How to upcycle a Vickers Tank to sterling silver cufflinks

16t of carbon steel, west coast of Scotland and a family holiday. That was the start as I took the children to archery on a holiday in Scotland. We turned up and I was immediately sidetracked inspecting a collection of Enfield rifles, military regalia and retired armored vehicles, artillery guns and tanks.

I had a moment of reflection as I stood in this rain swept field looking at a tank that had been in theatre and posing the question – how could I upcycle this doomed beast?

Part of the tank was transported to our workshop to be cut, shaped, annealed, polished and finally integrated with our sterling silver whaleback and foot to create a totally original and stunning cufflink, The Drigh Sterling Silver Cufflink, named after RAF Drigh Road in modern day Karachi, Pakistan. This particular tank was typical of those used in the British India Army pre 1947, and has a link to my family.

RAF Drigh Road was established by the British prior to India partition, my grandfather served there. The base was also the origination point of the Royal Air Force mutiny of 1946 which involved 50,000 personnel from 60 RAF stations spreading to Singapore. RAF Drigh Road is now known as PAF Base Faisal (named after the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia).

I am told that little remains of the original base but I’m not entirely sure that is a bad thing as “Lawrence of Arabia” (TE Lawrence once served at RAF Drigh Road) once wrote 'My walks, as I said, are only over the aerodrome, a mile-square flat place, (just faintly tinted green, with colocynth runners now over the sand) between the main railway and a dry, four-mile wide valley” (Source of quotation: T.E. Lawrence to Charlotte Shaw 16 March 1927, Letters II p.43). I imagine my grandfather had a similar interpretation of the scene.

We will be continuing our theme of military related silver cufflinks, cufflink boxes and watch boxes products when we talk about our RAF Roundel Cufflinks and boxes in the coming weeks.

So, if you are looking for something a little bit different, a gift with history, then ONE BOND STREET could help. We have ….. sterling silver cufflinks that say that little bit more, carbon fibre watch boxes to keep your precious watches safe or carbon fibre silver bangles to make a statement plus a lot more. Live fast, dress well.