A cufflink (also cuff
link or cuff-link) is a decorative fastener
worn by men or women to fasten the two sides
of the cuff on a dress shirt or blouse.
The forerunner of today’s shirt first
appeared in the early-1500s, its ruffled
wristband finished with small openings on
either side that tied together with "cuff
strings." Although cuff strings would
remain popular well into the nineteenth
century, it was during the reign of Louis
XIV that shirt sleeves started to be fastened
with boutons de manchette, or "sleeve
buttons," typically identical pairs
of colored glass buttons joined together
by a short, linked chain.
By 1715, simple, paste-glass buttons had
given way to pairs of two, decoratively
painted or jeweled studs, typically diamonds,
connected by ornate gold links.
Hence was born the cuff "link",
whether simple glass buttons or gilded and
bejeweled studs.
Cufflinks are designed only for use with
shirts which have buttonholes on both sides
but no buttons. These may be either single
or double-length ("French") cuffs,
and may be worn either "kissing,"
with the ends pinched together, or "barrel-style,"
with one end overlapping the other. Kissing
cuffs are usually preferred.
Cufflink designs vary widely. The simplest
design consists of a short post or chain
connecting two disc-shaped parts. The part
positioned on the most visible side is usually
larger; a variety of designs can connect
the smaller piece: It may be small enough
to fit through the button hole like a button
would; it may be separated and attached
from the other side; or it may have a portion
that swivels on the central post, aligning
with the post while the link is threaded
through the button-hole and swiveling into
a position at right angles to the post when
worn.
"Dumbbell" or shank-style cufflinks
were popular during the early-1900s, particularly
in America.
The visible part of a cufflink is often
monogrammed or decorated in some way. There
are numerous styles including novelty cufflinks,
traditional cufflinks, contemporary cufflinks,
utility cufflinks, and humorous cufflinks.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cufflink
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