Best Cufflinks for a Tuxedo: 6 Classic Styles for Black Tie
A tuxedo is built on restraint. Its lapels, satin stripe, crisp shirtfront, and polished shoes work together quietly, which is precisely why cufflinks matter. The best cufflinks for tuxedo dressing do not compete for attention. They provide a measured flash of metal at the wrist, completing the ritual of black tie with confidence and intention. Every pair recommended below comes from our Cufflinks Collection.
For a wedding, gala, or milestone dinner, this small detail can carry unusual weight. Cufflinks are often the first accessory a groom fastens and one of the few pieces he may keep for decades afterward. Choose them with the same care you would give a watch, a wedding band, or the lining inside a custom jacket.
What Are the Best Cufflinks for a Tuxedo?
The best cufflinks for a tuxedo are compact, classic, and finished in a material that echoes black tie: mother-of-pearl, black onyx, polished silver, and a slim gold-and-onyx pair are the safest and most elegant choices. Choose a design with a clean shape and no large logos or novelty motifs, wear them with a French-cuff formal shirt, and match the metal of your cufflinks to your studs and watch. Black onyx and mother-of-pearl suit nearly every black-tie occasion; save bolder designs for creative black tie or festive evenings.
What Makes the Best Cufflinks for a Tuxedo?
A tuxedo calls for elegance rather than novelty. The strongest choice is typically compact, well-proportioned, and crafted in a material that complements the rest of your formalwear. Silver-tone metals, polished finishes, mother-of-pearl, onyx, and black enamel all have a rightful place at black-tie occasions.
The shirt is the first consideration. Traditional tuxedo shirts use French cuffs, which fold back to create the double cuff cufflinks are designed to secure. If your shirt has barrel cuffs, cufflinks are not appropriate, no matter how distinguished the pair may be. The cuff should extend about a quarter to half an inch beyond the jacket sleeve, allowing the cufflink to appear only in passing.
Next, consider the formality of the event. A black-tie wedding held in a ballroom invites more ceremony than a creative black-tie dinner or a destination reception. There is room for personality in each setting, but formal accessories should still feel like part of a composed whole. Our guide to black tie dress code mistakes covers the rest of the ensemble.
Tuxedo Cufflinks at a Glance
| Style | Look | Best with | Formality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother-of-pearl | Soft, luminous, understated | White piqué shirt; black, midnight, or ivory jackets | Most traditional |
| Black onyx | Graphic, dark, sharp contrast | Black bow tie; patent leather shoes | Very formal |
| Polished silver | Clean, cool, minimal | Silver studs and a dress watch | Very formal |
| Engraved | Personal, discreet | Any classic pair | Formal |
| Art Deco / geometric | Architectural, character-driven | Historic or city venues | Formal to creative black tie |
| Gold & onyx | Warm, expressive | Ivory dinner jackets; gold watch or studs | Formal |
1. Mother-of-Pearl Cufflinks
Mother-of-pearl cufflinks are among the most enduring choices for a tuxedo. Their soft, luminous surface has depth without sparkle, catching candlelight and evening light with understated grace. Paired with a white piqué or pleated shirt, they create a particularly traditional look. Our Luminous Pearl Mother of Pearl Cufflinks are made for exactly this.
Choose a white or cream-toned mother-of-pearl set in a silver-tone finish for the most versatile result. This is an excellent choice for a groom who wants an heirloom-quality accessory that feels ceremonial without appearing severe. It also works beautifully with a black, midnight blue, or ivory dinner jacket.
2. Black Onyx Cufflinks
Black onyx offers a cleaner, more graphic contrast. A smooth black stone framed in silver-tone metal echoes the tuxedo's own palette and looks especially refined with a black bow tie and patent leather shoes. It is formal, masculine, and difficult to misplace stylistically. Start with our Distinguished Crown Edge Black Onyx Cufflinks, or choose the Distinguished Noir Textured Border Cufflinks or the Imperial Square Black Crystal Cufflinks for a slightly different black-on-black shape.
Onyx is ideal for evening receptions, winter weddings, and formal events where a sharper presence feels appropriate. The trade-off is that it can look slightly more assertive than mother-of-pearl. If your tuxedo includes a dramatic velvet dinner jacket or a patterned jacquard, consider a simpler metal cufflink instead so the wrist does not become another focal point.
3. Polished Silver Cufflinks
For men who favor purity of line, polished silver-tone cufflinks are a faultless answer. Oval, round, square, or discreetly rectangular forms all work, provided the design remains slim and free from excessive ornament. Our Architectural Duality Silver Cufflinks are a clean, square option. These cufflinks reflect the cool luster of a formal watch and pair naturally with silver shirt studs — our Stud Set with Cufflinks gives you both in one matching set.
A bright, polished finish resists the tired look that dull metal can take on over an evening, while a quieter satin finish carries a more traditional character. Either can become a wearable heirloom, especially when selected to mark a wedding day, anniversary, or professional milestone.
4. Engraved Cufflinks
Engraving adds meaning without disturbing the visual discipline of black tie. Initials, a wedding date, coordinates, or a short private phrase can turn a classic pair into something more personal. The engraving belongs on the reverse or along a subtle edge, where it is discovered rather than displayed. Because engraving depends on the metal and the maker, confirm what a jeweler can do with your chosen pair before the event.
This distinction matters. A tuxedo is not a place for large monograms across the cuff. The most compelling personalization is intimate, much like a note sewn into the lining of a tailored jacket — see our groom tuxedo personalization ideas for more ways to make a black-tie look your own. It gives the wearer a private connection to the occasion while preserving the composed exterior expected of formal dress.
5. Vintage-Inspired Cufflinks
Art Deco-inspired cufflinks bring architectural character to a tuxedo. Think clean geometry, fluted edges, small bands of black enamel, or a restrained mix of onyx and pearl tones. Our Geometric Prestige Diamond Pattern Cufflinks, Grecian Key Geometric Cufflinks, and Midnight Elegance Filigree Cufflinks all carry this mood. They are especially fitting for a formal wedding in a historic hotel, a theater, or a grand city venue.
The key is authenticity of mood, not costume. Select one vintage-inspired detail and let it speak for itself. If the cufflinks have a geometric profile, keep the studs, watch, and bow tie classic. Black tie rewards editing.
6. Gold Cufflinks, Chosen Carefully
Gold cufflinks can be remarkably elegant, particularly in warm-toned settings or with an ivory dinner jacket. A gold finish reads more expressive than silver and is best worn with confidence and a clear sense of balance. A slim gold bezel around black onyx — like our Classic Onyx Gold Cufflinks — is more formal than a large, fully gold design.
Match the metal thoughtfully. If you wear a gold watch, wedding band, or shirt studs, gold cufflinks can unify the ensemble. If your accessories are otherwise silver-toned, mixing metals is possible but should look deliberate. For the most traditional black-tie presentation, a single metal family remains the safer choice. Wearing a midnight blue tuxedo? A cool-toned pair like the Celestial Midnight Blue Goldstone Cufflinks echoes the cloth in a way that feels deliberate.
Cufflinks and Studs Should Be Considered Together
A tuxedo shirt with a stud front presents cufflinks and studs as a set, even when they were not purchased together. The materials do not need to match perfectly, but they should share a visual language. Black onyx cufflinks pair naturally with black onyx studs; mother-of-pearl cufflinks sit elegantly beside pearl studs; polished metal cufflinks call for equally restrained metal studs. For a ready-made match, the Stud Set with Cufflinks removes the guesswork.
Avoid overcomplicating the combination. If your cufflinks feature a gemstone, let the studs remain simple. If your studs have a decorative border, choose smooth cufflinks. The effect should feel considered from across the room, not assembled piece by piece at close range. Finish the look with a self-tie Ambassador Silk Bow Tie in black and a white pocket square.
When Personality Belongs at the Wrist
There are occasions when cufflinks can say more. A groom may wear a grandfather's vintage pair, a pair gifted by his partner, or cufflinks engraved with a date that only the couple understands. These choices are not departures from formality. They are the details that give ceremony its emotional center. Cufflinks also make one of the most thoughtful gifts for the men standing beside you — see our guide to the best gifts for stylish groomsmen.
Novelty cufflinks, however, rarely belong with a tuxedo. Sports logos, oversized motifs, and overtly humorous designs can be enjoyable at a casual celebration, but they interrupt the deliberate harmony of black tie. Save them for a blazer, a business shirt, or a less formal dinner jacket event — conversation pieces like our High Roller Poker Cufflinks are better suited there. The one exception is a festive New Year's Eve party, where a playful pair such as The Midnight Toast New Year's Eve Cufflinks can add a wink to an otherwise disciplined look.
At TS Custom Suits, formal accessories are considered part of the larger composition: the jacket's line, the hand of the cloth, the bow tie's proportion, and the story carried within the garment. A cufflink may be small, but it has the power to make the entire look feel finished. Browse our Black Tie & White Tie Collection and Tuxedo Collection to build the full ensemble around your cufflinks.
A Final Check Before the Evening Begins
Fasten your cufflinks after the shirt is pressed and before you put on the jacket. Ensure they sit flat, the closures are secure, and the metal is clean of fingerprints. Then look at both wrists in natural light. If the cufflinks feel loud, they probably are. If they seem to belong to the tuxedo as though they were always meant to be there, you have chosen well.
The right pair should serve the evening, then outlast it. Years from now, when they emerge from their box for another celebration, they should recall not only what you wore, but what the moment meant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best cufflinks for a tuxedo?
Mother-of-pearl, black onyx, and polished silver cufflinks are the most classic choices for a tuxedo. They are compact, formal, and echo black tie's restrained palette. A slim gold-and-onyx pair also works well, particularly with an ivory dinner jacket. Avoid large logos and novelty designs.
Do you need French cuffs to wear cufflinks with a tuxedo?
Yes. Traditional tuxedo shirts use French cuffs, which fold back to create the double cuff that cufflinks fasten. A standard barrel-cuff shirt is not designed for cufflinks, and a pair will not look or sit correctly with one.
Should cufflinks match the studs on a tuxedo shirt?
They should share a visual language, though they don't need to be identical. Black onyx cufflinks pair with onyx studs, mother-of-pearl with pearl studs, and polished metal with restrained metal studs. A matching stud set with cufflinks is the simplest way to get it right.
What color cufflinks should I wear with a black tuxedo?
Black onyx, mother-of-pearl, and silver-tone cufflinks are the traditional choices for a black tuxedo. Gold works too, especially when it matches a gold watch or studs. Keep the metal family consistent across cufflinks, studs, and watch for the most polished result.
Can you wear gold cufflinks with a tuxedo?
Yes, when chosen carefully. A slim gold bezel around black onyx is the most formal gold option and pairs especially well with an ivory dinner jacket. Match the gold to your watch or studs so the metals look deliberate rather than mixed by accident.
Are novelty cufflinks appropriate for black tie?
Generally no. Sports logos, humorous designs, and oversized motifs interrupt the formality of black tie. They work better with a blazer, a business shirt, or a casual celebration. A festive pair can be a playful exception at a New Year's Eve party.
How much do tuxedo cufflinks cost?
Cufflinks in the TS Custom Suits collection are priced at $75 a pair, and the Stud Set with Cufflinks, which includes matching studs, is $120. Every order ships free within the US.
Shop this guide
- Mother-of-pearl: Luminous Pearl Mother of Pearl Cufflinks
- Black onyx & black-on-black: Distinguished Crown Edge Black Onyx · Distinguished Noir Textured Border · Imperial Square Black Crystal
- Polished silver & matching studs: Architectural Duality Silver Cufflinks · Stud Set with Cufflinks
- Art Deco & geometric: Geometric Prestige Diamond Pattern · Grecian Key Geometric · Midnight Elegance Filigree
- Gold & midnight blue: Classic Onyx Gold Cufflinks · Celestial Midnight Blue Goldstone Cufflinks
- Festive & conversation pieces: The Midnight Toast New Year's Eve Cufflinks · High Roller Poker Cufflinks
- The full collection: Cufflinks Collection
- Complete the look: Black Tie & White Tie Collection · Ambassador Silk Bow Tie — Black · Pocket Squares
