Chains and pendants, some things to consider
9th August 2022
9ct white gold double sided engraved slider pendant, diamond cut curb chain.
The three main things to consider when purchasing a chain to match a pendant are the following:
is the chain strong enough to support the weight of the pendant?
is the chain strong enough for the intended wear?
does the chain fit the bail?
Whenever I design a pendant it is always with the chain it will be worn on in mind. The above slider pendant for instance needed to have a chain strong enough to support the 3 gram pendant yet fine enough to fit through the internal slider bail.
Why I sometimes recommend customers buy chains elsewhere
Machined chains are one of the few things that I do not make myself and have to order in. This pendant was for a Cairns customer so they can easily bring the chain in to me if a break occurs.
However when I am making pendants for customers outside of Cairns I often recommend that they buy the chain locally so that if they ever have a breakage the person who sold them the chain can repair it locally.
Front side of the pendant, hammer set diamond.
Chains wear out and where they touch the pendant friction occurs and will eventual result in wear on the pendant. Regulate how much you wear your chains to reduce wear and lengthen life. If you never want to take your chain and pendant off then make sure you have them checked every year or so and expect them to wear out quicker.
Article: Wearing until failure
Super fine and fancy chains
I define super fine chains as any chain that weighs under 2.5 grams. Fine chains are very popular because of the look and also the price. The lighter a chain the cheaper it should be. The down side is that the finer a chain is the easier it is to break.
Article: How to buy chain the smart way
Fancy link chains can be strong enough but even the safest style of chain can break. The down side with some of the fancy style chains is that they repair poorly. Often the point at which the chain is repaired causes more breaks.
If a chain is both fine and a fancy link style then it can be a recipe for disappointment for the wearer. For the above reasons there are some styles and super fine chains that I will not sell.