Unique Gifts Archives - Page 3 of 5

Cool, Blue Respite

During the warm, summer months, major cities can get, well, grimey. Don’t get me wrong; I love cities—humidity, dust, and mid-afternoon gaminess, not so much. If you’ve never spent a summer in the city, the lyrics of that old song are pretty accurate.

That said, there are ways of getting by. Light-colored linen, air-conditioned movie theaters, cold showers, fresh salads by the pound, and plenty of water flavored with lemon—or better yet, cucumber slices—go a long way in making one survive the heat. Anything that can remind you of what it is to be cool and comfortable can make the stuffy-mugginess of the summer in the city manageable. For me, the color blue connotes calmness and coolness, and that was the feeling I got when I saw these Sodalite and Pearl Square Cufflinks:

The colors of them remind me of the variety of cool rain that, if only briefly, provides respite from the heat.

Signature Look

Frequently, I use this space to discuss buying gifts for others. (Often our engraveable cufflinks.) However, from time to time, we like to treat ourselves. Maybe you deserve a little something. Maybe you’ve finished a major item on your “to-do” (or the ever-popular “honey-do”) list. Maybe you’ve managed to surpass your savings goal for the month. Or, perhaps, you want to buy yourself a little present just because.

When you do buy something for yourself, why not buy something that you alone would pick out? Our store has a great option in these Custom Signature Cufflinks:

After purchasing them at our store, you simply email your signature as a jpeg (sign your name on a piece of paper and scan it, or get the office techie to do it for you) to specialrequests@cufflinksdepot.com. That’s all. Simple, personal, perfect.

Fitting In

As I have pointed out many times before, our store is a great place to buy groomsmen’s gifts. Some people might find such a huge selection overwhelming. To that end, I hope that this space has been useful for those who just don’t know where to start. However, even if you’ve enjoyed the cufflinks that I’ve highlighted, you still might want to make your own choice.

In that case, one way to narrow things down would be pick cufflinks that are a certain color. These days, a lot of couples are choosing to designate theme colors for their weddings. If a couple chose red and gold as the theme colors for their wedding, these Red and Gold Murano Glass Cufflinks would be perfect for the groomsmen:

Not only would these graphic and interesting cufflinks make a great groomsmen’s gift, they would distinguish the groomsmen from all the other guys in black tie as members of the wedding party.

Design for All

Of late, a lot of the cufflinks that I’ve showcased here have miniature renderings of real things, animals, or even functional objects. As you’ve probably guessed, I rather like these types of cufflinks, and appreciate the facile manner in which they make the perfect gift for someone who is somehow related to those objects.

However, I’m also a huge fan of good design, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t also direct your attention to some of our store’s more abstract pieces. Today, I’d like to point out these Crystal Mine Cufflinks:

The crystal detail paired with the ball shape makes these cufflinks unique, but the separate elements also make them timeless. (Such a pairing—the singular and yet always appropriate—is rare.) I can’t imagine an outfit or occasion that they wouldn’t complement.

Retooling Geek Chic

Well, I’m pretty late in terms of reviewing the new Star Trek movie, so I’ll leave that to others. As I understand it, the way that the movie cleverly elides issues of continuity so as not to be held to the storylines of previous films and television episodes is all about the fans. The sort of folks that like Star Trek and other science fiction and fantasy—myself included—are known for paying attention to detail and quickly notice if plot point contradicts something that occurred earlier in the larger plot, even if it was in a book/film that was authored by a different person, or was produced years earlier (see “Canon” in the Wookipedia).

However, this audience is not known for paying nearly as much attention to, ahem, fashion sense. Sure, there’s “geek chic,” but it operates, in part, on the premise that being an early adopter of high-end gadgets or a fan of “Lord of the Rings,” means adhering to a particular type of uniform. What if you’re a Star Trek fan who works in an office that has a dress code, or you simply don’t like pocket protectors? What to do? You can find classic elements of style that hint—not yell—your geekdom. To that effect, these Star Trek Cufflinks are perfect:

To someone uniformed, they’re just lovely cufflinks with an interesting, abstract design. To a fellow geek, they’re worth coveting.

Going Green on the Daily

Today was Earth Day, but I didn’t plan a long and involved post. Why not? It certainly isn’t the case that I don’t care. I try to live in a way that minimizes my carbon footprint; indeed, I try to generally minimize anything I do that is harmful to the planet. Also, I have highlighted a number of our store’s offerings in the way of cufflinks made from recycled materials. To that end, I present yet another set today; these Recycled Bottle Top Cufflinks:

So, why not the long and lengthy post? I guess I have two reasons: First, I think that there are others on the web who do it better. Second, I look forward to the day when sustainable living is second nature to us all to the extent that we no longer need to reserve one day to remind everyone why we need to put more effort into taking care of our planet.

A Timely Gift for Cycling Commuters

I’ve started to ride my bike more. I’m not far from the big three-oh, and would like to get back into shape sooner rather than later. That, and there is going to be a fare hike in the coming months on the public transportation in my city, and I’d like to get used to riding often before that happens. We’re doing ok financially, but getting in shape and saving money just seemed too good to pass up.

Apparently, I’m not alone. While my own dear hubby doesn’t share my new pursuit, I definitely see more guys commuting than women. (Come on ladies—join me! It’s fun and cheaper than spin class!) I think if my husband did start to commute by bicycle, I’d purchase him a pair of these Bicycle Cufflinks:

They’d be a great form of encouragement for the new commuter. The detail on them is stunning, and the clean lines would compliment any business attire. They’re also priced very reasonably, to boot!

Enter The Dragon

Of mythical creatures, dragons are definitely the ones we turn to when seeking a symbol of strength and power. Certainly, the pan is a trickster figure (as aptly highlighted in Pan’s Labyrinth), and unicorns are pretty, but neither conjures the sense of defiance that dragons do. Can we imagine the effect of entitling Bruce Lee’s iconic film “Enter the Unicorn”? Such a title just doesn’t fit a film that showcased Lee’s charisma and skill.

That said, it is no wonder that dragons are a common subject for tattoos. However, tattoos are permanent, and expensive, and painful. For those who would like to wear dragons on their sleeves without getting dragon sleeves tattooed, our store offers a solution in the way of these Dragon Body Cufflinks:

These cufflinks provide a much simpler way to make the dragon your mascot, no?

Balanced

You told him not to worry about impressing anyone. As far as you were concerned, he didn’t have anything to prove. But he was still nervous about going to your grandmother’s 80th birthday party. After all, this grandmother was on the old money side of the family, the side that never quite approved of their Ivy-league educated, architect daughter marrying a contractor. (Nevermind that you found this pairing ideal, or at the very least, convenient when you both designed and built your dreamhouse on a small budget, and even better when you formed your own firm.) That, and the party was black-tie, and he always felt like he was impersonating someone else when he dressed up.

Despite his misgivings, he dutifully dressed for the occasion, and couldn’t have been more handsome. But then, looking down at his wrists, he realized he’d forgotten to get cufflinks for the fancy shirt he’d purchased for the occasion. No matter. Right after adjusting your hair, you gave him gave him these Blue Level Cufflinks:

They’d reminded you of him—precise, perfect, always balanced. In turn, he felt better wearing a visible reminder that you didn’t think he needed any changing.

Ensuring Your Rings Arrive

Your Best Man: He’s your best friend; he’s always been there for you; you love him like a brother, and he adopted your future wife as a sister. Who could ask for more in a best man? Well, there is that one, itty, bitty, teeny, tiny issue. Your bachelor party was Downtown, on the Westside, but somehow, he ended up Uptown, on the Eastside. The concept of the streets being in a grid system is entirely lost on him. The rehearsal dinner, at his parents’ house—so he wouldn’t get lost—was at 7pm, but he didn’t get there until 8 (and this, after telling him that it was at 6:30pm to pre-empt his lateness), claiming that he had, “just lost track of time.” You can’t imagine choosing anyone else to be your best man, but, given that the traditional, crucial task of the best man is to hold onto the wedding bands, you’re starting to freak out. The whole, “with this ring…” thing just doesn’t sound right without, well, wedding rings.

These Silver Finish Watch & Compass Cufflinks, available in our store, are just the thing:

Of course, if he happens to just lose the rings, you’re on your own.

questions? Call us now ☏