Bespoke Cufflinks: Refined Expression

Saskia Shutt — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:43:28 +0000

Jewellery comes in countless forms. Rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets have long held a prominent place in our wardrobes and our imaginations. Yet among these familiar objects sits a piece of jewellery that often goes unnoticed: the cufflink.

For centuries, cufflinks have occupied a unique position between adornment and function. They fasten the cuffs of a shirt, yet they also offer an opportunity for self-expression, craftsmanship and individuality. Despite this, cufflinks are often overlooked in contemporary jewellery conversations.

As a designer and goldsmith, bespoke cufflinks are among the pieces I most enjoy creating. When I worked in the United Kingdom, I made them regularly. Since moving to Belgium, however, commissions have become far less frequent. Here, cufflinks often seem confined to two worlds: the boardroom and the wedding ceremony. They are associated with high-end business suits, formal occasions and traditional dress codes.

While there is certainly a place for that, I believe cufflinks deserve a far broader audience.

For those who do not typically wear jewellery, cufflinks can be the perfect introduction to personal adornment. They offer a subtle way to express character without the visibility of a necklace or the permanence of a ring. A carefully chosen pair can transform an outfit, adding a detail that reveals personality, taste and confidence.

What fascinates me most is how cufflinks challenge our assumptions about jewellery itself. Many people still view them primarily as a men’s accessory. I have never shared that view.

Cufflinks are wonderfully gender-fluid. They can be worn by anyone who wishes to elevate an outfit, make a statement or simply enjoy the pleasure of wearing beautifully crafted objects. Jewellery has always evolved alongside fashion, and today’s approach to personal style is more fluid and individual than ever before.

Jewellery That Reflects Values

Today, many people associate cufflinks exclusively with formalwear. I see them differently. I see them as miniature works of art, capable of telling stories about the people who wear them and the values they choose to support.

For me, creating bespoke cufflinks begins long before I sit at the workbench. It begins with a conscious choice about materials.

Every precious metal carries a story. Too often, that story remains invisible to the person wearing the finished piece. Yet behind every gram of gold or silver are landscapes, communities and human lives.

This is why I choose to work with Fairmined precious metals wherever possible. Fairmined certification supports artisanal and small-scale mining communities that are committed to responsible environmental practices, safe working conditions and fair economic opportunities. It creates a direct connection between the wearer and the people whose skill and labour brought the metal into existence.

When a client commissions a pair of bespoke cufflinks, they are not simply choosing an accessory. They are choosing values. They are choosing to honour craftsmanship at every stage of the supply chain, from the miner who carefully extracts the precious metal from the earth to the goldsmith who transforms it into a finished piece.

In a world where products are increasingly disconnected from their origins, I believe luxury should mean something more. True luxury should respect both people and planet. It should celebrate human skill, preserve natural resources and create a positive impact that extends far beyond aesthetics.

A pair of cufflinks may seem like a small object, yet it can embody a remarkable story of connection, responsibility and conscious choice.

Breaking the Rules of How Cufflinks Are Worn

I regularly wear a large pair of four-leaf clover cufflinks myself. After designing the original clover motif for a project in early 2026, I loved the design so much that I created an oversized pair for my own collection. Crafted in Fairmined silver and set with a sea-green sapphire sourced from the Ilakaka mining community in Madagascar, they embody everything I value in jewellery: beauty, craftsmanship, storytelling and responsible sourcing.

Some people are surprised to see cufflinks worn outside formal settings. Yet I happily wear mine with a white double-cuff blouse, even in summer. In fact, I specifically chose a short-sleeved blouse with double cuffs because I wanted to challenge the notion that cufflinks belong exclusively on traditional long-sleeved shirts. Most cufflink shirts available today are designed with long sleeves, but why should they be?

To me, cufflinks deserve to be seen and enjoyed throughout the year. Wearing oversized four-leaf clover cufflinks on a short-sleeved blouse may seem unconventional, but that is precisely the point. Jewellery should invite creativity, not conformity.

Fashion is becoming increasingly individual and expressive. The rules that once dictated who could wear certain pieces and how they should be styled are rapidly disappearing. I believe cufflinks deserve to evolve alongside that movement.

A Rich History Waiting to Be Rediscovered

Interestingly, brooches have enjoyed a remarkable revival on red carpets in recent years. During the 2025 and 2026 awards seasons, actors and celebrities embraced brooches at major events such as the Oscars and Golden Globes, transforming them from historical curiosities into contemporary statements of style.

Watching this resurgence unfold, I often wondered why cufflinks were not enjoying a similar moment.

Both brooches and cufflinks share a fascinating history. They have moved in and out of fashion for centuries, adapting to changing tastes and cultural expectations. According to an article on Tailors World, the birth of the cufflink probably dates back to the time of Louis XIV in France, when decorative fastenings began replacing ribbons and ties used to secure shirt cuffs. By the eighteenth century, cufflinks had become symbols of refinement among royalty and the aristocracy. Later, the Industrial Revolution made them more widely accessible, allowing their popularity to spread far beyond noble circles and into everyday wardrobes.

Yet somewhere along the way, cufflinks became trapped by convention.

Their rich heritage became overshadowed by assumptions that they belonged only in formal settings. I believe it is time to rediscover them—not as relics of the past, but as contemporary jewellery with limitless creative potential.

Craftsmanship in Every Detail

Perhaps my perspective comes from the way I make them.

When I create a pair of bespoke cufflinks, I do not simply focus on the visible front. Every element matters. The mechanism itself deserves as much attention as the decorative design.

Unlike mass-produced cufflinks, where ready-made fittings are often soldered onto a decorative face, I handcraft the fittings myself. Some swivel. Others remain fixed. Some provide greater mobility, while others create a firmer, more sculptural connection. Each fitting is individually formed and finished, becoming an integral part of the design rather than an afterthought.

In many ways, this reflects my broader philosophy as a maker. In an era defined by automation and mass production, I find meaning in creating objects that bear the subtle evidence of human hands. Tiny differences emerge from one pair to the next. These nuances are not imperfections. They are signs of craftsmanship.

The attention devoted to the hidden details is every bit as important as the design visible on the surface.

Stories Worn on the Cuff

That attention to detail allows every commission to become deeply personal.

One particularly memorable project involved a gentleman who commissioned a ring and matching cufflinks. The ring combined white and yellow gold remodelled from his own jewellery and featured a heart-cut garnet nestled within a gold setting. To complement it, I created a pair of cufflinks in Fairmined silver with Fairmined gold accents, each set with matching heart-shaped garnets.

The finished pieces reflected not only his personal style but also his values. Through the choice of Fairmined precious metals, the jewellery supported responsible mining practices, improved working conditions and the empowerment of artisanal mining communities.

The cufflinks became more than adornment. They became a reflection of identity, memory and purpose.

Another commission took a very different direction.

For Guberna, I created bespoke cufflinks presented to retiring and departing CEOs as a gesture of appreciation for their years of leadership and dedication. Rather than engraving a logo onto an existing design, I transformed the company logo itself into a pair of cufflinks. Crafted in Fairmined silver, the logo became a wearable symbol of the organisation and the individual’s contribution to it.

Rather than offering a generic token of gratitude, the organisation chose to commission objects with lasting value. In doing so, they also supported responsible sourcing, artisanal mining communities and greater gender equality within the mining sector.

These cufflinks carried a story far richer than their elegant appearance might initially suggest.

The Future of Bespoke Cufflinks

Stories like these remind me why bespoke jewellery remains relevant.

We live in a world saturated with products. Yet people continue to seek objects that feel personal, authentic and meaningful. A bespoke cufflink offers all of these qualities. It can commemorate a milestone, celebrate a relationship, acknowledge an achievement or simply express an aspect of one’s personality.

The possibilities are endless.

Double cuffs need not remain confined to traditional shirts. Contemporary fashion offers exciting opportunities to reinterpret them. Long sleeves can feature exaggerated cuffs that draw attention to elaborate cufflinks. Short-sleeved garments can incorporate double-cuff details in unexpected ways. Cufflinks can be paired with matching brooches, tie pins or lapel pins to create a cohesive and distinctive personal style.

The beauty of bespoke design lies precisely in that freedom. There are no rules dictating what a cufflink should look like or who should wear it.

As jewellery continues to evolve, I believe cufflinks deserve to reclaim their place within contemporary design. They possess all the qualities that modern clients increasingly seek: individuality, craftsmanship, sustainability, storytelling and conscious luxury.

A Small Object With a Powerful Story

Perhaps the greatest luxury today is not simply owning something beautiful. It is owning something meaningful.

A pair of bespoke cufflinks may appear to be a small detail, but often it is the smallest details that leave the strongest impression. They accompany gestures, conversations and celebrations. They quietly reveal something about the person wearing them.

For those willing to look beyond convention, cufflinks offer far more than a refined finishing touch. They become an opportunity to wear a story—one shaped by craftsmanship, conscious sourcing and respect for human dignity.

From the artisanal miner who responsibly extracts the precious metal, to the goldsmith who carefully shapes every detail by hand, each pair reflects a chain of people whose skills deserve to be valued and celebrated.

Perhaps that is the future of luxury. Not simply owning something beautiful, but choosing something beautiful that honours both people and planet.

And perhaps it is time for cufflinks to step back into the spotlight.

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Tourmaline cufflinks

Saskia Shutt Jewellery — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 12:00:06 +0000

Handmade Silver Cufflinks with Bi-Coloured Tourmalines

I began crafting these tourmaline cufflinks with a detailed sketch, bringing my design vision to life. I shaped the silver settings with precision, carefully polished each piece, and brought the concept to fruition step by step. The smooth, cabochon-cut tourmalines, take centre stage, and their beauty shines in the elegant rub-over silver settings that I created to showcase them.

The Creative Journey: From Sketch to Cufflinks

Designing every part of these tourmaline cufflinks with purpose and care. Handmaking the silver chain, adding a subtle and sophisticated touch. To create harmony in the design, I shaped the back piece to mirror the tourmalines at the front. These thoughtful details ensure the cufflinks look striking from every angle.

Attention to Detail in Every Element

These cufflinks belong to my new collection, which I am excited to present at the Desire Winchester show. This collection explicitly showcases handmade silver jewellery paired with cabochon-cut semi-precious stones, each one chosen for its unique character. I crafted every piece to combine timeless elegance with the precision of traditional craftsmanship.

Part of a Bespoke Collection

These cufflinks are part of my new collection, which I’ll present at the Desire Winchester show. The collection features handmade silver pieces paired with cabochon-cut precious gemstones, each carefully selected for its unique beauty. The designs combine timeless elegance with the precision of traditional craftsmanship.

See the Process in Photos

Also, I love sharing the journey behind my work. In the photos below, you can follow the entire process, from the initial sketches to the finished tourmaline cufflinks. It’s a glimpse into the dedication and skill that go into every piece I create.

Bringing Joy Through Handmade Jewellery

design all my creations to bring lasting joy to their owners. These cufflinks, with their timeless elegance and handmade quality, are no exception. Additionally, if this design inspires you, book an appointment to create your own bespoke cufflinks. Let’s work together to turn your vision into a truly personal piece.

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bespoke cufflinks Archives - Saskia Shutt