Enamel and Silver Cufflinks: Birmingham’s contribution

Occupying a space in Birmingham’s famous jewellery quarter is the London Badge and Button Company (Lbb London) owned by Toye, Kenning & Spencer Ltd the oldest family run businesses in the world, having been established in England over 300 years ago by a family of Huguenot refugees the Toyés. Since 1685 members of the Toye family have been using their skills to create fine enamel and silver jewellery. The London Badge and Button Company has over 30 years of experience in design and development of fine silver-gilt and silver cufflinks for high fashion men's accessories retailers. Each cufflink captures a unique heritage, a manifestation of craftsmanship trough the ages.

Feraud, School tie, Designer Tie

Everything that can be said about designer silk ties has been said, everyone proclaims that their ties are made from the finest silks in the world, they’re handmade to exacting specifications and so on, it all starts to sound a bit staid. Louis Feraud designer silk ties are simply conservative, cleverly arranged stripes using colours that are easy to coordinate, reminiscent of the old school tie, simplicity at its best. They’re made from the same kind silks that hundreds of other brands use and they’re made in Italy at the same factory that hundreds of other brand names use. At least you know what you’re getting, a reasonable tie for a reasonable price with a very good name attached.

A Golden Designer Silk Tie

Shane McCoubrey has come up with a colourful rendering, transforming art and craft into a distinct fashion accessory. Turn the tie into the light, the colours change from gold to lilac and back again, hand woven on wooden looms is the only way to achieve the desired depth of texture and colour variation. Want a matching pair of cufflinks? The obvious choice, a pair of Gold Naval Lace Cufflinks by Veritas Gifts (Precious Metal Designs)

Another Gold Naval Lace Designer Cufflink, By Veritas

Innovation and master craft manifest, using gold naval lace by Hand & Lock, set into solid sterling silver to produce a pair of cufflinks; the result of Veritas a jewellery designer at the top of his game, six years with iconic Jeweller Tiffany is adequate testimony. Want a matching silk tie? Take a look at one by Shane McCoubrey, made from silks woven on wooden looms in England, a perfect match.

Enamel and Silver Cufflinks: Birmingham’s contribution

Occupying a space in Birmingham’s famous jewellery quarter is the London Badge and Button Company (Lbb London) owned by the Toye Group of companies. Toye, Kenning & Spencer Ltd are one of the oldest family run businesses in the world, having been established in England over 300 years ago by a family of Huguenot refugees the Toyés.

Since 1685 members of the Toye family have been using their skills to create fine enamel and silver jewellery. The London Badge and Button Company has over 30 years of experience in design and development of fine silver-gilt and silver cufflinks for high fashion men's accessories retailer. Each cufflink captures a unique heritage, a manifestation of true craftsmanship.

Cubism: In a Designer Cufflink?

The Cube Designer Cufflink by Ian Flaherty, sporting 80 Swarovski Crystals a piece and recently voted one of the best gifts for Father’s day by Victoria Gray of the Sunday Express Magazine. Precision is equalled by quality and they’re made in England.

Simplicity: The Simon Carter Cufflink philosophy

Simon Carter’s reputation stems from his revolutionary approach to cufflink design following his introductory men’s brooches, in the mid to late 80’s. Some of his original designs are classified vintage. Simon Carter maintains a philosophy of simplicity in his designs; simple, functional, without loosing their stylish edge. His cufflinks not only firm to cuff, they glean a touch of elegance and frame perfectly an object of expression. This lovely display of style and engineering will harmonise with any outfit, formal or casual, here an important function inherent in Simon’s philosophy of simplicity, a cufflink for all occasions.

A Sunflower Silver Designer Cufflink: Topaz-Fuchsia-Amber

If you’re looking for some colour in your life—“The Sunflower” in hues that are sure to appeal to any tastes, like Topaz, Fuchsia and Amber. Just a hint of styles produced by Veritas, generously sized Swarovski Crystals embedded into Solid Sterling Silver. And with an engineered swivel base, they’re built to give many years good linkage to cuff.

Gold Naval Lace Designer Cufflinks: Fit for Officers

Gold Naval lace used for officers uniforms, produced by “Hand & Lock” of London, sitting side by side, Onyx semi precious stones, as black as night and framed by pure sterling silver, mirroring black and gold: Made in Thailand, a country rich in the ancient craft of fine jewellery making, befitting jewellers like “Veritas” and “Links of London” who demand the highest quality finish for their customers--cufflinks so rich in history and textural influences, a rare combination of materials to be sure and not to be found in bargain basements, but also not of reach, at £95.00, a must for any avid collector.

About Naval lace and Hand & Lock; A London Company that still makes gold lace, a fascinating story, here is a taste. In 1767 Goldlacemen called Hand, originally Huguenot Weavers from Flanders, added embroidery to their range of laces, cords and braids. Their skills came from the entourage of Catherine de Medicis, when she married into the French court in the 16^th century. They learnt the ancient Italian secrets of gold lace and made them their own. It was at this time that heraldic art was used to provide a sign of distinction and to recognise the wearer’s achievement. Garments trimmed with gold lace and embroidery set the wearer apart. The measure of their rank and status was the quality of their apparel.

Sterling Silver Designer Cufflinks: It’s Piracy

Skull and Cross Bones, the symbol of piracy on the high seas: this one--a real treasure and the best rendition of a very popular style. No less than 32 Swarovski crystals, a piece, adorn these little gems. “The Globe” is another amongst the Veritas collection, impressionable, everlasting styles. If you’re looking for some colour in your life—“The Sunflower” in hues that are sure to appeal to any tastes, like Topaz, Fuchsia and Amber. Just a hint of styles produced by Veritas, want more?

A Designer Silk Tie in Fragrant Blossom

The Spitalfield flower pattern can be traced back to Huguenot weavers of the1800’s. Today recognised as the trademark of the Timothy Everest brand. He’s given the flower new life. It’s essence captured tastefully in a new range of lovely, colourful silk ties that reflect the brilliant hues of nature. Be ware of imitations, this pattern is exclusive to Timothy Everest, it’s his signature. Turn the tie over and you’ll witness the finite detail that only a tailor could conceive. The Spitalfields flower in fragrant blossom all seasons. It doesn’t end there, the entire collection blooms into autumn, prevail the winter gloom. And for spring it’s even brighter, classic style in a contemporary framework, each tie, an example of fine English needle work

Lbb London: The precision designer cufflink

Based in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, The London Badge & Button Company, part of Toye Kenning & Spencer has over 30 years experience in the design and development of fine cufflinks, buttons and men’s accessories and are the manufacturers behind many of the UK’s leading stores and fashion house collections.

Louisa Taylor and Pei-Nap Mok is the award winning design team behind the current LBB London cufflink collection.

Traditionally recognised for its strong & distinctive enamel designs, LBB’s current collection has expanded to use new & unusual materials for both its classic & contemporary cufflinks with matching accessories.

There’s a sense of precision in Lbb London cufflinks. That, perhaps significant technology lay behind the hands at work creating masters and models.

Toye, Kenning & Spencer Ltd is a group of manufacturing companies founded in 1685, with a reputation for high quality craftsmanship and service. The Group, who have an experienced in house design team, were working on a new collection for the re launch of their retail brand LBB London. Keen to further develop concept designs that required complex master models, they approached the JIIC to assist in the 3D CAD modelling and to access the centres RP facilities and expertise.

The initial brief was to provide TKS with access to new technology in order to help implement their new product development plan for a range of cufflinks. The JIIC team assisted with CAD/CAM and RP and were able to provide the company with prototype and master models within a short timescale. This meant the product development time was shortened, speeding up the lead time to market and creating a longer buying period for their range cufflinks

Results

The assistance helped the company to ‘realise’ new designs which might not have been possible with internal model making skills

o The assistance helped the company to research and to test the market with new product

o The product development lead time was reduced

o Higher sales figures were generated as a direct result of new design reaching the market at the desired time

o The assistance demonstrated the use of RP technologies to other parts of the business and provided them with the opportunity to assess potential applications of new technology for the future.

A sound relationship has been developed with the Group and the JIIC is now working with the company to conduct a feasibility study into the use of laser welding for bespoke precious and base metal jewellery and medals, and the use of lasers for production methods, within their factories.

Could Lbb Cufflinks not be the very first precision cufflink?

A designers hand possessed with such discipline to marry form and function, while gleaning materials that impress upon you textural influences. Smoothly extending the stem to cradle adornments and display all colours of a rainbow: Concluding, a sophistication expressed by precision, abstract and sense of colour, a truly beautiful cufflink.

The Elusive Designer Tie

Neil Bottle’s customers include Hillary Clinton and Cherrie Blare; his textiles designs have hung in some of the most famous galleries and museums in the world, including Guggenheim New York and The V&A London. His designer silk ties and scarves were on the (A) list of buyers from Libertys of London to Harrods. Out of the limelight, he still produces in small quantities, no longer available in high street stores, never the less, collectables, even more reasons to add one to your collection

More than a cufflink designer

Veering off the conventional path, without loosing control, Ian Flaherty has produced a small range of designer ties worthy of the highest praise. They’ll give many give many years good knottage, while complimenting his illustrious cufflinks. Added value, they’re completely woven and handmade in England. To be seen to be different, the choice is yours.