I actually have the opportunity to buy a pair of seemingly authentic Clinton cobalts and I wanted to get your thoughts on this. They’re first term issue and in the thick square box. Is it safe to say these are authentic just by the box? I know from the Clinton second term on the box was downsized and redesigned, but I didn’t know if knockoffs ever came in the authentic box I referenced. I don’t want to go into too many details about the packaging on a public forum, but I’m quite familiar with the old authentic box and the new one used today, and these are in what appears to be an authentic box.

I have pictures of the pair I’m thinking of buying which I could send to you. Any help would be greatly appreciated–I just don’t want to get burned on a fake pair.

Thanks!
Chris

I’m sure official Obama cobalt cufflinks do exist. We just haven’t been convinced so far that the styles we’re seeing are authentic to the White House.

The cobalt cufflinks created for library resale are different from the official White House versions. We can tell the library versions based on the box used and other measurements that I’d prefer not to disclose at the risk of having these differences erased in future commercial manufacture.

Suffice it to say, the library versions are exactly the same as found online for resale at about $45 each, yes, and are not considered authentic presidential cufflinks.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist
Worthologist

Great article!

As for Obama jewelry, it does exist. I don’t personally have anything from him, but I have seen the authentic diecast lapel pins. They come in the usual blue box with his primary autopen signature on the top of the box and on the reverse of the pin. I have a pair of VP cufflinks Joe Biden gave me and they are also packaged similarly.

I have a question regarding the cobalt cufflinks. How to the Presidential Library issued cobalts compare to the Administration issued ones? Are the Library issues considered authentic? It is safe to assume these are of the same quality as the White House issued ones, and not the low-quality ones that are a dime a dozen on eBay?

You ask the very same question all of us collectors are asking ourselves – where are the Obama official items? We are beginning the reelection cycle pretty soon and we have yet to find any – and I mean any – official jewelry of any kind attributed to the Obama White House.

We have rumors. We have possibilities. But so far nothing concrete. That is why the commercial vendors are having a great time selling ‘official’ jewelry items online and in gift stores. They are not official in any sense of the term.

So, what to do. We wait. Hopefully, a White House staffer will eventually tell someone who will tell someone else who will let the collectors know exactly how the Obama Administration intends to celebrate its historic time in the White House through its collectibles.

That is the best I can do for now.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist

Thanks for sending the photos. You have an authentic pair of George H W Bush, Sr enamel cufflinks, so called because of the enamel covering over the silk screened printing of the seal of the president. This is the first time this enamel was used for these cufflinks and continues to be a standard feature for presidential cufflinks to this day.

The blue box with embossed signature and the signatures on the reverse of each cufflink all add to their authenticity. There is some wear with the felt in the box and the box itself, but not enough to detract from the value of the cufflinks (and I didn’t see any wear with them).

Taken together, your cufflinks are authentic and can sell to collectors from $125 to $195 a set as long as they remain in good condition and the box and cufflinks remain together.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist

Marc Nadeau

I read your article concerning the authenticity of the presidential cobalt blue cufflinks on the market. Do you know a seller or vendor that could be trusted in selling these authentic items? Also, are you familiar with Ron Wade in Texas?

Thanks for your help!

Regards,
James

Todd

There have been at least two different designs for official Camp David items that collectors are aware of. The first showed the Camp David entrance sign, the second a version of the presidential coat-of-arms. We’re not sure when the changeover occurred, but probably during the Clinton Administration.

There has also been a commercially produced set sold in gift shops throughout Washington, D.C. and still are.

Without a photo of the cufflinks I couldn’t tell right now which set you have. The difference is between the gift shop version at $25.95 and a presidential set valued at about $125 to $175.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist

It has been a tradition by presidents since about Ronald Reagan to issue several types of presidential cufflinks: the cobalt blues, die cast full seal ones (look like minted coins), and the ones you are talking about, the full color presidential seal silk screened version, all with engraved signatures on the reverse. The latter two were given out interchangeably, while the cobalts were given out to more special guests.

There is no reason to believe that your set is a commercial knockoff. The Secret Service does not, as a rule, give out unauthorized White House items as a thank you to all those who provide assistance to the president while on travel.

Today, that set has a retail value of between $125 and $175.

A very nice keepsake.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist

AUTHENTIC PRESIDENTIAL CAMP DAVID CUFFLINKS – $110 (SOCAL)

——————————————————————————–
Date: 2010-01-09, 8:45PM PST
Reply to: sale-hbdbx-1545560066@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

——————————————————————————–

This is an original set of PRESIDENTIAL cufflinks. Presidential Retreat – Camp David. I picked these up at a high end Jeweler Collector in New York a number of years back during the Reagan Administration.
I am asking $110.00 for the set because they are not only collectible they are great to adorn. I received many compliments on them. They are not plastic and are original.

Location: SOCAL
it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 1545560066
This is an original set of PRESIDENTIAL cufflinks. Presidential Retreat – Camp David. I picked these up at a high end Jeweler Collector in New York a number of years back during the Reagan Administration.
I am asking $110.00 for the set because they are not only collectible they are great to adorn. I received many compliments on them. They are not plastic and are original.
• Location: SOCAL
• it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/clt/1545560066.html

I was a hotel Security Director and the elder President Bush made several visits to our hotel. On one visit, The lead Secret Service agent gave me a set of President Bush cufflinks – not the cobalt blue but rather the ones with the color seal. Yes the blue box has his signature on the lid rather than a coat of arms, but the signature on the back is curved.

You suppose they purchased “knock offs” to hand out? Doesn’t seem likely but then again I am no expert.

Your thoughts please!

Thanks.

Todd Mixon