Cufflinks are a small detail that the right people always notice. On a tuxedo, they are not optional decoration, they are the hardware that fastens a proper French-cuff dress shirt and quietly signals that you dressed with intent. Pick them well and they pull the whole black-tie look together. This step-by-step guide walks you from shirt choice to the final twist, so your cufflinks read sharp rather than fussy.
Contents
Why Cufflinks Matter on a Tuxedo
A tuxedo calls for a French-cuff shirt, and a French cuff has no buttons. Cufflinks are what hold it closed, which makes them functional first and decorative second. Because they sit right at the wrist, in handshakes and toasts and photos, they get seen constantly. The correct pair finishes a black-tie outfit the way the right shoes do, while the wrong pair stands out for all the wrong reasons.
Types of Cufflinks
- Bullet-back: the most common, with a small pivoting bar that flips to lock. Easy to use, great for everyday formal wear.
- Whale-back: a flat head with a larger flip arm, secure and simple to handle.
- Fixed-back: one solid piece, the most traditional, slightly trickier to thread.
- Stud-style and silk knots: minimalist options, with silk knots offering a soft, colorful, budget-friendly touch.
Metals and Finishes
For black-tie, restraint wins. Silver, white gold, and platinum tones are the safest and most classic, often set with mother-of-pearl, onyx, or a small clear stone. Match the metal to the rest of your hardware, including your watch and belt buckle if visible, so nothing clashes. Loud novelty cufflinks belong at casual events, not formal ones.
Easiest
Bullet-back
Pivoting bar flips to lock. The everyday black-tie default.
Most classic
Fixed-back
One solid piece, traditional look, a little harder to thread.
Softest
Silk knot
Light, colorful, inexpensive. A relaxed touch for less strict events.
How to Choose Your Cufflinks, Step by Step
- Step 1: Confirm the shirt. A tuxedo needs a French-cuff shirt, which is what cufflinks fasten.
- Step 2: Pick a classic metal. Silver or white-gold tone keeps you firmly inside black-tie territory.
- Step 3: Choose a restrained face. Mother-of-pearl, onyx, or a small clear stone over novelty shapes.
- Step 4: Match your other hardware. Align the cufflinks with your watch and studs for one clean tone.
- Step 5: Choose an easy back if you are new to cufflinks, such as bullet-back, so you can fasten them quickly.
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Build the Whole Black-Tie Look
Tuxedos, French-cuff shirts, and the finishing touches that make them work, starting at $199.90.
Shop TuxedosHow to Put Cufflinks On
- Step 1: Fold the French cuff back so the two ends line up, edge to edge, not overlapping.
- Step 2: Line up the four buttonholes through both layers of fabric.
- Step 3: Pass the cufflink post through all the holes from the outside in.
- Step 4: Flip the back bar closed to lock it, with the decorative face sitting on the outside of the wrist.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Overlapping the cuff like a button cuff, instead of folding it flat, edge to edge.
- Loud novelty cufflinks at a strict black-tie event.
- Mismatched metals between cufflinks, watch, and shirt studs.
- Wearing cufflinks with a button-cuff shirt, which simply will not work.
Caring for Your Cufflinks
Cufflinks last a lifetime with minimal care. Wipe them with a soft cloth after wear, keep them in a small lined box so they do not scratch each other, and store them away from moisture. A pair of good silver-tone cufflinks can outlast several tuxedos, which makes them a smart one-time buy rather than a recurring cost.
Finish the Look, Backed by 1924
SAYKI is the US home of Hatemoğlu, founded in 1924, with nearly a century of formalwear behind every tuxedo and dress shirt we make. We can set you up with the French-cuff shirt and tuxedo that your cufflinks deserve, starting at $199.90. See the full black-tie range at any of our nine US store locations, including the flagship at 375 Madison Avenue, through our store locator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cufflinks for a tuxedo?
Yes, if your shirt has French cuffs, which a tuxedo traditionally calls for. Cufflinks are what fasten them closed.
What color cufflinks go with a black tuxedo?
Silver, white-gold, or platinum tones are the classic choice, often set with mother-of-pearl, onyx, or a small clear stone.
What is the easiest type of cufflink to use?
Bullet-back cufflinks, with a pivoting bar that flips to lock, are the easiest to fasten and a great default.
Which way should the cufflink face?
The decorative face should sit on the outside of your wrist, where it is seen, with the bar locked on the inside.
Should my cufflinks match my watch?
Ideally yes. Matching the metal of your cufflinks, watch, and any shirt studs keeps the look clean and intentional.
