French Ruby and Gold Stirrup Cufflinks, by Paul Mille, Circa 1940

A pair of ruby stirrup cufflinks, set with square-cut rubies, in channel settings, with sugarloaf rubies in the terminals, mounted in 18ct yellow gold, with French eagle marks and a P monoplane M maker's mark for Paul Mille, with Brevete SGDG (patented) fittings. Circa 1940.

Paul Mille was a jewellery manufacturer in Paris between 1913 and 1942.

Breveté (or brevete without the accent as most sellers write it) means patented in French, stamped on items produced between about 1850 and 1950. It is the legal registration of some element or all of it. Along with breveté, SGDG is usually also stamped on French items produced during that period. SGDG is not a brand. It means 'Without any guarantee from the Government' (Sans Garantie Du Governement) and was by law required to be stamped on ALL objects with a legal patent from 1844 until 1968, especially those manufactured for export.

With thanks to Reveils Clocks' blog for the information on the Breveté mark and Silver Collection for Paul Mille's information.