Time for some man-bling - cufflinks and lapel pin

[Ionysis]

I feel men’s jewellery is a bit underrepresented on here so am giving my husbands Christmas present some internet time.

We have two daughters and both of them have tanzanite as their birth stone. So for my husbands gift I wanted to have something made of tanzanite.

I bought this pair of little sugarloaf cabs. Then subsequently came across a bigger version which matched really well. So I am having a pair of simple cufflinks and a pin made for him to wear with his navy suit.




The reason they are claw set is because of the relative softness of the tanzanite. It was thought safer than bezelling. Also the entire mount will be made, polished and rhodium plated before the tanzanites are finally set at the last stage because sometimes a rhodium bath has been known to adversely affect the stones.

 

[DRSAMURAI]

Great idea. Dress shirts for cuff links are becoming scarce. The cuff links do add elements of panache and machismo.

 

[Ionysis]

I do like to see a double cuff on a man. I think it looks very chic.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Oh this is just too cool... and for a navy suit? He's going to be the best dressed fella around. Is this a surprise gift? I'm a big fan of sugarloafs too, and those are particularly nice ones. The best part is that they represent your 2 daughters.

Just make sure you let hubby know to be cautious about laying his arms down on the table, etc. As you know, tanzanite has the trifecta of (potential) durability issues... it's relatively soft (6.5) with brittle tenacity and perfect cleavage. But if treated carefully, he should have no problem (especially with the pin). Have fun!

 

[Ionysis]

I will have to make sure he only wears them on special occasions - and not when there is an open bar!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

this is going to be awsome !
im really hoping that our new King will herald in a new era for things like cuflfinks and lapel pins and tie pins, fob chains etc

 

[Ionysis]

And they are done!

 

[Autumn in New England]

Oh wow, they turned out even more beautifully than I was expecting!! Is your hubby aware yet or are they a surprise? What a gift!!

 

[Ionysis]

They are a surprise completely. I do hope he likes them.

When my dad died my mum gave his gold cufflinks to my husband but somehow when we moved house they went missing. My husband was devastated. I thought this was a nice way to make up for it.

 

[Autumn in New England]

They are a surprise completely. I do hope he likes them.

When my dad died my mum gave his gold cufflinks to my husband but somehow when we moved house they went missing. My husband was devastated. I thought this was a nice way to make up for it.

If he doesn't like them (0% chance), I will take them... and I don't wear cufflinks! I'll slap those babies right on my lobes.

 

[LilAlex]

Oh that is sensational! I'd buy some French cuffs just to wear them!

Maybe I will just leave this up on the monitor...

 

[Autumn in New England]

Oh that is sensational! I'd buy some French cuffs just to wear them!

Maybe I will just leave this up on the monitor...

I'm thinking of ways I can incorporate them into my attire... I could go full-on Annie Lennox. There had to be some pretty impressive lady cufflinks along the way with all of those suits.

 

[Ionysis]

It’s pretty likely that the lapel pin might get stolen by me at some point to supplement my wear to work brooch collection

 

[Autumn in New England]

It’s pretty likely that the lapel pin might get stolen by me at some point to supplement my wear to work brooch collection

I would 100% share the pin with hubs if I were you (or I were me).

 

[yssie]

And they are done!

Ooh. Good golly those are phenomenal.

They seriously couldn’t have turned out better. SO sharp and dapper. If I saw a man wearing those in his shirt I would most definitely be angling for a second look. Or woman!!

And the pin is just the most tasteful addition

Congratulations!! Project very very very successful!!

 

[LilAlex]

I would most definitely be angling for a second look. Or woman!!

A second woman is probably a bridge too far

 

[yssie]

A second woman is probably a bridge too far

I mean who knows what sorts of buttons these little decadences might push off…

 

[Ionysis]

Good point. I don’t want to polish him up too much. He might trade me in!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

They are a surprise completely. I do hope he likes them.

When my dad died my mum gave his gold cufflinks to my husband but somehow when we moved house they went missing. My husband was devastated. I thought this was a nice way to make up for it.

you never know the lost ones might just turn up one day

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

And they are done!

lets go back 100 years and say that is very dapper !
i could see Prince Edward rocking this at Royal Ascot
Prince William take note !

 

[yssie]

Good point. I don’t want to polish him up too much. He might trade me in!

Not at all where I was going with that - more like someone else stealing *you* away for their own creations - but okay, yeah, I giggled

Those blues kept their colour so well. From the pics they didn’t darken much on setting at all - d’you feel like IRL they look similar to when they were loose?

 

[Ionysis]

Not at all where I was going with that - more like someone else stealing *you* away for their own creations - but okay, yeah, I giggled

Those blues kept their colour so well. From the pics they didn’t darken much on setting at all - d’you feel like IRL they look similar to when they were loose?

Yes they really do. I was surprised too. I suspect it’s because I went with the jewellers recommendation of a claw setting - which, honestly, I REALLY did not want. But he said it would be the safest way to set given the softness of the stone and also the best way to keep as much as possible of the cabochon visible and open to the light. I feel he was probably right.

 

[yssie]

The prongs flow up the corners of the stones - your jeweller did such a nice job with the mounting!! I would look at those stones and automatically think “bezel”, but I really like what your jeweller did - I’m glad you were convinced Especially if it helped preserve that rich velvety blue

 

[icy_jade]

They look amazing!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I feel men’s jewellery is a bit underrepresented on here so am giving my husbands Christmas present some internet time.

We have two daughters and both of them have tanzanite as their birth stone. So for my husbands gift I wanted to have something made of tanzanite.

I bought this pair of little sugarloaf cabs. Then subsequently came across a bigger version which matched really well. So I am having a pair of simple cufflinks and a pin made for him to wear with his navy suit.




The reason they are claw set is because of the relative softness of the tanzanite. It was thought safer than bezelling. Also the entire mount will be made, polished and rhodium plated before the tanzanites are finally set at the last stage because sometimes a rhodium bath has been known to adversely affect the stones.

did he like them ?
does he wear them ?

 

[Austina]

They turned out beautifully, my DH has some citrine, sky blue topaz and amethyst cufflinks, although these days he’s mostly in t-shirts.

 

[Ionysis]

did he like them ?
does he wear them ?

He does! He wears them on the very rare occasions we go out for dinner. He has just had a blazer made so he can wear the lapel pin too.

I’m having another pair of cufflinks made for him for our wedding anniversary. It’s 14 years so the gemstone is Opal.



I’m having these set into 18k gold plated with black rhodium.

Something a little like this. But better, obviously!

 

[Starstruck8]

He has just had a blazer made so he can wear the lapel pin too.

That's getting you priorities right! Choose your clothes to go with your jewellery. I have been known to do this myself...

Love the boulder opal. Cufflinks are a brilliant concept.

 

[Ionysis]

So I finally got the opals set.

These are 18k yellow gold plated with black rhodium. It gives the gold a dark brown cast (because of the warm yellow undertones) which I thought would go really well with the fossilised wood of the opals.

Really pleased with how these turned out.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

So I finally got the opals set.

These are 18k yellow gold plated with black rhodium. It gives the gold a dark brown cast (because of the warm yellow undertones) which I thought would go really well with the fossilised wood of the opals.

Really pleased with how these turned out.

where are we going out to dinner ?
They did indeed turn out great