By Åse Anderson
When it comes to Father’s Day gift ideas, you can’t go wrong with cufflinks. So, this year, why not ramp up his style credentials with a pair of coloured gemstone cufflinks – perfect for the natty dresser who prefers to stand out rather than blend in.
Colorado-based Todd Reed recently introduced a full men’s jewellery collection, which now accounts for 14 per cent of his total sales. According to Todd, men are becoming more confident and experimental in their fashion and jewellery choices: “Men appreciate design and are looking for something interesting. When they realise they have options, they are more open to trying something new. Along with design, we find that men are looking for something wearable and durable.” Todd’s diamond cufflinks are just that, set with raw and rose-cut diamonds in natural hues, which are just as precious but don’t give off the huge amounts of sparkle that often puts men off wearing diamonds.
Forget any notion that diamonds are just a girl’s best friend; yellow, rose gold and sparkly white diamonds are classic combinations that look just as good on cufflinks as they do on fine jewellery. We love the Fabergé rose gold cufflinks with brilliant-cut diamonds on the iconic egg motif or, for a more modern style, take a look at the diamond-set yellow gold cufflinks from the Rock it! collection from Ornella Iannuzzi.
To bring out his flamboyant streak, opt for coloured gemstone cufflinks, which are available in all hues of the rainbow - from the Kiki McDonough yellow gold cufflinks set with ruby-studded balls of jade at either end, to the glowing mandarin garnet embedded in black rhodium cufflinks from Theo Fennell.
The Tiffany & Co. cufflinks from the Elsa Peretti Cabochon collection feature shimmering blue lapis lazuli sculpted into a smooth round shape, set in yellow gold, while the trapiche emerald and white gold cufflinks by US-based Pamela Huizenga are right up there as one of the most eye-catching Father’s Day gift ideas we've come across this year. Rare and unusual, trapiche emeralds are found only in the Boyaca Emerald district of Colombia. The striking cat's eye effect is the result of black carbon impurities, which form a distinctive star pattern within the cabochon-cut emerald.
For a more subdued but no less elegant option, head over to 1stdibs and check out these gemstone cufflinks by Alexandra Mor, which are available in a limited edition of just 10 pieces. Featuring bezel-set, octagon-cut dendritic quartz with an Asscher-cut diamond on the back, these classic cufflinks don’t come cheap but they’re the perfect gift for the man who has everything.
Click here for more Father's Day ideas for design-loving dads
