Antique Japanese Cufflinks
Early 20th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Cufflinks
Shakudo
Early 20th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Cufflinks
Shakudo
Late 19th Century Japanese Late Victorian Antique Japanese Cufflinks
Silver
Early 20th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Cufflinks
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Shakudo
Early 20th Century American Antique Japanese Cufflinks
Silver
Recent Sales
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Japanese Cufflinks
Mixed Metal, Shakudo
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Japanese Cufflinks
Mixed Metal, Shakudo
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Japanese Cufflinks
14k Gold, Silver
Early 1900s Japanese Late Victorian Antique Japanese Cufflinks
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Late Victorian Antique Japanese Cufflinks
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Japanese Aesthetic Movement Antique Japanese Cufflinks
14k Gold, Mixed Metal, Gold, Shakudo
Finding the Right Cufflinks for You
Cufflinks rose to popularity during the 1800s as fashionable men sought a refined and elegant solution for keeping their shirtsleeves together. Prior to this accessory, which initially materialized as a simple chain fastened to a button, men were lacing the ends of their sleeves with ribbon or string. Today, there are all manner of antique and vintage cufflinks that add flair and functionality to relaxed casual wear as much as they do for classy formal attire.
It wasn’t long before diamonds, emeralds and other precious gemstones began to appear on cufflinks, a means of adding ornament to clean and starched formal wear. When clothing manufacturers began to produce shirt cuffs and collars with more durable materials during the 19th century, a class of newer, stronger cufflinks gained credibility as being both essential and stylish. In the decades following this era’s design evolution, an entire industry bloomed around the craft of these subtle statement pieces.
Luxury brands more often associated with engagement rings and bracelets, such as Cartier and Tiffany & Co., have added cufflinks to their lines over the years, and jewelry designers, working in numerous styles, have explored the use of different materials and integrated a variety of ornamentation. Understated cufflinks of gold and platinum are guaranteed to cleanly complement any ensemble, while more niche designs allow the jewels to truly shine.
Cufflinks are practical pieces of jewelry that can also be very expressive. Consider the event for which you’re donning cufflinks and accessorize accordingly, but know that a distinctive pair of cufflinks, such as the colorful confections offered by Trianon, can pop against your dressy evening wear. Whether they’re geometric wonders of the Art Deco era, reliably relevant skull jewels or glittering accessories designed by Van Cleef & Arpels, adorned with the maison’s celebrated four-leaf clover or prominent animal motifs, you can delicately break from what can be a stuffy business meeting by introducing personality and pizzazz with a duo of nifty cufflinks.
A carefully chosen set of cufflinks can bring a stylish outfit together — literally. Find a large, luxurious collection of contemporary cufflinks as well as irresistible vintage pieces on 1stDibs today.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024To tell if your Japanese pottery is antique, look for markings, which usually appear on the bottoms of pieces. If you see the word "Nippon," your piece was likely produced between 1891 and 1921, making it an antique. Pieces marked with the words "made in occupied Japan" originated between 1945 and 1952 and are vintage, based on their age. A "made in Japan" marking may indicate a vintage or contemporary piece. If you don't see any of these markings, consult trusted online resources to get a rough idea of when your pottery was produced. Any piece that dates back 100 years or more is antique. Should you encounter difficulty with the dating process, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can assist you. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Japanese pottery.