Opening Statement
These American vintage cufflinks by L.G. Balfour are a small corporate object with real charm.
Collector’s Note
These cufflinks have a rare quality: they speak of a brand without shouting, Pepsi logo speaks silently because it is iconic!
The Pepsi reference is clear, but never loud. There are no colours, no large lettering, no obvious souvenir effect. Just a circle crossed by two waves — enough to evoke one of the most recognisable marks in American visual culture.
That is the strength of the piece. The Pepsi Globe has become so deeply rooted in collective memory that it remains legible even when stripped of its colours. Here it becomes almost abstract: clean, graphic, elegant. Anyone familiar with Pepsi will recognise it immediately; anyone who does not catch the reference at first will still see a pair of well-designed American vintage cufflinks with a sober, unmistakably 1970s presence.
For an Italian collector, there is also another layer of memory. In Italy, for many years, Coca-Cola dominated the imagination almost completely. For boys growing up here, Pepsi felt different when it began to appear more visibly: a novelty, an American alternative, something slightly unexpected. In the 1980s, especially after the New Coke episode in the United States, Pepsi seemed to many of us almost closer in spirit to the original Coca-Cola taste we remembered and preferred. It had the flavour of arrival, curiosity, comparison — the sense that another icon of American pop culture had finally entered the scene.
Their rarity does not depend on the brand alone. It lies in the whole combination: L.G. Balfour, sterling silver, American production, Pepsi / PepsiCo visual identity, hinged construction and an uncommon corporate design. Promotional cufflinks exist, of course, but a sterling silver pair by Balfour with this subject and this restrained graphic treatment is far less common.
They are for a Pepsi collector, certainly. But also for someone who loves quality corporate objects, American advertising history, graphic design, or men’s accessories with a precise story behind them.
They are not merely decorative. They are a small sign of belonging, corporate culture, 1970s America — and, for some of us, the memory of when Pepsi still felt like a discovery.
Description
The front is round, sober and built around a clean graphic design: a satin central surface crossed by two raised, more polished curved bands. The result immediately recalls the visual language of the Pepsi Globe, the circular emblem that has shaped Pepsi’s identity for decades.
What makes them special is the way the logo is treated. It is not printed, coloured or used as a simple advertising mark. It is translated into metal — quieter, more mature, almost architectural. Even without red, white and blue, the motif remains strongly recognisable. That is the power of an iconic symbol: the shape alone is enough for the eye to complete it.
The cufflinks are made in sterling silver, as confirmed by the STERLING mark, with the LGB mark for L.G. Balfour and MADE IN USA. The back has a hinged mechanism with cylindrical bar, solid and functional, typical of quality American production for institutional, academic, corporate and commemorative pieces.
These are not just cufflinks with a logo. They are a small piece of American corporate identity: probably made for an internal, executive or company context, closer to a presentation gift than to an ordinary commercial accessory.
Historical Note on L.G. Balfour
L.G. Balfour is one of the historic names in American commemorative and institutional jewellery.
Founded in Attleboro, Massachusetts, a city long associated with jewellery and metalwork, the company became especially known for class rings, university insignia, fraternity and sorority jewellery, medals, awards, badges and corporate presentation pieces.
The world of Balfour is the world of belonging: schools, universities, companies, associations, careers, achievements and milestones. Their objects were not simply decorative; they marked identity, role, memory and membership.
That is why a pair of corporate cufflinks marked LGB carries a particular meaning. Balfour was exactly the kind of maker suited to this type of object: accessories and presentation pieces designed not only to be worn, but to represent an institution, a company, an event or a professional connection.
Historical Note on Pepsi / PepsiCo
The Pepsi symbol is one of the great graphic signs of the 20th century.
The circle crossed by curved bands — traditionally in red, white and blue — became much more than a commercial logo. It became a popular image: American, immediate, tied to advertising, consumption, graphic design and post-war visual culture.
In these cufflinks, the symbol is stripped of colour and transformed into metal relief. That is precisely what makes it interesting: it does not need the full graphic treatment to be recognised. The form is enough.
A small example of how a brand becomes an icon.
On the Appearance
I never polish or alter the cufflinks in my collection beyond what is necessary. I may remove a little dust or residue, but I let time remain legible on the surface. In this case the patina matters: it warms the metal, softens the design, and greatly enhances the dialogue between the engraved work and the more golden tones. Cleaning them too aggressively would take depth away from the whole.
Details at a Glance
Essential information for collectors, kept clear and immediately readable.
| Materials / Stones |
|
|---|---|
| Style | American corporate vintage; Pepsi / PepsiCo; 1970s; sterling silver; graphic; minimalist; institutional; collectible; corporate identity design; American memorabilia. |
| Occasion |
Ideal with double-cuff shirts, navy blazers, grey suits, business tailoring, or as a collector’s piece for lovers of Pepsi, PepsiCo, vintage advertising, corporate memorabilia and American men’s accessories. They are discreet cufflinks, but with a very strong reference. Perfect for someone who enjoys objects that appear simple — until someone recognises the story. |
| Mechanism / Closure | Hinged mechanism with cylindrical rear bar. |
| Hallmarks / Marks |
Marked LGB. Marked STERLING. |
| Dimensions | Diameter: mm 20 |
| Weight | Total weight of the pair: Gr 10.36 |
| Period | Vintage, probably 1970s. |
| Origin | United States. |
| Condition |
Good vintage condition, with patina, micro-scratches and light signs of wear consistent with age and use. The surface retains a beautiful contrast between the satin areas and the more polished raised bands. The front motif remains clear, legible and strongly recognisable. The hinged mechanism is present and consistent with the period. |
| Included | The Cufflinks Collector presentation box. |
| Care Note | Clean gently with a soft silver cloth. Avoid abrasive products, chemical dips or aggressive polishing, in order to preserve the vintage patina and the contrast between the satin and polished surfaces. |