Vintage Links of London 12 Bore Cartridge Cufflinks Sterling Silver

Vintage Links of London 12 Bore Cartridge Cufflinks Sterling Silver 18ct Gold Plate

A characterful early menswear design from Links of London, these Vintage Links of London 12 Bore Cartridge Cufflinks recreate the form of traditional shotgun cartridges as miniature double-ended chain cufflinks.

Each cartridge measures approximately 18mm long, with a 5mm diameter sterling silver body and a wider 8mm end cap finished in 18ct gold plating. The contrasting silver and gold surfaces give the design the recognisable two-tone appearance of a traditional cartridge while retaining the refinement of a polished jewellery accessory.

Each pair of cartridge terminals is connected by a 21mm oval-link cufflink chain, allowing the two ends to sit naturally on either side of a double cuff.

The cufflinks are hallmarked LL, 925 with a date letter for 1992, making this a particularly early surviving example from the original Links of London years.

Design & Craftsmanship

• Material: Sterling silver
• Detail: 18ct gold-plated cartridge end caps
• Design: 12 bore cartridge-inspired double-ended cufflinks
• Cartridge length: Approximately 18mm
• Cartridge body diameter: Approximately 5mm
• End cap diameter: Approximately 8mm
• Chain length: Approximately 21mm
• Chain type: Oval-link cufflink chain
• Hallmarks: LL, 925 with date letter for 1992
• Condition: Cleaned and lightly polished; vintage condition with light marks and wear
• Gold finish: Light wear visible to the original-style 18ct gold-plated end caps
• Packaging: Supplied in a vintage Links of London cufflink box showing age-related wear

A 12 Bore Cartridge in Miniature

The design takes the familiar proportions of a traditional shotgun cartridge and reduces them to cufflink scale.

The narrow silver body contrasts with the broader gold-plated end cap, making the reference immediately recognisable without turning the cufflinks into a literal replica of a functional cartridge.

The result sits comfortably within the early Links of London tradition of turning sporting, practical and everyday objects into witty but wearable cufflink designs.

Traditional Chain Construction

Each cufflink uses two cartridge-shaped terminals joined by a short oval-link chain.

This traditional double-ended construction allows the cufflinks to move naturally with the shirt cuff while keeping the design visible on both sides.

The 21mm chain gives enough separation for practical wear without making the connection feel loose or oversized.

An Early 1992 Example

The cufflinks are hallmarked LL, 925 with a date letter for 1992.

That dated hallmark securely places this particular pair very early within the Links of London story and makes them especially interesting as an example of the house’s original novelty-cufflink tradition.

Condition

The cufflinks have been cleaned and lightly polished rather than aggressively restored.

They remain in vintage condition with light marks and signs of previous wear. The 18ct gold-plated end caps also show light wear to the finish, consistent with their age and use.

This more restrained treatment preserves the character of an early pair rather than attempting to make them appear newly manufactured.

Vintage Links of London Box

The cufflinks are supplied in a vintage Links of London presentation box showing signs of age and storage wear.

The branded insert inside the lid is positioned upside down. It appears to have been glued into the box in this orientation originally and cannot be rotated easily without risking damage to the vintage packaging, so it has been left as found.