What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects them on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £60 (~$80) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £51 (~$68) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £39 (~$52) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £27 (~$36) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £15 (~$20) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Metal content misdescribed as solid when it is plated, and stones described as natural when they are lab-grown or simulant. Both are common and neither is always deliberate.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether cufflinks is worth what is being asked:
- Odd single cufflinks
- Worn plating showing base metal
- Failed swivel or chain fittings
- Novelty and promotional pairs
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Precious metal with hallmarks
- Recognised makers and designer pieces
- Complete matched pairs
- Original box included
Common faults and fakes
Hallmarks can be faked but are rarely faked well, and a jeweller will read one in seconds. Plated pieces wear through at edges and clasps first.
Ask for a close photograph of the hallmark and the item’s weight in grams. Those two facts alone put a floor under what it can be worth.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about cufflinks, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Photograph the hallmark. Sterling and plated cufflinks look identical in photographs and are worth quite different amounts.
Test both. A seized swivel bar makes a cufflink unwearable and it is not always a simple repair.
Compare them closely. Odd cufflinks turn up frequently and selling a mismatched pair as matching is an avoidable complaint.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Look for hallmarks on the backs
- Confirm both are present and match exactly
- Test the swivel fittings work
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- Both cufflinks together, face up
- The reverse showing the fittings and any mark
- A hallmark magnified, if present
- Any enamel, stone or engraving, plus every scratch or plating loss
Details to confirm before you commit
- Material, with hallmark photographed if present
- Dimensions and weight
- Fitting type, and whether both swivel freely
- Any enamel damage, stone loss or plating wear
Live cufflinks listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse jewellery & watches for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Lifts before Christmas, Father’s Day and wedding season. Hallmarked silver and designer pairs sell within days in those windows.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have cufflinks sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell cufflinks for what to photograph and how to price, or what cufflinks are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used cufflinks?
Around £6 to £39 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check cufflinks before buying?
Ask for a close photograph of the hallmark and the item’s weight in grams. Those two facts alone put a floor under what it can be worth.
Is buying cufflinks second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Metal content misdescribed as solid when it is plated, and stones described as natural when they are lab-grown or simulant. Both are common and neither is always deliberate.
See also: all buying guides · cufflinks value guide · selling cufflinks · Jewellery & Watches · condition grades.