Not so long ago, thick gold chains had a reputation in the popular imagination as the adornment of choice for a slick but ultimately unsavory kind of individual: Think used car salesmen, casino pit bosses, and mafiosos, most of whom wore their gilded necklaces nestled amid mounds of chest hair.
Over the past decade, however, something happened to annihilate that stereotype once and for all. Emboldened by the possibilities of CAD and enamored by the variety of link styles manufactured in the past, designers embraced the look of yellow gold chains, and completely reinvented the category.
Some refashioned classic styles such as the Cuban link, often by setting their chains with copious amounts of diamonds. Others reintroduced long-forgotten vintage designs, such as the Victorian era’s trombone link (so called because the links are long and narrow, like trombone slides). While some opted to handcraft wildly original and never-before-seen links inspired by their own imaginations.
As a result, retailers now have a universe of gold chains to choose from, running the gamut from popular, mariner’s style links, a la Jenna Blake’s fetching chain, to wholly original designs, such as the rhombus-shaped links crafted from 18k Fairmined gold in the 18-inch Zan Foundational chain by Mazahri, or the hand-carved, bead-like links in HOWL’s Trios necklace.
There’s even a chain for pickleball lovers by Pure Dink, featuring stations of golden spheres designed to evoke everyone’s favorite racket sport.
Worn alone or loaded with pendants and charms to add a dash of personality, the chains featured below in both bracelet and necklace styles are wardrobe staples for all genders, chest hair optional.
Top: Large Ties links necklace in 18k yellow gold with 1.2 cts. t.w. diamonds, $31,180; Boochier
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