11. Cufflinks

Given that the majority of Captain Jack’s shirts used double cuffs, he had to keep them fastened with good old-fashioned cufflinks. The use of these is somewhat of an odd choice for the character. Double cuffs are considered more dressy than button cuffs, so to actively choose them when wearing a casual outfit (open collar, exposed t-shirt, work boots, etc.) is objectively speaking a bit of a clash of formality. That being said, it works for his sort of dressed down pseudo-uniform look.

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From an in-universe viewpoint they aren't that practical, given how Jack would've had to remove them every time he rolled his sleeves up, which he does an awful lot. Jack not losing his cufflinks all the time is almost as miraculous as him being able to come back from the dead.


Section Index:

    11.1. Unknown Spitfire - thin (2006-2011, 2020, 2021)

    11.2. Unknown dark roundish (2006)
    11.3. Unknown Spitfire - chunky (2011)

11.1. Unknown Spitfire - thin:

Years Used: 2006-2011, 2020, 2021
In keeping with Jack’s wartime R.A.F. inspired outfit, his default choice for cufflinks are a pair modelled on the iconic Supermarine Spitfire. This fighter is the most iconic British plane of WWII, and retains a legendary reputation for its role in the conflict. Along with the Hawker Hurricane, it was able to push back the Luftwaffe’s large scale attacks during the Battle of Britain in 1940, preventing an all out invasion and marking Germany’s first major defeat of the war. Had it not been for the airmen within Britain’s armed forces, there’s a serious possibility Germany would’ve been able to gain enough of an upper hand to strong-arm the U.K. into a peace settlement. A deal that would’ve effectively given the Führer total control of the continent.

One of the propeller blades was bent on this cufflink.

The cufflinks themselves are silver coloured, with a chain link connecting them to a plain oval underside. Compared to the real fighter, the silhouette is slightly elongated, giving the fuselage a somewhat skinny appearance. On the wings are subtle uncoloured roundels, and at the front of the plane are propeller blades and even the exhaust seems to have been modelled. Apparently, the cufflinks are a vintage pair that belonged to John Barrowman’s grandfather.

Note the overall size and proportions of the cufflinks.

These cufflinks were not the main ones used for Miracle Day, but they were used for at least some scenes. Spitfire cufflinks seem to have made a return for Fugitive of the Judoon, and presumably were used in at least one of his 2021 appearances (as in Time Fracture he seems to wear a double cuff shirt) but I can't confirm that. That being said the ones in the 2020 appearance look a little different in their proportions, meaning they may be a different pair. It is hard to say for sure either way though given the resolution of the reference images available for that appearance.

The cufflinks as seen in The Gathering from Miracle Day.

It isn’t too difficult to find a generic pair of Spitfire cufflinks, but finding ones with the accurate proportions, chain link, and oval underside can be a real challenge. The most accurate ones that I've been able to find are these which are spookily close, but the underside uses a propeller design rather than an oval. I did enquire about the possibility of producing a batch with oval rears but was told no, so the most accurate option would be to take these tow a jeweller along with a sacrificial pair of oval sterling silver cufflinks and have then swap mix and match the pairs together.

Behind the scenes on Fugitive of the Judoon, these cufflinks appear to be the same ones as before but I can't confirm it beyond a reasonable doubt.

11.2. Unknown dark roundish:

Years Used: 2006

Although the Spitfire cufflinks were ubiquitous during most of Jack’s tenure, there was at least one occasion when he wore a different design. During the final confrontation in They Keep Killing Suzie, Jack wears a pair of dark coloured cufflinks that appear to have a roundish shape and some sort of design on the face.

Given that earlier in the episode Jack is seen wearing his standard Spitfire cufflinks, I suspect that these darker ones were some sort of placeholder for this specific scene.

11.3. Unknown Spitfire - chunky:

Years Used: 2011

Much like the rest of his outfit, Jack’s Miracle Day cufflinks are a lot like his classic era, but with a redesign. Unlike the original pair, these have chunkier and more cartoonish proportions. They bear a 925 hallmark, indicating that although they are sterling silver (which is 92.5% pure) they would’ve likely been made in the U.S. rather than the U.K. (which uses a traditional and more complex hallmark system).

The cufflinks as seen in The Middle Men.

I suspect that these cufflinks were probably made for the show so that John wouldn't have to risk losing his personal ones when travelling to the United States. I don't know of any good matches for these ones but given how non-specific the place looks I would imagine a decent off-the-shelf match exists out there somewhere.

The screen used cufflinks today.