Diamond Cufflink Information
Cufflinks did not come into being until the beginning of the seventeenth century, as until that time elegant men of fashion wore shirts with cuffs edged with ribbons or lace which did not need fastening. It was only when a few dandies starting using silver and gold buttons which were connected by a small chain that the cufflink was introduced.
They were still regarded as a bit of an eccentricity until the end of the nineteenth century when men’s fashion became rather more sober and refined under the influence of men like George Brummel (more famously known as Beau).
The middle classes and businessmen started wearing almost regulation dark costumes during the day and dinner jackets at night with often the cufflinks worn being the only clue to their individual personality. It was at this time that manufacturers invented several different mechanisms for fastening including the chain, rocker and rigid connections.
During the twentieth century large jewelers like Tiffany and Cartier were heavily influenced by the Art Nouveau movement, and other artistic trends including cubism and Bauhaus meant that the use of gemstones and materials such as opaline, enamel, crystal and pearls were introduced into the production of cufflinks, with diamonds being the most popular.
In 1924 Mr Boyer, from the company bearing his name, created the fastener system which is still the most used today made of a tilting stick between a double stem. Famous men of that time, including aviator Charles Lindbergh and the Duke of Windsor, were never seen without their cufflinks. And as you might expect from members of royalty, diamond cufflinks were the ones which were worn the most.
Recently shirts with button cuffs have tried to replace the wearing of cufflinks.
Fortunately this initiative has failed miserably as men who take pride in their elegant appearance and the most famous haute couture designers including Gucci and Roberto Cavalli have remained faithful to ensure that the existence of diamond cufflinks is perpetuated.