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| Monday, November 27, 2006
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Mikimoto Cuff links [ A Story To Relate ]
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Mikimoto Cufflinks [ A Story To Relate ] Hi Cufflinkers, I have to confess that I like vintage cufflinks so let me relate a story which is more than 100 years ago to you. In 1893, the first cultured pearl was recovered from an oyster. Kokichi Mikimoto quickly became the Pearl King. While he did say, "I would like to adorn the necks of all woman in the world with pearls" his company did not totally ignore men. Mikimoto cuff links are generally very traditional, and their dress sets fit into the best white tie affairs.
Mikimoto has made cuff links in a variety of materials with similar designs in both silver and gold. The cost differential between the silver pairs and the gold pairs are more than normal for two reasons.
They made far fewer gold cuff links than silver, and the pearls on gold cuff links are generally bigger than the ones on silver – one of the main determinations of a culture pearl's value is its size. Mikimoto's cuff links are classic in style and well made and, if you find yourself often at white tie events, there probably should be a Mikimoto set in your jewelry drawer. Boy, this is one rare piece. Would you mind getting one pair for your love's one?
Happy Holiday! |
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by creat3cp @ Monday, November 27, 2006
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| Sunday, November 26, 2006
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Warps of Cufflinks? What are they?
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Hi everyone,
Okay today let me share with you what I have found over the internet or rather tias.com. Is this thing call warp cufflnks.
For expert cufflinkers, which they already know, a wrap is not an Atkins diet sandwich...ha ha. A wrap is a cuff link that has a band that completely loops around the side of the cuff. The band may be removable and it may be a solid piece or mesh. Thus, wraps do run the gamut from the classic to the sassy. You can find such pieces from Cartier to pieces from Swank.The earliest wraps came out in the 1920s, including those by Cartier. This style was popular in France during the 20s. These earliest wraps were done in gold, many with jewels, and are produced to this day. This style wrap provides a finished look that was different than the finished look provided by double-sided cuff links.
Wraps were updated in the costume style of the "out there" 60s. Wraps from the 60s and early 70s are far from classy, but have certain sass as they are generally quite large (right) and some appear to have more wattage than a lighthouse. These large and garish links would have a metallic mesh band that would loop around the cuff from the main "bejeweled" face to the toggle in the back and would be locked in by the toggle. Because of the use of the toggle, these costume pieces do not have the same completely finished look as that found in the classic wrap.
Whether you want classy or sassy, wraps are fun and deserve consideration for your wearing pleasure. Now, I am sure you did realise lesser people are wearing them nowsaday.If you have a pair from your father or grandfather, why not give it a shot by weraing them.
p.s: You do need to clean the warps up abit before wearing them especially it had been a long time you since last wear.
Some burning questions you wanted to know.
Question:
When did French Cuffs first become popular in America? Answer:
French (or double) cuffs were the natural continuation from the attached cuffs. Additionally, the glamour and allure of double cuffs was clear in the movies of the 1920's and 1930's and coverage of the romance of Edward and Wallis. Whether you call them French cuffs or double cuffs or Mousquetaires (Musketeers), if you wear a long sleeve dress shirt, why not finish it off in style with cuff links – which says so much more about you than a button. Question:
I have several pair of cuff links that are signed "Original by Victor." They appear South Western with a copper/silver/brass look. Can you tell me anything about this maker? Answer:
Actually, no, while I've seen this signature, I do not have any information on the maker. I've put this here in the hope that one of the readers will have the answer. Adwin Ang
http://www.adwinang.com
Cufflinks buying, exclusive interview from experts & information resource site!Labels: warps cufflinks |
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by creat3cp @ Sunday, November 26, 2006
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| Thursday, November 23, 2006
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Give Cufflink Closure A Closer Look
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| Give Cufflink Closure A Closer Look Today let's take a look at the closure for cufflinks. The United States Patent office shows 106 patents issued between the 1790s and 2003 for cuff holders. Class 24 – Buckles, Buttons, Clasps, Etc – subclass 41.1 Cuff Holders. A toggle closure may be defined as a mechanism with two parallel bars, attached to the back of the cuff link with a piece connected between the two bars that can rotate a full 360 degrees. This type of closure was first mass-produced in America commencing in the mid 1940s. Because of its ease of use, it quickly became the most popular closure in the United States. The only problem with this type of cuff link is the one side of the cuff looks unfinished. However, many cufflinks would be too large to put through any buttonhole if they were made as a double-sided pair. To my personal view, double cufflinks still would look more elegrance than swivel cufflinks. I am sure you would want your cufflinks to be viewable from both side. Althought swivel is a good and fast workaround if you need to wear your cufflinks quickly. I still prefer double cufflinks. |
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by creat3cp @ Thursday, November 23, 2006
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Knots Cufflinks
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Knots Cufflinks
I think knots cufflinks have been the love of many till date. Let's take a closer look at them.
Not the Gordian knot that Alexander solved with his sword! Rather, one of the classiest cuff link style. Knots have been produced in all materials and at all levels of quality. Knot cuff links come in silk (you'll often see these mixed together in a beer glass at the counter of a men's store) base metal, silver, gold and even can be jeweled.Except, maybe, for an over-the-top white-tie affair, knot cuff links can take you virtually everywhere that cuff links can be worn (not advisable for the beach!) They are a classic design with enough variety that you can still decide which makes your statement for the day. Generally, knot cuff links have a bar connector between a larger knot for the outside of the cuff and a smaller knot for the inside. However, you can find American manufactured gold-filled or base metal knots with a toggle back. The most often searched for knot cuff links are those by Tiffany & Co. Tiffany produced many levels of knot cuff links, small basic knots, larger more elaborate (certainly Gordian in feel) knots They even produced ones that were bejeweled -- my favorites being the lapis ones designed by Jean Schlumberger, which I prefer to the diamond ones. I guess I prefer to be the dazzle and not the stone at my wrist!
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by creat3cp @ Thursday, November 23, 2006
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| Friday, November 17, 2006
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Interview with Paul G. Huck (Captain Huck's Booty)
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Interview with Paul G. Huck (Captain Huck's Booty)Good morning everyone, I have done private interview with the owner of captainhucksbooty.com. I am sure you are familar to Paul. His online store have many unique cufflinks which I can draw information/inspiration on. So seat back and enjoy this interview. Paul : Captain Huck's Booty specializes in vintage and antique men's dress accessories. This specialization enables us to focus on men's items which is especially important as there is little focus or understanding of cuff links on general jewelry sites. We carry a full range of cuff links from fun and basic to top tier designers. So what every the price point or collecting or wearing preferences, we should have cuff links that match the individual's desires. We have been online for over 10 years (over 6 on at TIAS and before that on a site TIAS bought in 2000) which provides a certain level of confidence that the products are real and so is the service. Additionally, I have written extensively on cuff links (primarily in The Cuff Linker published by TIAS) am a member of the International Watch and Jewelry Guild as well as the Jeweler's Vigilance Committee and am a bonded merchant, all of which add to a feeling of security when ordering from Captain Huck's Booty. Adwin: Which are the most popular collectible cufflinks in your store? Any particular brands? Paul : I'm happy to report that it is style that sells on the website and not necessarily brand name. I believe it is important for individuals to be comfortable with their own style and not rely on name brands to validate their choices. However, well priced Georg Jensen sells well (particularly as gifts) and no David Andersen enamels stay in stock for any length of time. Adwin: What is your greatest challenge on selling online vintage men's dress accessories? Paul : For me the major challenge in selling (or buying) cuff links on the web is the lack of feel and being able to see how the cuff links look within a cuff. When selling cuff links in person, individuals buying for themselves usually hold up a cuff link to their cuff to see how it looks and people buying them as gifts ask me to put one in my cuff so they can see how the cuff links actually will look. This is particularly an issue when selling vintage and antique items since the purchaser will not have a preconceived idea of how the piece looks. This is improving as digital cameras keep improving. Adwin: Would you consider the collection of cufflinks a hooby of the past? I mean is it still as popular? Paul : There are plenty of people that currently collect cuff links, as well as those who still wear cuff links. I would say there are more collectors and less wearers now than in the past. Adwin: I am from Singapore and would like people to be aware of cufflinks collection as a hobby. How do I start to drive this awareness? Paul : I'm going to break this down to both wearing cuff links and collecting cuff links. In collecting cuff links, cuff links come in all price categories, all types of designs, include advertising, sports, and travel items are small and a huge collection would not even overwhelm a studio apartment, much less a house. If the collector is looking at designs, a pair of cuff links from a major designer will usually cost less than the equivalent pair of earrings. Paul : Cuff links are wonderful to wear. There is nothing else for men to wear that shows attention to detail as well as being able to show their personalities when one has to dress for business or pleasure. Adwin: How many cufflinks have you personally possessed? Paul : Primarily the cuff links that I wear are made by contemporary studio gold and silversmiths. In my personal box, I probably have around 60 pair of cuff links to go along with 6 pocket watches and corresponding chains, 20 wrist watches, stickpins and a few brooches I share with my wife. I enjoy dressing and am not afraid to be a little flamboyant (it is fun in fact, especially seeing stares from others). Adwin: Would you say that your main business are mainly done online? Paul : My sales are about 50% on the web, 25% at shows and 25% sold to my private clientele. Adwin: What actually get you started an online store since 1995? Paul : I originally started on line because I thought it would be good advertising for me to obtain private clientele and increase my show sales. I now believe that doing the antique shows is a good advertisement for my webstore as at the antique show the individual clearly sees that the merchandise is real and that increases the faith in buying from an online store with which they are not familiar. Adwin: I saw that there are a vast amount of antique collectible from your tias.com website. I guess those are really a rare item. Hardly can be found elsewhere. Do you source for those antique all by yourself? Paul : I am merely one dealer with a store within the TIAS web mall. There are over 1400 separate stores within TIAS. At Captain Huck's Booty, I have personally sourced and vetted every item and they run from quite common to extremely rare including some possibly unique pieces. That is probably true for most of the other dealers within their stores. Adwin: I find your website tias.com somewhat similar to an auction store. Can anyone without prior selling experience setup a store online using TIAS.com services? Would there be a minimum requirement? Paul : TIAS is more of a web mall where individuals set up there stores within the system. Information about the requirements needed to set up a store on TIAS can be accessed through its home page. I particularly like TIAS as it allows its dealers to have their own store name and access as well as access through TIAS. Items at Captain Huck's Booty can be accessed directly at http://captainhucksbooty.com or through http://tias.com I prefer to have my own website name established as the place to come for quality men's dress assessories. Thank you sir for your time and I would certainly do a review on your store.
By the way, can I request to have your photograph as I would like to endorse your name with your picture on my site.
P.S : I am still waiting for Paul's picture to be put it up. And I will be converting this interview into a pdf for people who want to read it offline.
P.P.S : Do join my mailing list so you can receive notification on the lastest interview with the experts. ( I do not have a auto-responder mailiing system. And I don't think I have the time to spam your email.) All email sent are highly informative.
Once again, thank you for visiting.
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by creat3cp @ Friday, November 17, 2006
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| Wednesday, November 15, 2006
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Fashion Cufflinks For Him And Her
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Fashion Cufflinks For Him And Her
Hello everyone, I am sure you heard people talk about fashion clothing. What about fashion accessories for men ? Yes, you need to give cufflinks a serious consideration. Wearing cuff links is, in and of itself, a fashion statement. Sometimes the cuff links themselves can serve as a fashion plate. For example, here is a fun pair of silver cuff links with oval porcelain plaques that have hand-painted 18th century individuals (a man or a woman on each plaque making a couple on each cuff). This type of cuff link can be worn to show your fashion sense, your like of artwork, or, if you are like me, the fact that you believe everyone is dragging you kicking and screaming into the 20th century. Unlike the olden cufflinks, this titanium cufflinks gives immediate sense of modern fashion sense. 
Adwin Ang
http://www.adwinang.com
Cufflinks buying, exclusive interview from experts & information resource site!
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by creat3cp @ Wednesday, November 15, 2006
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| Monday, November 13, 2006
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Paper Cufflinks? Do they exist in the first place?
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Paper Cufflinks? Do they exist in the first place? After a cup of coffee, I dashed out of my house. And I started to realise that I forgotten my cufflinks..oh no.... I was searching for a solution to cover up my cuff...guess what? I found this on the internet... A paper cufflinks....a DIY paper cufflinks. No not the emergency type. You gotta see it...this can save you someday just like mine situation today. Man this is going to be fun if I can further fold it into diamond shapes, cube, and etc...It is really up to your imagination. They called it love links. What a wonderful name! Enjoy your lucky day! |
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by creat3cp @ Monday, November 13, 2006
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| Tuesday, November 07, 2006
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Getting Gold Cufflinks Hallmarked in UK?
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Getting Gold Cufflinks Hallmarked in UK? I got this question posted by a subcriber to Unique Cufflinks Resource so I though of sharing this with you here. Question:
Hi, I was given 18kt gold cufflinks bought in an upmarket GEM factory
in Thailand, Bangkok. The place was fully iso registered and Thai gov endorsed.
The cufflinks came with a cert of authenticity from the government as well.
I would like to get them hallmarked in the UK.....can anyone point me
in the right direction,advice,tips or costs,etc.
If the process was not too complicated, I would consider
going myself to buy some quality jewelry, as the workmanship and
quality of these items are superlative. any advice will be very much appreciated............ Thanks, James
Reply:
In the UK, Hallmarking is done by the Assay Offices.
The 4 offices are in London,Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh.
There is a minimum charge which can be quite high. It's alright if you want lots of items of the same purity marked, but at around £15 +VAT its a lot for a single item. It is likely to be a little more for finished items - things are usually marked before they are finished. The Assay Office has to scrape bits of gold off for the test.
On top of the minimum charge there is a marking charge per item of
around 11p +VAT. You need to contact your nearest Assay Office (they're in the
'phone book) and they will tell you what to do if you are not registerd.
If you are registered you just fill in the appropriate form and hand the
item(s) over. Hope this information can help you with your question. Let me know if you need more information I will try my best to track it down. see exampled below on hallmarked cufflinks |
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by creat3cp @ Tuesday, November 07, 2006
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| Monday, November 06, 2006
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Sam Kramer's Cuff links
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Sam Kramer's Cuff links Sam Kramer was an offbeat Greenwich Village silversmith from 1939 through 1964. He was known for eclectic silver jewelry that started to blur the line between fine art and decorative art which continues today with many studio gold / silversmiths. He even made cuff links! It has been said that some of his designs have influenced science fiction writers. To give an insight into his personality, you don't need to go farther than to examine the maker's mark he employed -- a circle with mouse ears on top and a mushroom inside. Whether it is the art of assemblage (incorporating non-jewelry materials into the piece) or the use of multiple layers of differing designs to end up with wonderful abstract designs, Kramer concocted unusual pieces that are generally noticed when being worn. 
Cufflinks by Sam Kramer, ca. 1950, stamped "sterling",bearing the familiar mushroom logo, and true to the surrealist creations that make him well known. The irregular shaped biomorphic link has an applied plaque and a dotted bead surrounded by stamped dots. The ends are joined by an oval link. These cufflinks are pictured on page 168 of Warman's Jewelry, 2nd Edition, by Christie Romero. 1" x 1/2" Personal thought: This type of craftmanship seems to focus on the free form of cufflinks and the wearer must be bold enough to accept the type of irregular shape design. I would think ladies might be more interested in this form of cufflinks. Another consideration is the price of the cufflinks. |
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by creat3cp @ Monday, November 06, 2006
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| Sunday, November 05, 2006
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Pirate Cuff links
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You've written in the past about wearing the cuff link for the occasion -- what cuff links do you suggest for unsolicited takeover offers?
I have never seen a good pair of pirate cuff links and the Huns and Vandals have never been popular on 'fun' cuff links. There are some skull-and-crossbones cuff links, but these are generally straightforward and do not show the potential artistry of the marauding. However, there are many versions of Viking cuff links that would be good for corporate takeovers and other dressy marauding activities. The long ships is what I would suggest, these generally are made in silver in Scandinavia (no surprise there). These cuff links can be basically unnamed (even if they have numerous marks). Illustrated are several types of silver links. This type of imagry is also found in Norwegian double-sided enamels
For corporate marauding -- or even hard bargaining at an antique show, I believe the long ships can put you in the right frame of mind and serve as notification of your intent. Special thanks to tias.com
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P.S: I will be doing a email interview with Huck so do check back when you got my email/posting from forum.
Adwin Ang
http://www.adwinang.com
Cufflinks buying, exclusive interview from experts & information resource site! |
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by creat3cp @ Sunday, November 05, 2006
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| Thursday, November 02, 2006
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ParksRogers Cufflinks
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ParksRogers Cufflinks
This pair of cuffilinks was sold in ebay. Seems to
be a antique gold cufflinks. The workmanship
seems to be exceptioanally good. Wonder if
anyone actuallu have a pair similar.
Background Re-cap
Parks Bros. & Rogers was founder in Providence, Rhode Island in 1892. The company made an immediate jump into men's jewelry with the purchase from Howard & Sons of its electroplated goods unit which included lever cuff and collar buttons.
Early on, this company was know for its pastoral scenes, http://pages.captainhucksbooty.com/3559/PictPage/903293.html. By the time of the depression (when they went out of business), they were primarily producing gold, gold-fronted and gold filled cuff links under their "Parkroger" trademark. I find most of these later pieces to be very basic without any touch of uniqueness.
Indeed simple in their looks. However, I discover the cufflinks actually have a unique fastener. Unlike conventional swivel. Anyone have a pair of Parks Bros. & Rogers Cufflinks?
Adwin Ang
http://www.adwinang.com
Cufflinks buying, exclusive interview from experts & information resource site! |
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by creat3cp @ Thursday, November 02, 2006
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