NB: These cufflinks are made to order, and normally made and dispatched within seven working days
A handmade cufflink designed by Simon and made-to-order by bespoke jeweller Diana Maynard. With a short, delicately tapered stem to grip the cuff, the links are available in white, grey or peacock pearls, and silver or gold-plated silver stems.
The design is based on the seeming lack of simple, sophisticated cufflinks on the market, which mostly fall down in Simon's view because:
They do not have significant decoration on both sides of the link
Those that do are too long in the bar or chain that joins them
Those without the cheap, rotating bar design are difficult to push through the cuffs
And, few designs are attractive, yet simple and conservative enough to wear with tailoring
Says Simon: "All cufflinks should have something on both sides of the link. They always did and it is pure cheapness not to today. The inside is seen almost as much as the outside, and a cheap steel bar is not decoration."
Simon and Diana wanted the stones on each side to be identical, and they had to be as big as possible while remaining easy to punch through the cuff. After several iterations, 10mm spheres proved to be the perfect size.
Pearls were selected for the decoration because they are simple and sophisticated - not showy, certainly not 'fun', and subtle enough to wear with both day- and evening wear.
The stem that joined the two pearls again went through several iterations to find the right length - not too tight (like a silk knot) and not too dangly (like most chain-links).
They are hand-made by Diana in her north London workshop, and as with most else sold through Permanent Style, are incredible value for money - something made individually by hand with similar materials would usually cost over £500 retail.
The pearls are cultured freshwater pearls, and the silver is polished and rhodium-plated to prevent tarnishing.