Links in time: All you need to know about cufflinks

One of the biggest consulting houses in the world is headquartered in Chicago. New recruits, lucky enough to land a job there, are put through an intensive training program, which doesn't just stop at office work. This company believes that an employee's appearance is a direct reflection of the organisation, and therefore enforces a strict dress code. For male employees, wearing a suit is an absolute essential – that too only black, dark grey or navy blue. Their shirts, only of two colours – pristine white or light blue. For footwear, only loafers and no brogues. They are only allowed to wear watches with a leather strap, no metal straps are allowed.

So where then is the room for personal style? The company allows only two deviations. The first is that employees can wear suspenders of their choice – although because they must wear a jacket at all times, these too are hidden. The only other area where personal choice is allowed is in their choice of cufflinks.

In the world of power dressing, it's the attention to detail that always makes an impression. Apart from the cut of the suit, the silk tie, the perfectly polished shoes, classic watch and leather belt, cufflinks always make a statement. You can tell a lot about a man by the cufflinks he wears – flamboyant, professional, simple or sporty.

There are various types of cufflinks you can choose from, depending both on the occasion as well as your personal choice.

Designer cufflinks

An obvious way to make a statement is by sporting a pair of designer links. Most European luxury brands have cufflinks as part of their men's accessories collection. A popular material of choice for many is 18K gold. If you're wearing branded cufflinks, you'll want people to recognise the brand. That's why most brands will have their names or logos engraved on their cufflinks. For example, some Cartier cufflinks will sport the Cartier ‘C', while Versace has a simple pair with just their house motif. Other brands, like Bvlgari, always engrave their name on their cufflinks.

Car cufflinks

If your one true love is your car, chances are that your wheels will have a set of custom cufflinks. Porsche has a pair in sterling silver and plated gold, which carries the brand name and company symbol. In the 1930s and 40s, Rolls Royce handed out a pair of gold cufflinks to anyone who purchased a Silver Ghost, complete with an intricately carved Spirit of Ecstasy. These are now collectors' items.

Embellished cufflinks

If you're a man who likes bling, there are various jewelled cufflinks you can get your hands on. However, it's important to differentiate between day and evening wear. So, for a regular day at the office, you may choose to sport a pair of platinum and onyx cufflinks, encrusted with tiny diamonds – understated bling. For evening events like a cocktail party, you can choose cufflinks which are a little more flashy – yellow gold with diamonds and rubies, or white gold with black onyx and diamonds. Most of these jewelled cufflinks are not associated with a brand, and are created by European jewellers.

Different cufflinks

If you're not one for designer brands or blingy stuff, vintage cufflinks are a good option. Instead of going for the regular sterling silver or platinum, you can choose a dull silver pair inset with cabochon gemstone such as a blue sapphire or ruby, or go for a simple titanium and gold pair.

For those who want to try something different, ‘cuffbutton covers', which ‘snap' on to your cuff buttons are easy to put on and look dressy too.

For an antique variation, triangular cufflinks are understatedly elegant. More like cuff ‘holders', these cufflinks aren't very easy to wear on your own, and in the good old times, would have required the help of a page boy to put on!

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