GET YOUR HANDS ON CHRIS COLEMAN CUFFLINKS
BEFORE he jetted off with the Wales team to Euro 2016, manager Chris Coleman was given a special gift to take with him to the tournament.
Jewellery designer Mari Thomas, from Llandeilo, was commissioned by Swansea University to create a bespoke piece for Coleman to mark the historic occasion.
She decided he would carry a little piece of Wales with him on his arms every step of the way.
After the impressive success of the team during their time in France, Mari is now making a limited edition replica of the cufflinks she made for Chris Coleman.
“When they asked me to make the gift I made bespoke cufflinks for him,” Mari said.
“They were made of solid sterling silver with 18 carat red gold on the ends.
“They were also hand engraved with the words Gwlad Gwlad and Together Stronger.
“The words ‘together stronger’ are very poweful and ‘gwlad gwlad’ sums it all up.”
Mari presented the Wales manager with his new cufflinks at a conference before the team left for the tournament.
She said he told her they were something he would wear and particularly liked the words.
Now Mari has been given permission to make 57 other limited edition sets of exactly the same pair – 58 in total, to represent the number of years since Wales last qualified for the tournament.
The sets will also be handengraved with the edition number. They will take around six to eight weeks to be hand-made.
Mari added: “Chris Coleman always looks smart, with a jacket and a shirt, so that’s why I decided on cufflinks.
“He loved them and he opened them on stage. He said to me it was something he would wear and he was delighted to see what was written on them.”
Following the interest she has had in the bespoke set Mari has also created a new collection called Gwlad Gwald.
This includes other cufflinks and a necklace with the same wording, to be launched at the Monmouth and District National Eisteddfod in Abergavenny in August.
The limited edition replica cufflinks cost £795 and can be reserved by contacting Mari Thomas Gallery in Llandeilo.
The Gwlad Gwlad collection cufflinks cost £160 and the necklace £135.