Tiger Eye and Gold Cufflinks

These cufflinks are an elegant example of the "spool" design of cufflinks favored in the 1920s.  The two tiger eye ends are set in sturdy gold bezels connected by a straight, rigid post.  The strength and rigidity of the design helps ease the passage of the cufflinks through a buttonhole while also assuring that the cufflinks remain safely on the cuff when worn.

Sansbury & Nellis was a specialist in beautiful gemstones and created elegant cufflinks and stickpins to showcase them.  The firm was in operation during the early decades of the 20th century.  Sansbury & Nellis's maker's mark ("S-N") is stamped on the inside of the cufflinks along with "14-K" for the purity of the gold.

Name:  Tiger Eye Spools

Cost:  Although these elegant cufflinks have sold,  you will find many more fine cufflinks in the Antique Cufflink Gallery.

Measurements:  These 14kt gold cufflinks weigh a total of 8.3 grams.  The tops are 1/2" in diameter and the length of the cufflinks is 7/8".

The decades around 1900 were a period of invention and innovation among the makers of fine cufflinks.  Cufflink makers strove to create aesthetically pleasing cuff jewels that could be easily placed on a cuff and would remain safely in place through the vicissitudes of daily wear.  The "spool" was an elegant design that briefly gained popularity during the early 20th century.  With its identical, usually gem-set ends connected by a rigid straight or curved post the design offered an elegant balance between securing the cufflinks when worn and making it easy to put them on.