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12 Days of Dappered #11 – Non-Cheesy Cuff links

December 17, 2013 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

It’ll be here before you know it. Our annual 12 days of Dappered gift guide covers one item/idea each week-day for the next dozen days. All will be reasonably affordable, and at the same time they should (hopefully) appeal to someone who might drop on by this corner of the internet. So if you’re looking for ideas on what to give a decently dressed (yet budget conscious) fellow, or, if you’ve got friends/family struggling for ideas on what to get someone (you) who’s hard to buy for, check back in as this year’s 12 Days churns on. You’ll also find the growing archive here.

Unfortunately, the majority of cuff links produced rate high on the cheesy scale. Like, matching necktie + pocket square boxed set cheesy. Meanwhile, plenty of others are just plain goofy. Those that fall into the novelty category almost always prevent you from being taken seriously. While I would love to grab a drink in Ten-Forward, these won’t be getting you Seven of Nine’s communicator digits. And yes, that was a story-line continuity dumpster fire. No sense can come of it. I blame Q. When nothing makes sense, just blame Q. Right. Cufflinks. On with it…

 

Knot Cufflinks – $9.99 – $20.00

knot cufflinks on Dappered.com

Hugely versatile and something you’ll find yourself wearing in the summer months. Cheap too if you hit ebay. All depends on how many pairs you want, in what color(s), and how low you want to go on price / potential quality. Pictured above is the 5-pack from Cuff Daddy for $12.99. Shipped by Amazon, BUT… you can get a heck of a lot more, for a heck of a lot cheaper through ebay. It’s ebay though, so make sure you’re good with shipping & return policies.

 

.38 Special or .45 Colt Bullet Cufflinks – $23.99

Bullet casing cufflinks on Dappered.com

Well executed versions of the now popular bullet casing cufflinks. These will sit flatter against your cuff, so as to not hook your jacket sleeve. Made in the USA from recycled casings and available through Cool Material.  Technically “novelty” cufflinks, but they blend in. Available in Bang or Boom.

 

J. Crew Kissing Whale Cufflinks – $41.99 w/ GIFTNOW ($78)

J Crew Kissing Whales on Dappered.com

Wait, are those moustaches? Nope, kissing whales. As in, “Whale you be mine?” valentine kissing whales. Got a nice vintage look to them. They ship free too.

 

Billy Reid Vintage Deer Cufflinks – $55.00

Billy Reid Deer Cufflinks on Dappered.com

Seems like more than a couple of brands have started to post vintage, one of a kind goods on their websites. Who’s going out and finding these things at flea markets and estate sales? No clue. And yes, you could absolutely do some hunting around for vintage pieces yourself, whether it be on eBay, or at consignment shops / sales in your area.

 

J. L. Lawson Made in the USA 00VII – $72.00

jl lawson cufflinks on Dappered.com

Solid weight without feeling like you’ve got bricks at your wrists. Made in either Brass or Stainless Steel (sold out for now). Manually machined in Joshua Tree, California. As far as taking them off and using them as a top, that’s tricky. Requires a bit of talent and/or practice. Stunners all the same. Two more styles here and here.

 

Trafalgar Paisley Cufflinks – $75.00

Trafalgar Paisley cufflinks on Dappered.com

Yes, they’re silver rectangles, but silver rectangles done right. The paisley pattern will help knock down some of the glaring shine while adding some visual texture.

 

Ledbury “Monroe” Mother of Pearl Cufflinks – $165.00

Ledbury Monroe Cufflinks on Dappered.com

Dang. Those are all kinds of right. You could wear those with just about anything. Sterling Silver & Mother of Pearl Cufflinks made outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. Hand carved cedar box. The guys at Ledbury have put together a nice video about the maker as well.

 

Brooks Brothers Snapper Lace BB#2 Cuff Links – $225

Insta-heirloom on Dappered.com

Outrageously expensive, but pretty darn fantastic all the same. A wedding-day kind of splurge. Based on a classic style from the 1920’s. Silver plated and made in the USA. Will go on sale from time to time with site-wide promotions.

Any other suggestions for those who wear a pair of cuff links from time to time? Leave it all below.

Filed Under: Accessories Tagged With: 12 days of Dappered 2013, Cuff Links

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Comments

  1. DXLi says

    December 17, 2013 at 3:39 PM

    I know we’re discussing non-cheesy cufflinks, but I just love these ones: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/ef18/. They’re deliciously geeky, yet subtle enough to go relatively unnoticed by the uninitiated. http://a.tgcdn.net/images/products/frontsquare/ef18_portal_cuff_links.jpg

  2. Paul says

    December 17, 2013 at 3:55 PM

    Those Brooks Brothers ones look great, but yes, expensive. Etsy is another good place to look. I just picked up a pair of these: https://www.etsy.com/listing/169701740/ but in the tuxedo set for my wedding in May.

  3. kryogenix says

    December 17, 2013 at 4:13 PM

    The tie bar has some decent selections all for $20 except the Dwayne Wade Collection runs for $30. http://www.thetiebar.com/categoryPages/Cufflinks.asp

  4. RJC says

    December 17, 2013 at 4:14 PM

    I’ve found cufflinks to be the best item in menswear to purchase vintage. I was lucky enough to inherit my grandfather’s and I wear those almost exclusively, but when I needed a tuxedo set I was able to get vintage MOP studs and links, NOS, for $60 on eBay. They looked brilliant and are probably better made than 90% of what’s on the market today

  5. Jack says

    December 17, 2013 at 4:49 PM

    i just got silver knots from Kent Wang for 45$ for my wedding.

  6. ARP says

    December 17, 2013 at 11:01 PM

    I do like these sorts of accessories. I have a pair of Rebel Alliance cufflinks. They look like a random design to all but the uninitiated. So they’re good on two levels.

  7. Valilla says

    December 18, 2013 at 4:31 AM

    Sorry Joe, I personally think those bullet casing ones are real gaudy. Honestly I’d only be seen in the Billy Reid, Ledbury and maybe the Trafalgar if I were trying for a Brit Mod or corporate look. To each their own?

  8. theYeti says

    December 18, 2013 at 7:27 AM

    Yeah, I can’t help but suppose that an outfit involving bullet cufflinks will also involve a lot of camo print.

  9. ArizonaSecrets says

    December 18, 2013 at 7:58 AM

    I’ve never worn cufflinks or owned a shirt that needed them. As a student and emerging professional with an eye towards men’s fashion am I doing it wrong?

  10. rnjbond says

    December 18, 2013 at 9:09 AM

    It’s a preference thing. Some of us personally prefer French cuff shirts over regular.

    That said, as a student, you should probably avoid French cuff shirts for your interviews. So you’re doing just fine.

  11. jdw says

    December 18, 2013 at 9:26 AM

    Having forsaken, some years ago, my graphic tees and other nerdy and/or geeky “sartorial” pleasures, I do like mixing in small nods to geekiness in places that are less bold than my chest. These really work well for that — you can integrate a touch of nerd into your wardrobe without sacrificing your style.

    Socks are my other guilty, nerdy, sartorial pleasure — I have entirely too many pairs of socks adorned with moustaches.

  12. jdw says

    December 18, 2013 at 9:28 AM

    Don’t forget Tokens & Icons: http://www.tokens-icons.com/collections.html

    Game-used baseball cufflinks, cufflinks made with wood from real basketball arenas, historic coin cufflinks, etc. They’re expensive, but they’re pretty darned cool.

  13. Huck says

    December 18, 2013 at 11:53 AM

    I was thinking that the bullets and the whales were both pretty cheesy

  14. Valilla says

    December 18, 2013 at 11:59 AM

    The whales are just laughable. I picture suits trying to cash in on artisinal cocktail speakeasy, Boardwalk Empire, and mustache wax and other dumb crap.

  15. Matt says

    December 18, 2013 at 2:41 PM

    For reasons I cannot ascertain, the world is just full of ugly cufflinks. Given the a full 90% of the cufflinks I see qualify as either ugly, or cheesy, I gotta say you did really well, though I really don’t think the shell casing cufflinks qualify as non-cheesy. Still it’s subjective, and you flipped the ratio, so BRAVO. I like almost all of these, espcially the BB ones. Also those Whiskey barrel stave ones Paul shared are gorgeous!

  16. Sacsovann Yos says

    December 19, 2013 at 1:52 PM

    The Kissing Whale Cuff Links are on sale at J.Crew for $59.99 and with GIFTNOW, the total is ~$35.99

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