iCufflinks: The Glowing Mac Power Button Cufflinks (and DIY Today)

iCufflinks were aluminium cufflinks made by Adafruit Industries that looked like the Mac power button and glowed with a slow “breathing” LED, just like the sleep light on older Macs. This article explains what iCufflinks were, why Apple fans loved them, what happened to them and how you can still build your own glowing cufflinks today.

Quick answer: iCufflinks were open-source, LED-lit cufflinks launched by Adafruit in 2011, styled after the Mac power button. Adafruit no longer stocks them, but the full design files, firmware and circuit board files are still free on GitHub, so makers can build or modify their own pair.

What were iCufflinks?

In June 2011, Adafruit Industries, the New York electronics company known for its maker kits, released iCufflinks. Each cufflink was machined from aluminium and had a small circuit board, a battery and an LED inside. The light faded in and out in the same gentle rhythm as the “breathing” sleep light on Macs and MacBooks of that era.

They were made as a fun accessory for Apple fans who wanted to stand out at a party or a wedding. They were not cheap, but as we said at the time, Apple fans have never minded paying a little extra for something exclusive.

Watch iCufflinks in action

Adafruit made short videos showing the pulsing glow, which is hard to capture in a still photo:

Why Mac fans loved iCufflinks

• The breathing light: the pulsing LED was instantly recognisable to anyone who had owned a Mac.
• Quality build: the cufflinks were CNC machined from aluminium, matching the feel of Apple’s laptops.
• Reprogrammable: the LED pattern could be changed to any pattern you liked.
• Open source: anyone could see exactly how they worked and build their own.

Are iCufflinks still available?

No. The iCufflinks product page on the Adafruit store now says it is no longer stocked. You may still find a secondhand pair now and then, but there is no official way to buy new ones.

The good news is that iCufflinks were open source from day one. Adafruit’s iCufflinks repository on GitHub still has the source code, circuit board files, schematics and CAD files.

How to make your own iCufflinks-style cufflinks

If you enjoy small electronics projects, you can use the GitHub files as a starting point:

1. Download the files from the iCufflinks repository: CAD for the case, PCB files for the board and the firmware.
2. Order the circuit boards from a PCB maker using the board files.
3. Make the cases through a machining service, or adapt the CAD design for 3D printing if you don’t need metal.
4. Program the LED pattern. Keep the classic breathing glow or write your own.
5. Fit the battery and assemble.

This is a project for people comfortable with soldering tiny parts. If that sounds like too much, a simpler route is a hobby LED kit from a maker store and a plain pair of cufflinks you customise yourself.

Other Apple fan novelties

iCufflinks were part of a wave of playful Apple tributes in the early 2010s. Another favourite was the perfume that smelled like a new MacBook Pro unboxing.

FAQ

Who made iCufflinks?

Adafruit Industries, an open-source electronics company in New York, designed and sold them starting in 2011.

Can I still buy iCufflinks?

Not new. Adafruit lists them as no longer stocked. You can build your own from the free open-source files.

Were iCufflinks made by Apple?

No. They were an unofficial accessory inspired by the Mac power button and sleep light.

Are the iCufflinks design files free?

Yes. Adafruit published the firmware, circuit board files, schematics and CAD files on GitHub.