Have You Ever Thought About Antique Jewellery?...

The word 'tailoring' firstly and foremost conjures up images of clothes, of the different pieces that comprise an outfit; shirt, jacket, trousers and possibly tie. However, as any snappy-dresser appreciates, often its the little details that can lift an otherwise unremarkable ensemble. The button-hole, cufflinks, dress studs, tie pins or bars and so forth. 

The downside of this attention to detail is the additional expense incurred through wearing such accessories, and although they're an important final flourish, I often feel that as far as finishing touches go, they're rather costly. Being confined to a student budget, accumulating these valuables presents a real problem for me. Fortunately, at university last year, I found a solution. It comes in the form of antique shops. Where else can you find hand-crafted Edwardian silver and mother of peal cufflinks for less than thirty pounds? Or even Art-Deco eighteen carrot gold-on-silver cufflinks for under twenty five?

Furthermore, many antique shops stock items which not only offer a unique period aesthetic, but equally, these items come from a time before mass production was in use in the jewellery industry. Consequently, you can pick up something that's been handmade, with a hallmark for next to nothing, and as anyone who likes bespoke tailoring knows, the value of a unique hallmark and hand crafting is indeed worth its weight in gold. 

I'd really recommend having a snoop around your local antique shops for all manner of little finishing touches to your outfits - you can walk away with something very special, valuable and unique very cheaply - and even enjoy the novel experience of haggling for it.

Art-Deco 18 crt gold-on-silver cufflinks with polished black enamel face.
Art-Nouveau rose gold, mother of pearl and paste circular cufflinks.
Art-Deco sterling silver patterned cufflinks.
Edwardian sterling silver, paste and mother of pearl circular cufflinks.
Art-Deco gold-plated tie-pin.
Silver pocket-watch lion shaped fob with Imperial Agate cut gemstone.