What is the history of cufflinks?
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What is the history of cufflinks?

The initial cufflinks were first seen during the early 1500s when a lot of prominent men wear comprised of a 
shirt with the ruffled wristbands held together using strings.Although this style would stay popular and in 
daily use up to the 1800s, the beginning of the 1700s experienced the appearance of ornate silver and gold 
linked chains that were attached on the sleeve glass buttons.During the mid-1700s, gold chains stuck in 
popularity; however, the glass buttons had to give way to the decorative buttons designed from jewels, mostly 
diamonds.

During the Georgian era, sleeve buttons had become more ornamental.They were costly and intricate, and 
the elite wore then with a suit or as tuxedo studs.However, cufflinks at this time became more playful, 
personal opinion on fashion with additional colored gems as well as miniature masterpieces ( hand-made).In 
this time, George Krementz, a German Immigrant, struck an idea.He adapted the machine concept of making 
bullets in 1876 and put it on making cufflinks.This idea allowed him to produce a lot of cufflinks with 
additional variety in regards to design.

During the 19th century, cufflinks became more popular because of factors such as the bourgeoisie rise 
where the middle-class wore practical and conservative dressing.Other factors that contributed to the rise of 
cufflink popularity are the inception of tailored shirts, the lounge suit development, and the industrial 
revolution.

The industrial revolution saw the precious metal development in electroplating, the ability to produce more 
and cheap transport, which meant that cufflinks were more affordable for everyone.It is also at this time that 
chains that were used in low-cost cufflink production got replaced by rods and simple-to-close fasteners.The 
industry of fashion soon adapted the notion and started making formal shirts, which particularly required 
cufflink use.

The 20th century was the cufflink's busy century.The enameled cufflinks still had popularity.However, fresh, 
fashionable movements changed functional accessories to masterpieces again, deriving inspiration from Art 
Nouveau and Art Deco designs, along with the Faberge enamels.Cufflinks in this time are still worn to show 
taste and style.With the cheaper costs of manufacturing cufflinks, a lot of new forms of cufflinks were 
available.You would find the traditional silver and gold cufflinks and those made using silk, onyx, white gold 
as well as mother-of-pearl.

With time, cufflink designs started to feature various metal types.Jewelers began incorporating fabrics, 
stones, and other metals hence revving up the fashion of cufflinks.

In the 21st century, variety in styles is diverse than ever before, with effects of each era playing a critical role 
in the choice of fashion.In the case of cufflinks, innovative twists on the timeless classics are ensuring the 
tradition remains strong and alive.The more unique models are culprits of the new wrist wear avant-garde.
Men are shifting away from the chunky timepieces to fantastic mechanical cufflinks while women are 
swapping impractical and delicate bracelets for the edgier cufflinks that are set with the precious stones such 
as diamonds.
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