Mens Accessories

Mens Accessories

range from ties and cufflinks to hip flasks and walking canes - the means by which men have displayed personality and flair for more than 100 years. Many of these are now

 

Cufflinks and ties are still popular, but men looking for something special can also choose from studs (for shirts), tie clips, and even hip flasks. An expensive pair of cufflinks or set of studs could cost you £1,000 or more, hut most items are much less costly.

Up your sleeve

Cufflinks are made in all designs and materials, including glass, mosaic, ivory, gold, enamel, and jewels. Collectors often focus on certain styles,

such as Art Deco, or jewellers such as Faberge, Tiffany, Cartier, or Van Cleef & Arpels. Prices for such names can he high, often ,£300-800 or more, but there are many less expensive items at around £200-300 or less. 


Silver sets with simple enamelling can cost less than .£100. More modern items are generally less expensive than their original retail prices.

Look for four vices' enamelled cufflinks, with symbols representing the gentlemanly' vices: playing cards, horse-racing motifs, cocktail glasses or champagne bottles, and elegant or scantily clad ladies. A gold Victorian or Edwardian set can fetch up to ±1,000-1,500 or more.



 

Early 20th-century cufflinks were sometimes gold-plated, with printed scenes under a clear glass covering on one or both faces. These can fetch between £10 and ,£50. Similarly valued are plastic sets from the 1930s onwards, often in novelty shapes.

mens accessories

AH dressed up

Before the 1960s, men wore dress- shirts with studs in place of buttons. There were two types: those for wear with tailcoats and white ties, and those for dinner jackets and black ties. White-tie sets are pale, usually made of mother-of-pearl or snowy enamel set in a platinum or white-gold mount. Black-tie sets are frequently set with

onyx or ebony enamel in a white- or yellow-gold mount.



 Cheaper variations, often pastes set in a silver or gold- plated mount, can also he found. Values can vary from around £100-200 for a paste set, up to £1,000 or more for finer sets in precious materials.

mens accessories

Tied in knots

Bow-ties have a limited following and prices are low, with fine silk or rayon examples costing less than £30-50. Look out for patterns from the 1930s with Scottie dogs, aeroplanes, or cars. The long neck-tie was introduced

between 1890 and 1900, hut came into its own in the USA in the late 1940s with a craze for ties with hand-painted tropical scenes and risque images.

These are now sought after. Collectors also look for 1960s psychedelic designs from Pucci and Mr Fish, and Surrealist designs by Fornasetti, as well as elite names such as Hermes. Values vary from £5-10 for 1970s and 80s ties, up to £150 or more for original hand-painted 1940s ties. Look for 'peek-a-boo' ties, with a semi-clad or naked lady on the underside of the tie.

Pinned down

mens accessories

Tie clips and pins were popular from the 1930s to the 60s, especially in the USA. Most are plain with perhaps a single stone or paste to enliven them. 









They are usually gold- or silver-plated, but occasionally solid gold, silver, and platinum ones can be found. Solid examples can fetch several hundred pounds, or even £1,000 or more,

while plated pieces will usually cost around £30-100, depending on the style and decoration.

All in a day's sport

The majority of vintage hip flasks found were produced between 1890 and 1930 and were designed to hold brandy or whisky. Most are silver, silver-plate, or pewter. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including glass examples, encased in silver or leather. Values depend on the maker, the material used, the decoration, and the condition, but hip flasks can usually be found for around £50-£300.