When you raise a glass in a toast, your jacket sleeve slides back and the last half-centimetre of your shirt cuff shows. It is a tiny patch of fabric, but it is exactly where cufflinks do their work. Choose well and you have a quiet detail that lifts the whole outfit; choose badly and it becomes an accessory that jars. Cufflinks are fasteners that close a shirt cuff in place of a button, worn with a double (French) cuff or a shirt with cuff holes. The five cufflinks for dress shirts below run from tidy daytime pieces to evening formalwear.
The Short Answer
Five cufflinks for dress shirts worth choosing: striped silver for the office, black onyx with a steel or gold rim for evening events, rose-gold mother-of-pearl for a tuxedo, navy-blue goldstone for a navy suit, and a black oval with a gold rim for formal occasions. Choose by the colour of your suit and the occasion.
1. Striped silver: neat, office-ready, hard to get wrong
The Diagonal-Stripe Silver Cufflinks pair silver with black, with a fine diagonal-lined face — a neutral choice that goes with many outfits. They suit a white or pale blue shirt and a navy or grey suit, for meetings, contract signings and client appointments.
How to wear them: match the metal to everything else you wear — watch, belt buckle, tie bar. Avoid letting two contrasting metals appear together; silver cufflinks with a gold belt buckle will make the outfit feel muddled. If you are wearing cufflinks for the first time, this pair is a safe place to start.
2. Black onyx with a steel or gold rim: for evening events
Onyx is a black stone with a deep, glossy surface, so onyx cufflinks make a crisp black accent that stands out against a white shirt cuff. The Steel-Rim Onyx Cufflinks have a cool rim that pairs with a silver or steel watch; the Gold-Rim Onyx model (PK-021) has a warm rim that suits a gold watch and a gold-buckle belt.
Both suit evening parties, galas, and a tuxedo with a white double-cuff shirt. One note: black onyx against white is a strong contrast, so do not add a pocket square that is too bright; a flat-folded white one is enough.
3. Rose-gold mother-of-pearl: a soft sheen for tuxedos and weddings
Mother-of-pearl is the iridescent layer inside a shell, with a soft pinkish-white colour and a sheen that shifts with the angle of view. The Round Rose-Gold Mother-of-Pearl Tuxedo Cufflinks (PK-161) have a rose-gold rim, warmer and softer than ordinary gold. They suit a black or midnight-blue tuxedo, the groom, and wedding receptions.
If you want a sharper contrast, the Rose-Gold Glossy Black Onyx model (PK-162) keeps the rose-gold rim but has a black face. One note: rose gold shows its best when it matches a tie bar or watch in the same tone. In Groom Styling, cufflinks belong to the group of accessories coordinated with the tie, bow tie and pocket square to fit the wedding concept.
4. Navy goldstone: understated sparkle for a navy suit
Goldstone is a man-made stone flecked with sparkles like glitter dust; in these models, the stone face is navy blue. The Silver Navy Goldstone Cufflinks (PK-164) come with a silver rim, while the Rose-Gold Navy Goldstone Tuxedo model (PK-163) uses a rose-gold rim.
They suit a navy or charcoal suit, a white or pale blue shirt, parties and weddings. Note that the sparkle shows clearly under indoor lights but is softer in sunlight. Match the colour with a navy tie or bow tie so the whole outfit flows, rather than adding a third colour.
5. Black oval with a gold rim: formal and minimal
The Black Gold Oval Cufflinks have a solid black face with a gold rim, in a soft oval shape more slender than a round or square link. They suit a tuxedo, a black suit and evening events; they are also worth trying on a simple white shirt as the accent for a dark suit.
Note: black links with a gold rim stand out, so avoid adding other shiny details such as a glossy satin tie. The oval shape is slightly elongated, so it suits a slim wrist; a broader wrist may do better with a round face for better balance.
Quick Summary Table
| Style | Suits | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Striped silver | Office, navy or grey suit | Match the metal to your watch and belt |
| 2. Black onyx with steel or gold rim | Evening parties, tuxedo | Choose the rim by your watch colour; keep the pocket square minimal |
| 3. Rose-gold mother-of-pearl | Tuxedo, wedding | Pair with other rose-gold accessories |
| 4. Navy goldstone | Navy or charcoal suit | Match with a navy tie or bow tie |
| 5. Black oval with a gold rim | Black suit, evening parties | Avoid adding many shiny details |
Tips from Mon Amie's Master Tailors
- Check your shirt before buying cufflinks. You need a double (folded) cuff shirt, or a shirt with both a buttonhole and a button. When having a shirt made at Mon Amie, tell us in advance that you will wear cufflinks so the cuff is cut correctly.
- Choose a moderate link size. A face of about 1–1.5 cm is enough; oversized links catch when you bend to write or hold a glass.
- Wear them the right way. Fold the shirt cuff back, line up the two edges, pass the link through the four holes, then turn the face outward.
- Let about 1–1.5 cm of shirt cuff show beyond the jacket sleeve, so the links appear whenever you move.
- Keep one focal point. If the cufflinks stand out, keep the pocket square and tie light; the reverse also holds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which men's shirts can be worn with cufflinks?
A white or pale blue shirt in plain fabric with a double cuff is the easiest base for cufflinks. Made-to-measure shirts at Mon Amie are priced from VND 850,000 to VND 2,500,000 per shirt (excluding VAT). The article choosing cufflinks for French cuff shirts looks further at each cuff style.
On which occasions are cufflinks worn?
Formal offices, evening parties, weddings and events with a dress code. Do not wear them with a polo, a T-shirt or a regular-cuff shirt with no cuff holes.
Do cufflinks need to match the colour of the tie?
They don't need to match exactly, only to share a tone or a feel. Cufflinks in the same metal as the watch and belt matter more than cufflinks in the colour of the tie.
Can cufflinks be worn with a watch?
Yes, as long as the metals share a tone and the watch is slim enough to slide under the cuff. With a thick watch, many men wear it on the other wrist or choose a model with a small face.
Final Thoughts
Cufflinks are a small detail in a suit, but they are where the attentive eye looks. Choosing a pair that fits the outfit and the occasion, and wearing it properly, is enough. You can book an appointment to try the cufflinks with your suit and shirt right at a Mon Amie showroom.