seen mainly at white or black-tie events, as well as business functions, be it a formal interview or casual business day wear like for a sporting event.

When it comes to these types of events, one can safely assume that cufflinks are to be encouraged. After all, they not only complete your look, but they elevate your style and let everyone in the room know that you are a person of superior taste, class, and elegance.

However, it is important to note that there has been a new trend of mixing formal styles with informal styles, and it is becoming popular in the world of high fashion. One prime example is the mixing of something like a vintage flannel shirt with cufflinks. This is recognized as super trendy and unique as cufflink styles are endless as well as customizable. What better way to elevate the style of a non-formal shirt and add your unique style and touch than with a custom designed cufflink. This is possible for any dress shirt with buttonholes on the sleeves. Many in the world of fashion have even begun to have tailors remove buttons to allow for cufflinks. That’s the beauty of cufflinks, they take your style to the next level, making your outfit not only more sophisticated but they also more modern and dare we say, debonair.