Fancy Link Necklaces

Fancy link necklaces are the ones people ask about. Knot links, coffee beans, chainmail, Byzantine, the constructions the high street doesn't stock because they're slow to make, cut to the neck in widths from a 2mm strand to 18mm pieces that are the whole outfit.

If you've worn cable and Cuban and want something nobody else at the table has, this is the collection. All of it is 316L stainless steel, silver or 18k gold plated, which matters more on an unusual link than a plain one, because the recesses in a knot or a coffee bean are where plating goes dull first. Lengths from 35cm to 90cm, more range than most stores give you, so measure where you'd like it to sit; if you'd like the option of longer, choose the extender and we fit it. Our Byzantine is the one to start with. We do most of these as chokers and bracelets too.

Which fancy link should I get?

Oval, hex, forge and knot links are open and geometric and read industrial; the 10mm oval is the most bought of them. Star links read celestial and go with crescent moon pendants on other chains. Heart links read soft and are the gift version. Cross links are the gothic one. Byzantine is woven and dense. Satellite chain is a fine cable with beads spaced along it and is a layering chain rather than a wearing-alone one.

What length do I need?

Fancy link necklaces are sold at 35 to 90cm. 45cm puts the links on the collarbone where they show. 50cm sits just below it. 40cm sits at the throat and reads like a choker. 55cm and 60cm on the chest suit the 10mm and 12mm links on a broader frame. The optional 4 inch extender adds up to 10cm.

Which width should I get?

The width is measured across the link at its widest. 8mm shaped links show without weight. 10mm is the standard for these and where most of the page sits. 12mm is chunky and worn alone. The 2mm to 6mm satellite and fine heart links are for layering and pendants.

Can I put a pendant on it?

You can, but it usually looks worse. A shaped link is already the detail, and a pendant fights it. If you want a pendant, hang it from a plain cable or box chain and wear the fancy link above or below it. The exception is the satellite chain, which is fine enough to carry a small pendant.

Will it tarnish or turn my skin green?

No. The silver chains are solid 316L stainless steel; the gold is 18k gold plated over the same steel. Nothing oxidises, nothing has copper in it, and the edges of the links, where a plated chain goes first, stay bright.

Can I wear it in the shower?

Yes. Showers, swimming and sleep are fine. Open and woven links hold a little salt after the sea, so rinse them in fresh water and dry.

Is it hypoallergenic?

For most wearers, yes. 316L is the surgical grade and the only steel we cut necklaces from.

How do I layer a fancy link necklace?

One shaped link per stack. Put it in the middle: a 2mm cable at 40cm above it, the fancy link at 45cm, a pendant on a plain chain at 50cm. Two shaped links together fight for attention. Keep the whole stack one metal.