Cryptic crossword clue
Pair of silver buckles fop sadly lost in duels 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word RIVALRIES

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
R
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "duels" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case duels = rivalries.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does RIVALRIES mean?

RIVALRIES noun
  1. An ongoing relationship between (usually two) rivals who compete for superiority.
  2. The characteristic of being a rivalrous good, such that it can be consumed or used by only one person at a time.
  3. Any competition between two or more things or factors.

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