#Top #Chains #Jewelry #Collection #Gem #Gossip #Jewelry #Blog
There are so many reasons why I started shopGemGossip.com but one that stands out the most to me is the topic of chains! This category of jewelry is one of my favorites and as a vintage jewelry lover, oftentimes the secondhand options were not the ideal choice. In my experience, older chains often had hidden faults that the naked eye couldn’t see. Since I have a microscope, I would look at each link under magnification and notice security issues and worn areas that were waiting to break. You may have noticed that I have been selling less and less vintage chains over the years and it is because of this exact reason! Having my jeweler repair weak links ended up making the piece very costly and not worth it. Of course, not every chain is like this, but I am super picky with the items that I sell and make sure each one gets a thorough inspection (and a visit to the jeweler to make it sellable when necessary).
That’s why selling chains that are brand new, straight from the manufacturer was something that appealed to me. I have confidence that they will hold up from daily wear and adding charms or pendants is not a problem. I have tested the durability and own almost every chain that is available on my website. And after collecting for over 20 years, I have realized which types of chains are essential to my collection, in hopes that they will be the same for you.
So here is my list of the top five chains every jewelry collection should have. I offer these on my website and love them so much. Each one has a purpose and many come in various lengths, so choose whatever you feel fits your needs.
1 – Mariner Chain: this is a great one for housing charm jumbles or a single pendant. I love that it is solid, so it is incredibly durable. I offer a “mini” version as well as a 3mm wide version that looks very chic with statement pendants.
2 – Box Chain: this is a recent addition to our lineup and the one I’ve owned the longest! My dad gifted me his box chain before I went away to college and I wore it everyday. The one that it on our website is the exact same size as the one my dad gave me. It is great for charms and I prefer a longer length.
3 – Larger Link Chain: I offer several versions of a larger link chain, as I believe this should be a fun addition to any neck stack and add dimension. The most popular choice is our Trombone Link, and some other great options would be our Oval Jangle Chain, Black Enamel Large Oval Link Chain, or our newest Bar Link Chain.
4 – Mini Figaro Chain: this is my alternative to a cable chain (you know those super basic chains that you sometimes receive when you buy a pendant even though you don’t even want the chain that comes with it). I love how it can subtly upgrade any charm. The size I offer is the exact size of a vintage one I sourced long ago when I first fell in love with this style. I wear the new version since the vintage one was worn out in many areas.
5 – Unique Link: there are so many unique link styles being invented daily! That’s why I love chains so much – the tiniest tweak to a common style can have it looking completely different. I am constantly looking for new, nontrendy options to add to the lineup. Some favorites that I offer in this category are Bead + Bar Chain, Twisted Stick Chain, Starburst Mini Curb Chain and Pinched Long Link Chain.
What are your favorite chain styles? I’d love to hear.
