Making the perfect piece of jewelry in terms of combining a charm, pendant, and chain can be a tasking process. In addition to different types of pendants, the type of your necklace’s chain also plays an important role in picking up your jewelry. If you’ve been thinking about buying a necklace chain, it must’ve been difficult to make a difference between types. Luckily for you, we’ve made a compelling list of necklace chain types that may benefit you.
Focus on the purpose of your necklace, is it supposed to be day-to-day jewelry, or is it supposed to be worn only on special occasions? The different necklace chain types affect the purpose of the jewelry in entirety. Some chains are made just for pendants, while others can exist without the gemstone or a charm. Also, some are more feminine, while some chains are designed to be more suitable for men.
[toc]Top 10 Necklace Chain Types
1. Anchor (Mariner) Chain
Two sub-types:
- Solid flat mariner chain
- Puffed mariner chain
The unique chain that can be used on different metals sought its inspiration in the nautical world. Its name originates from the fact it’s similar to the chains that connect anchors of the ships to the seafloor.
If you’re a fan of the sea and marine life, anchor, also known as marine chain, maybe the right choice for you. They are durable, and their sturdy and strong design may appeal to anyone.
The mariner chain consists of interlocking ovals with a bar located in the center of each oval. It looks distinct and unique compared to other chains. There are various widths and lengths available for this type of chains.
It’s worth mentioning that this type of chains is suitable for both men and women, with the thicker design being drawn more towards men while the delicate ones are made for women.
There are two types of marine chains. One is flat, which was the traditional and most commonly used chain, but in recent years there has been a lot of puffed mariner chains in the marker.
What makes mariner chain different compared to the other jewelry is that it can be worn as a stand-alone piece of jewelry, while those with smaller widths are great with a pendant that looks stunning.
2. Bead Chain
A bead chain, also known as a ball chain, consists of a series of small beads interlinked together, making a stunning chain available in multiple lengths and colors.
The chain can be fairly customized, as the balls can be made to be connected close, or with small spaces which allow for better movement through the chain.
This kind of chain is commonly used with dog tags or with street jewelry. In terms of jewelry, they aren’t the best looking stand-alone accessory, so it’s better when they’re paired with pendants.
Another downfall is that they aren’t as sturdy as other chains and can break easily if you aren’t careful enough.
3. Box chain
While most of the jewelry is made out of ovals and rounds, this particular necklace chain type boasts a box chain that is made of square links. The square links are connected together, making a smooth and clean structure.
They are extremely popular and often worn by both men and women. They come in different sizes and widths, while the wider necklaces are usually more popular among men.
Box chains are strong, sturdy, and durable, so you don’t have to worry about them breaking. Even if they do, they are easy to fix and replace the broken box. In some cases, the new chain can be attached even without getting the broken link replaced, and it won’t affect the design.
Lastly, the box size and length can be customized and chosen accordingly. They also go with a plethora of different outfits and are a great accessory no matter which material you choose.
4. Cable chain
If you’re looking for a simplistic design, the cable chain should meet all of your preferences and requirements. It’s pretty basic and is commonly associated with iron chains.
Cable chains have been used for centuries, is the main accessory for pendant necklaces. Cable chains were also used for anchoring ships, among other things like jewelry.
A cable chain is pretty common and easy to find, being the most common type of necklace chain. It is also relatively cheaper compared to some more complex designs. It is commonly used with jewelry and counts a plethora of identical oval links that are connected to represent a shiny and durable chain.
While the delicate cable chains won’t catch everyone’s attention due to a very basic design, they look great when paired with a beautiful pendant or charm. Their basic structure makes it ideal for making pendants stand out.
Additionally, they are sturdy, and even if they break, they are easy to fix because of the easily tied structure. Sometimes a misshapen link occurs, which is easy and fast to fix.
When buying a cable chain, however, consult with the jeweler and make sure that it has been properly crafted. Even though it’s durable and easy to fix, badly made and linked chains tend to come off at the areas that haven’t been crafted correctly.
5. Curb chain
Curb chains are common and basic. However, their stylish look may never go out of style. They consist of a series of connected uniform links, which are made to stay flat when they are interlocked.
Curb chains are often wide, which makes it a great choice for men. Nevertheless, they are among the top choices for necklaces.
There are, however, thinner curb chains that look more delicate and are suited for women. They also look great with pendants.
Their chunky, well-interconnected design and durability make for the consistent design. In the case of breakage, which is rare, they are easy to fix because of their accessibility.
Also Read: Sterling Silver vs. Pure Silver vs. 925 Silver: Are They the Same?
Also, their large design and curbs make it easy to maintain and care for, especially if you use jewelry cleaners like ultrasound jewelry cleaners that take minutes to clean the jewelry.
6. Figaro chain
Figaro chains look stylish, sleek, and are very popular among both men and women. They boast an easy and simple design, especially when compared to cable chains.
Figaro chains, like their name suggests, originate from Italy and represent interconnected series of flattened links that vary in sizes.
They follow the pattern of a very long and large link, which is interconnected with anywhere between two and three shorter links.
It’s one of the most gender-neutral chains, and the width usually determines whether they are intended for women or men. They are made using thick wires, and that makes them extremely reliable and durable.
Even if it comes to a broken link, it is quickly replaced with the breeze. Unfortunately for some who don’t like replacing parts of their necklace, broken links usually have to be replaced, because if it stays, it may compromise the pattern of the necklace chain.
7. Rope chain
If you’re striving for elegance and sophistication, the rope chain looks beautiful and can be combined with any type of jewelry.
It consists of a series of segments that are connected in a way to look like a rope. The careful pattern twisting gives a true impression of an even and elegant rope.
The rope chain is among the most popular types and is worn with different types of jewelry combined. It’s worth noting that despite a delicate and modern design, rope chains are extremely durable compared to other chain types. Also, they’re very heavy and have a rich texture.
Their strong structure makes it good for wearing with heavy elements like pendants, regardless of the width of the chain.
Those who aim for larger and wider chains often prefer to wear them alone without the gemstone or a charm. The twisting pattern makes the light reflected from one another, which makes this type of chain look shiny and sparkly, especially when exposed to the direct source of light.
8. Singapore chain
The Singapore chain is among popular chain types, which consists of a series of interlinked shiny wires brought together.
It comes in different lengths and widths, and once spread out, it shows a wonderful and shiny design, that put a lot of detail into its creation. It is easy to move it across as it gives a liquid-like touch.
Regardless of their width, the segments brought together to make this necklace chain type quite durable. That said, it’s suitable for different types of pendants, even those that are slightly heavier. It boasts a sleek and classic design and is often combined with luxurious and elegant jewelry.
Aside from its formal use, it can easily be paired with everyday jewelry, whether they are charms or pendants with different gemstones. It also looks great with all types of metals commonly found on this type of necklace chain.
9. Snake Chain
The snake chain represents a chain of interconnected jewelry segments that closely resemble that of a snake. Interestingly, it moves with similar flexibility. It consists of a series of tiny rings or plates, sometimes even bands.
They are so tightly connected that the texture is completely smooth and sleek. Being brought so close together, they’re impossible to be seen.
It’s worth noting that snake chains can be delicate, although they look extremely modern and stunning when they are paired with pendants. It’s worth noting that they are still stunning even if worn as stand-alone. Their rigid structure allows it not to get tangled together, or catch onto hair, which is quite common with other objects.
Being brought so close together, snake chains can be easily maintained and cleaned, meaning they are great as an everyday accessory. They are extremely durable and can’t break off easily, despite their delicate structure.
10. Spiga Chain
Spiga chain, also known as a wheat chain, consists of a series of twisted oval links interlinked together. They are made so that they all face in one direction, making it more symmetrical.
Spiga chain resembles a series of metallic fibers that gently run into one another so that they resemble wheat texturally. They are modern and suitable for everyday and formal use.
It’s also semi-rigid, similarly to snake chains, which is why it’s sturdy and durable, and it won’t twist together easily or pick up the hair. It has a classic and elegant look, which makes it particularly exciting to wear with pendants, although it can be used solo too.
It comes in various lengths and widths and can be worn by both women and men. Nevertheless, the thinner design looks the most elegant and give a modern touch to everything you’d wear with it.
How to Shop for a Necklace Chain?
Even though most chains are pretty universal and can be combined in any way you find fit, here are some non-written rules when it comes to picking the best necklace chain.
Some people like minimalistic and simple charms, while others like shiny pendant gems. The two affect the type of chain suitable to withstand the weight of the charm, or else the chain could snap if it can’t carry it.
On the other hand, you need to find a suitable design for a pendant that will fit with the style of the chain.
If you find yourself clumsy, your hair falls off and gets stuck in the necklace chain, and you have trouble keeping it clean; you should look for a more rigid design like snake or wheat chains.
Many people wear their necklaces on a daily basis and don’t pay attention to whether they are sleeping with it or not.
Sometimes chains crash during sleep and curl up in the pillows or blankets. That said if you want to wear your necklace everywhere, make sure to pick the most durable design you can.
Chains can be successive to breaking, and as such, you could benefit from an extended service plan (ESP) to protect it. This inexpensive service plan can get your chain fixed in inappropriate situations in case your chain breaks or snaps.
Additionally, the plan works even if your clasp breaks. This comes in handy for people with all kinds of gold necklaces, as the golden clasp can be extremely expensive.
Related:
Gold Markings and Their Meaning
What is Gold Vermeil, Gold Plated, and Gold Filled?
Final Words
We’ve reached the end of our best necklace chain types list, and we hope that our thorough and detailed description helped you pick the right choice. Lastly, the choice is up to you, your personal preferences, and the type of pendant or charm you’re using for your necklace.
If you go for more fragile types, ensure to cover your chain with the ESP so that it can last for long and serve you well. Which necklace chain type is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
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