If Arthur Bolotovsky had his way and could influence what would happen for jewelry in the new year, cufflinks would become a bigger trend in 2024. They would regularly adorn the sleeves of celebrities and everyday gentlemen alike.
Bolotovsky is the managing director of Illicium London, a British brand specialising in men's jewellery and accessories. So while he may be a little biased, Bolotovsky says the time is right for cufflinks.
“Gold and silver cufflinks have been a timeless men's accessory for decades. But they're still proving to go down well,” says Bolotovsky. “Along with traditional materials, alternatives such as wood, natural stones and precious metals like platinum are likely to be a growing trend in 2024.”.
The cufflinks market has had a growth rate of around 5.4% in the last 12 months, according to reports. And it is estimated to grow by $1.514bn by 2027, Bolotowski notes.
“Many influential trend-setters, such as celebrities and politicians, prefer to wear cufflinks on important occasions,” Bolotovsky says. “This has evolved into an expression of personality and style. And it's a key reason why cufflinks may become a classic trend in 2024.”.
Bolotovsky researched the rich history of cufflinks. He says these small accessories have had a big impact on men's fashion since their creation in the 1600s. Cufflinks at first were more functional, used to close the cuffs of shirts, Bolotovsky says.
By the 18th century, men began to think about their clothes for more than just practicality. So cufflinks evolved into a symbol of style and sophistication, he says.
Mass production made cufflinks accessible to more men in the late 1800s, Bolotovsky says. However, buttons became a less expensive - and more practical - alternative for fastening shirt sleeves. Literary references to cufflinks, such as in Alexander Dumas“ The Count of Monte Cristo, helped bring cufflinks back into fashion, where they remained.
Bolotovsky says he hopes cufflinks will gain more attention in 2024. That's because jewelers like Illicium and David Gotlib have unique offerings for men and women. They allow you to express your personal style, he says. Whether you want to be bold with bold colors and gemstones or be more sophisticated with a sleek gold or platinum cufflinks.
A typical example is Omi Privé's Alexandrite cufflinks with cat's eye that won the JCK Jewelers’ Choice Award in 2023. How jewellery brands add sophistication to cufflinks - with blue oval centre stones, round diamonds and black platinum rhodium. The $30,000 pair is unforgettable, Bolotovsky says.
With style icons such as football star David Beckham and actor Ryan Gosling wearing cufflinks, more and more people will see them as an easy way to upgrade any outfit from nice to great, adds Bolotowski. So don't save your cufflinks just for special occasions, she says - wear them whenever and wherever you want.
Source: jckonline.com
