Real Gold Chains, Stamped and Priced

Most people shop gold chains by budget first, then by look. Here is how the 46 chains break down.

Want a bigger set? Browse men's gold chains for the heavy end and gold Cuban links for the Cuban family.

Start with the stamp. US rules under the FTC Jewelry Guides require gold to be marked with its true karat. A 10K chain should show "10K" or "417" near the clasp, a 14K chain "14K" or "585". Industry stamping rules let the actual gold content fall short of the mark by no more than 3 parts per thousand, or 7 parts per thousand on soldered pieces. Magnets and weight checks only screen. An X-ray (XRF) test at a jeweler is the reliable check. Gold-plated steel has no karat stamp, and our steel vs gold comparison explains why the price gap is so large.

Width is measured across a link, length end to end with the clasp shut. Most men wear 20 to 24 inches; most women 16 to 20. Many chains here come in 16 through 24 inches, and the rope and Franco styles reach 26 or 28. Solid chains carry gold through every link. A few chains are hollow and say so in the title, like the Hollow Franco Chain 2.8mm ($1,425). Hollow saves money but dents more easily.

10K is 41.7 percent gold, 14K is 58.3 percent and 18K is 75 percent. The rest is alloy, which adds hardness. That makes 10K the toughest of the three for a chain that rubs and flexes every day, and the most affordable per gram. 14K has a richer yellow, and 18K is softer and warmer still. For the full comparison, read the gold karat guide.

Fine chains close with a spring ring or lobster clasp, and the lobster is the most common closure for good reason: it is easy to work and holds well. Heavier chains benefit from a stronger clasp with a latch. To clean gold, use warm water, mild dish soap and a soft brush, then dry with a lint-free cloth. Keep chains apart from each other in storage so links do not scratch. Our gold chain cleaning guide covers what to avoid, and the weight chart shows how grams drive price.

All three colors are the same karat gold with different alloys. Yellow gold is gold mixed mostly with silver and copper. Rose gold adds more copper, which gives the pink tone and makes it a little tougher. White gold is alloyed with white metals and usually plated with rhodium, a bright white metal, for its icy finish. That plating wears with time, and a white gold chain can show a warm tint where it rubs until it is replated. Yellow and rose never need plating. If you wear silver-tone watches or white diamonds, white gold matches. If you have warm skin or wear yellow watches, yellow gold looks richer. Rose gold reads softer and stands out in a stack. Most chains here come in yellow and white, and many also come in rose.

Color differences between yellow, white and rose gold are easier to judge on skin than on a screen. The showroom is at 7900 NW 27th Ave, Unit 506, Miami FL 33147. Every online order ships insured. For something that is not in the catalog, the custom process starts with your idea and gives you a design and an exact price before anything is made. All styles live at chains.