While cufflinks aren’t an essential piece of your wardrobe, they will elevate your look — especially if you tend to wear shirts often. As a piece of men's jewellery that works both functionally and ornamentally, they tend to be considered to be a mark of maturity.
The "rules" around cufflinks are constantly evolving, like all fashion trends, but there are some key things to be aware of when shopping online. We'll cover the basics in our buying guide, so regardless of whether you're the groom at a wedding or heading to a business meeting, you'll know exactly what to look out for. After that, we’ll show you our favourite cufflinks available to purchase right now from trusted UK sites such as Amazon, ASOS and John Lewis.
Quick List - Top Cufflinks
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The name of this style is a bit of a giveaway as to how the mechanism works. You see, the toggle is shaped like a whale’s tail and needs to be flipped into an upright position that's parallel with the slip in the holes in your cuff. These cufflinks are super popular, easy to use and tend to be inexpensive as they’re often mass-produced.
However, they do have one issue. Depending on the craftsmanship and the regularity of use, the mechanism can become strained over time, resulting in damage or breakage. This happens far more often with this style than any other, so you may want to save whale back cufflinks for special occasions rather than wearing them daily.
Bullet back cufflinks may give you the impression of a 007 super-spy gadget, as they have a toggle that looks just like a bullet! This toggle flips up and down, in a similar manner to the whale back design, so it should be secure when parallel with the slip.
Again, these are very popular because they're easy to use and super stylish. The same issue that occurs with whale back clasps can arise with bullet back cufflinks, though — they’re known to break if used frequently, so take care while wearing them.
Ball return cufflinks are a classic design. They have a curved post and a chunky ball part that is pushed through the hole in your sleeve. Once the cufflink has been pushed through, the thickness of the stem keeps it firmly in place.
The main advantage of this style is that the cufflinks have no moving mechanisms or parts, which means they generally last longer. However, they can be more difficult to fasten than other styles and are often a little pricier due to the extra material.
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When we say affordable metals, we mean stainless steel, titanium and brass. These are generally inexpensive to produce, therefore the cost isn’t passed on to the consumer. While they vary in terms of their tones, they’re all fairly robust and non-rusting, which means that you should get a decent amount of wear from your purchase.
Another feature worth mentioning is that these materials can often be plated, so you can get the effect of wearing gold or silver without the eye-watering price. Cufflinks that look good and won't break the bank — sounds like a good deal to us!
Precious metals, on the other hand, are not so affordable. The prices for these types of cufflinks can run well into the hundreds of pounds, especially if they're made by a designer brand. As you’d expect, these options are usually made from pure gold or silver and some designs will incorporate gemstones such as onyx too.
Cufflinks made from precious metals certainly have a luxurious feel to them and they're very durable. However, it’s worth considering how often you’re actually going to wear them — if you’re only buying a pair for special occasions, such as a wedding or a fancy anniversary dinner, then maybe splashing so much cash isn't ideal. That said, if you have the money to spend, why not treat yourself?
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Some will feature patterns, specific colourways or certain symbols. These can be a solid option if you’re looking for something with a bit of character but that won't come across as novelty — think of them as the smart-casual of the cufflink world! If you buy a design featuring colour, however, it’s worth mentioning that you should consider the rest of your attire and make sure the colours don't clash.
Guys who don't take themselves too seriously will be pleased to know that there are playful cufflinks available. For example, you can pick up pairs with designs relating to your favourite TV show or movie. Of course, these would probably not be the best choice for an important business meeting but they're perfect for casual events.
Lastly, of course, you have straightforward plain designs. These are simple yet sophisticated and will bring a quiet touch of elegance to your outfit. If you're attending a conference or another kind of formal occasion, these are guaranteed to go down a treat and pull your look together.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Simon Carter Laser Engraved Button Cufflinks, Gunmetal | ![]() | Suitable for All Attires and Occasions | |
2 | EIO Gifts Personalised Square Gold Cufflinks | ![]() | A Customisable Set Ideal For Gifts and Weddings | |
3 | Simon Carter Sterling Silver Plain Rectangle Cufflinks | ![]() | Simple, Sturdy and Sophisticated | |
4 | Paul Smith Oval Logo Cufflinks | ![]() | A Bold Pattern From an Iconic Designer | |
5 | Tinksky Silver Classic Cufflinks | ![]() | Classic Cufflinks That You Can Wear Anywhere | |
6 | Onyx-Art London Motoring Cufflinks|Set of 3 | ![]() | A Trio of Cufflinks Perfect for Petrol Heads | |
7 | Tommy Hilfiger Striped Logo Cufflinks | ![]() | Glamorous Brand Name Without the Price Tag | |
8 | ASOS DESIGN Cufflinks With Diamante and Faux Pearl | ![]() | Champagne Style on a Lemonade Budget | |
9 | Beaux Bijoux Star Wars Accessories - Palladium Millennium Falcon Cufflinks | ![]() | The Closest You'll Get to Owning the Millennium Falcon | |
10 | Montblanc Snowcap Star Cufflinks | ![]() | A Colourway That Works With All Wardrobes |
It was hard work choosing our number one pair of cufflinks — after all, it depends on the situation and the attire. That said, we feel like this set from Simon Carter would be suitable for every style and occasion, so it gets our seal of approval.
The elegant engraved mandala design is made from plated brass, which will suit a shirt or jacket in practically any colour under the sun. Plus, this pair comes in a gorgeous presentation box, so it would make a wonderful anniversary gift for the special man in your life — or a great investment piece for your own wardrobe!
While these cufflinks might look like they're fit for royalty, they're actually made from affordable stainless steel and have a touch of gold plating over the top. Therefore, anyone wanting to look bling on a budget can easily afford them.
Best of all, they come in a luxury chrome case and both of the cufflinks as well as the case are all fully customisable. Just type out your intended message and the seller will engrave the item. This makes them a great gift or a keepsake for the men in your wedding party!
These simple yet sophisticated cufflinks by Simon Carter are totally timeless in terms of their design. They feature the brand's classic logo embossed on the front and there are screws in each of the corners, giving them a slightly industrial vibe.
Since these cufflinks are crafted from sterling silver and they use swivel clasps, they're generally pretty sturdy. They're easy to style, too, so that's one less thing to worry about when piecing together the perfect outfit!
Paul Smith is an icon in British fashion, and here you can find his trademark striped pattern on a lovely set of oval-shaped cufflinks. As you can probably tell from the shape and the vibrant shades, this pair is better suited to casual wear than formal attire. Still, they're incredibly fashionable and will bring any outfit to life.
The colourway might put off minimalists and those who prefer to stick to traditional tones. You'd be surprised at how well they work with many different shades though, and those who are unafraid to stand out will love them!
You really can't go wrong with plain rectangular cufflinks, and this classy pair from Tinksky is just the ticket! We reckon they could be worn with any style of shirt and suit, on any occasion. They can smarten up a casual outfit but won't make you look overdressed either, so they're very versatile.
The straightforward whale back clasp makes these cufflinks quick to put on, and they're made of brass with silver plating. Not only are they effortlessly chic, but they're also an absolute bargain!
Now, not all novelty designs have to be as glaringly obvious as something like the Millennium Falcon or a football team's badge. Take this car-inspired set, for example — the designs depict gearsticks, steering wheels and dashboard lights but unless someone looks closely, they likely won't spot these delicate details.
Although the company's name is Onyx-Art, we unfortunately have to break it to you that these alloy cufflinks don't actually feature any precious stones. That said, they're still a fun trio of cufflinks that have character without being over the top — perfect for petrol heads!
Tommy Hilfiger is one of the leading men's lifestyle brands, and they produce all kinds of accessories — so it's only natural that they make cufflinks too! This pair is rectangular and made from stainless steel, giving them a more glamorous look than their price tag would have you believe.
There's also a pop of colour thanks to red white and blue flag detail along the bottom, as a subtle hint to the theme of the brand. This subtlety will be a pro for some people and a con for others — it's all down to personal taste.
If you're looking for a bit of bling and want the champagne lifestyle but you only have a lemonade budget, look no further than these cufflinks from ASOS! They're made from mixed based metals with diamante embellishments, so they should bring some shine and sparkle to your suit.
These are low maintenance cufflinks at a budget price. You will need to take care of them though, as the diamante pieces on this type of jewellery are prone to falling off.
We think we'd be on the money when we say that many people grew up wishing they'd be able to get their hands on the Millennium Falcon. While this isn't exactly the same, it does offer you the option of expressing yourself while wearing cufflinks!
Since these cufflinks have a ball return clasp, they're sturdy and shouldn't break any time soon, meaning they're excellent value for money. Sadly though, the novelty design might not be appropriate for every occasion and they aren't made from particularly high-quality materials.
Getting the ball rolling, we have these round bullet back cufflinks from Montblanc. They have an eye-catching snowcap star pattern on the front that's simple but still has personality, meaning that this set can be worn with smart and casual outfits alike.
The black onyx inlay will complement the majority of suits, regardless of style or colour, which is handy because you probably won't want to buy any more pairs after you've splashed out on these expensive cufflinks!
Written and researched by Lewis Clark
No. 1: Simon Carter|Laser Engraved Button Cufflinks, Gunmetal
No. 2: EIO Gifts|Personalised Square Gold Cufflinks
No. 3: Simon Carter|Sterling Silver Plain Rectangle Cufflinks
No. 4: Paul Smith|Oval Logo Cufflinks
No. 5: Tinksky|Silver Classic Cufflinks
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