A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Cufflink Restoration

At Links London, we’re passionate about preserving the timeless craftsmanship of vintage jewellery. This time, we took on the restoration of a pair of 2007 Links of London sterling silver cufflinks, featuring a quilted cushion front with an oval swivel back. These cufflinks, hallmarked and crafted in solid sterling silver, had seen years of use and storage, accumulating tarnish, minor surface marks, and faded polish.

In this blog post, we’ll take you through our step-by-step restoration process, showcasing how we brought these classic cufflinks back to their original brilliance—perhaps even better than new!

The Cufflinks: A Glimpse into 2007 Links of London Design

These cufflinks are a true representation of the craftsmanship and innovation that made Links of London a staple in luxury men’s accessories.

🔹 Design & Features:

• Front: Quilted cushion-style face, giving a textured, luxurious look
• Back: Classic oval swivel back, allowing for secure fastening and comfortable wear
• Connector: Solid sterling silver bar link, approximately 18mm long
• Material: Sterling silver, hallmarked with 2007 Sheffield Assay Office marks
• Finish: Originally, these may have been rhodium or palladium plated to reduce tarnish, a common practice in later Links of London production

Despite their timeless appeal, these cufflinks had developed tarnish, uneven surface wear, and minor storage marks. Our goal? To professionally clean, polish, and restore them while preserving their vintage character.

Step-by-Step: Restoring the 2007 Links of London Cufflinks

1. Ultrasonic Cleaning: Removing Residue & Dirt

Before we even begin polishing, we ultrasonically cleaned the cufflinks to remove any trapped dirt, old polish residue, and built-up grime. This process is crucial to ensure that when we begin polishing, we’re working with a clean and even surface.

Ultrasonic cleaning of silver cufflinks at Links London

Ultrasonic cleaning of silver cufflinks at Links London

2. Barrel Polishing: Cutting Through Tarnish & Old Surface Treatments

To even out surface marks and remove old coatings, we used a ceramic barrel polisher. This step:
✅ Removes oxidized layers and uneven tarnish
✅ Smooths out surface marks and fine scratches
✅ Prepares the metal for a refined polish

Ceramics media polishing cufflinks in the barrel tumbler

The ceramic media creates a matte finish, which is ideal as a foundation for the next stages of polishing.

Ceramics media polishing cufflinks in the barrel tumbler

2007 Links of London cufflinks inside the barrel polisher

Restoring a Classic: Vintage 2007 Links of London Quilted Cushion Cufflinks

Ceramics media polishing cufflinks in the barrel tumbler

Ceramics media polishing cufflinks in the barrel tumbler

3. Steel Shot Polishing: Burnishing for a Brighter Finish

After the ceramic polishing, the cufflinks went into a stainless steel mixed shot polisher. This centuries-old burnishing process helped:
✔️ Polish hard-to-reach areas, like the deep grooves of the quilted cushion design
✔️ Enhance brightness without excessive metal removal
✔️ Prepare the cufflinks for final hand polishing

Steel shot polishing process in jewellery restoration

Steel shot polishing process in jewellery restoration

At this stage, the cufflinks had a bright satin finish, a look that some manufacturers would consider “done”—but not us!

Steel shot polishing process in jewellery restoration

4. Hand Polishing: Achieving a Near-Mirror Finish

To bring out the best possible shine, we used precision hand polishing techniques.

✨ What we used:

• Soft mop polishing wheel for controlled buffing
• Hyfin polishing compound (designed for stainless steel but excellent for sterling silver)
• Traditional jeweller’s Rouge for a final finishing touch

Polishing cufflinks with a soft mop wheel for a mirror finish

This method enhanced the reflective quality of the silver, giving the cufflinks a brilliant, polished finish while preserving the details of the quilted pattern.

Reflective mirror finish achieved through precision polishing

Reflective mirror finish achieved through precision polishing

Ultrasonic cleaning of silver cufflinks at Links London

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Cufflink Restoration

The Results: Better Than New?

After the restoration process, the cufflinks were unrecognizable from their original tarnished state.

Vintage 2007 Links of London Quilted Cushion Cufflinks

✅ Tarnish-free, high-polish mirror finish
✅ Quilted cushion design restored to its original depth
✅ Bright, even surface without plating interference
✅ Retained all hallmarking details and original structure

Without any plating or artificial coatings, these cufflinks will age naturally, allowing their sterling silver character to develop beautifully over time.

Vintage Links of London Cufflinks: Own a Piece of History

These 2007 Links of London cufflinks are now available in The Vault at Links London, supplied in a vintage Links of London gift box to complement their heritage.

🔗 Want to Own a Piece of Links of London History?
Check availability in the Links London Vault

The three-ring Links of London logo on the back of the cufflinks

💎 More Vintage Jewellery Restorations
If you love luxury accessories, jewellery restoration, and heritage craftsmanship, subscribe to our Links London YouTube Channel for more behind-the-scenes restoration videos!

Detailed view of the quilted cushion design

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Final Thoughts: Preserving Luxury, One Piece at a Time

At Links London, we are committed to preserving and restoring classic Links of London jewellery. Whether it’s cufflinks, bracelets, or charms, our mission is to bring these timeless pieces back to life for modern collectors.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Cufflink Restoration

Have a vintage Links of London piece you’d like to see restored? Let us know in the comments below!

See you in the next one. Toodles! ✨