What are the best chains for pendants? The below guide will go over the best gold necklace options to wear with men’s and women’s gold and sterling silver pendants.

Depending on the size of your pendant, you can always adjust the millimeter size of our below gold chain recommendations to fit the size and proportions of your pendant, but here are our strongest, most durable and best gold chains made for pendants.

Best Chains for Pendants

There are many styles of gold chains for pendants to choose from, but we have narrowed it down to the top 3 styles, based on durability, strength, style and price and also factored in what jewelry shoppers buy and use the most, based on our over two decades of jewelry experience selling gold necklaces for men and women.

These include classic necklace styles, such as gold box chains as well as timeless and traditional gold link chain necklaces like curb and figaros, rope chains, and alternatives like franco, cubans, cable and even wheat chains. Read on to learn the difference between each style and select the chain that is best for you.

3 Best Chains for Pendants

Gold Box Chains

The gold box chain is the most obvious of all choices and the best selling gold necklace for most pendants. This is where most people start.

The main advantage of the box chain is its simplicity in style. With a more basic style, it tends to blend into the background (which is often exactly what you want from a chain), thereby placing the focal point of your jewelry on your pendant rather than on the chain. This is the #1 reason most people prefer a box chain, due to its simple, subtle and classic design.

The box chain is made of square little boxes (hence, the name) that are linked to one another on all sides. The way the box links are attached allow for flexibility and movement when worn, allowing the chain to absorb applied pressure and the stress of real life, making the box chain a secure and durable gold chain that is suitable for most pendants.

Curb Link Chains

Aside from the simple box chain, gold curb chains are by far the most popular gold necklace for a reason. They are not only simple in design, much like the box chain, but are literally the strongest and most durable style of chain available in the jewelry market.

The curb chain is simply equally-sized round or roundish links often with beveled edges that are linked together, much like a chain linked fence. This creates a strong bond in the chain that makes it strong enough for pendants with a little more substance and weight. If you are looking for a gold chain that will endure and generally not break, then any style of link chain will work, but the curb link chain is the most popular and timeless design of all the link chains combined.

Variations of the curb chain include gold cuban chains, figaro chains and mariner chains. The beauty of link chains in general is that you can choose what millimeter width you like based on the size of the pendant and choose one that is suitable for the jewelry you are wearing, and much like the box chain, the simple design of the curb does not detract from the focal point of your jewelry pendant.

Rope Chains

Rope Chains are by far one of the best styles of chains you can purchase. They are just about as strong as a link chain and are yet another timeless, classic design that is unlikely to ever go out of style.

Rope chains can withstand the weight of most pendants, depending on the width or diameter of the rope necklace that you choose. The rope is named thus because of the rope-like design, as strands of gold are twisted and soldered together in the shape of a literal rope. This makes them one of the most durable and strongest chains available today. It is debatable whether the link chain or the rope chain is the stronger necklace; they are both very strong and able to withstand the weight of most chains, making them one of the best chains for pendants by far.

Rope chains come in several forms, most notable regular rope chains and diamond-cut rope chains. There are no diamonds used in the diamond-cutting process, but rather, a jeweler’s chisel cuts out small sections of the surface of the rope to create a little more sparkle than a regular rope chain. Most people tend to prefer the diamond-cut finish for just the right gold tone color and shine.

Alternative Chain Styles

Want something a little more unique than our pick of the top 3 best chains for pendants? If you are looking for an alternative design, the choices are endless, from gold wheat chains to the very strong, heavy-duty gold franco chains.

If you are wanting a link chain but with a little more design, consider gold figaro chains with the 3 + 1 pattern of links. There a variety of link alternatives, such as gold cable chains, mariner chains, rolo chains, etc. The possibilities are endless. For a non-link style, you may consider a gold wheat chain. Whichever chain you choose, aside from durability and strength, choose the style of chain that is best for your pendant and that suits your personal sense of style!

We hope this jewelry guide has helped you select the best chain for your pendant. Reach out with any questions or concerns. We are here to help!

Category: Gold Chains, Gold Jewelry, Gold Necklaces, Jewelry Guide

What Type of Chain is Best for Pendants?

In the past, you've probably bought a pendant necklace with a chain included. However, some fine jewelry retailers will sell pendants and chains separately, so you can pick the exact chain you want. But how do you know what style of chain goes with a particular charm? We've created this buying guide to get you familiar with a variety of chain styles and what ones work best in a pendant necklace, so you can shop confidently the next time you go to the jewelry store.

Different types of necklace chains

There are countless styles of necklace chains that range from relatively simple to incredibly elaborate. However, not every chain is perfect for a pendant necklace. Here's a brief overview of some of the most popular chain styles, so you're familiar with their construction and what makes them unique.

Cable chain

If you imagine an anchor chain used for a boat, you have the right idea for a cable chain. This necklace style is simple and timeless and goes with almost any pendant. Jewelry makers typically use thin wire to make this kind of chain lay smoothly over the skin.

Figaro Chain

If you imagine a curb chain with regular, interlocking oval links, you have the right idea for a Figaro chain. These oval links add a bit of elegance to the necklace. The Figaro chain was invented in Italy and is the most popular chain design used in Italian jewelry.

Curb Chain

A curb chain features thick, round links that are flattened on two sides to lay flat. The links overlap, almost like a Venn Diagram. Curb chains are very similar to the popular Cuban chain, which has a tighter overlap between links. Cuban chains tend to be much thicker and less flexible than curb chains. It is very trendy right now to add bezel diamonds to a curb chain.

Wheat chain

While most chains use circular or oval-shaped links, a wheat chain uses links in a unique teardrop shape. Jewelers weave these links in v-shaped pairs that resemble kernels of wheat running along the length of the necklace.

Rope Chain

This style of chain features a thick, cylindrical structure that looks like a coil of rope around the wearer's neck. It can feature a spiral design or a knotted construction like in a byzantine chain.

Box chain

In a box chain, the chain's square links overlap so that each pair of links looks like a cube or box. This tight weave makes box chain necklaces very thick and potentially heavy for their size.

Ball Chain

Most people recognize ball chains because the military commonly uses them to secure dog tags. Ball chains look like strings of small balls or pearls connected by short posts, giving them flexibility and strength. This iconic history makes ball chains popular for those looking for a military or industrial look.

Saturn Chain

Saturn chains are quickly rising in popularity. A saturn chain necklace's distinguished look is a dainty chain with bead like balls. The beads are stationary, so they don't move. 

Snake chain

If you've ever seen a thin chain that looks like a solid piece of metal, it was likely a snake chain. This type of chain has many tiny, overlapping links that fit perfectly together for an uninterrupted, flawless finish.

Herringbone Chain

Herringbone chain, like snake chain, looks like it is solid. This type of chain lays flat on the wearer's neck and has a broad pattern of alternating V-shaped links that makes it look like herringbone fabric.

Paperclip Chain

We saved the trendiest for last. Paperclip chains are the most popular right now. They are being made into earrings, necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and even rings! I'm sure you could guess it - they got their name from the office staple we all know! This chain resembles office paperclips connected. We love adding diamond paperclip links for an accent. Paperclips are one of the best layering chains.

Necklace Clasps

The clasp of a chain is just as important as the design overall. Chain necklaces generally have two different types of closures, a lobster clasp or a spring-ring clasp. Both of these closures use a spring-loaded mechanism to keep it closed while the necklace is worn.

Lobster clasps are popular because the closure's shape allows for a bigger opening, making it easier to secure independently. However, many jewelers opt for spring ring clasps because their circular shape blends into the piece as it looks like a regular chain link.

What is the best necklace chain for pendants?

Picking the best chain for your pendant is essential to making a complete and polished look. Many charms will come with a straightforward chain designed to work with the pendant. However, some fine jewelry pendants may not have an included chain. In that case, it's best to know the basics when it comes to finding the right chain for your pendant.

Generally speaking, you want a chain strong enough to support your pendant's weight, with a design subtle enough that the loop on the charm can slide over it. A minimalistic chain design is best, so it doesn't take attention away from your pendant, which should be the focus of the piece.

Simple chains, like cable, Figaro, curb, wheat, and box chains are all great options for pendant necklaces. These necklaces have high durability and timeless, minimalistic looks that make them work with most pendant styles.

Herringbone and snake chains tend to be too delicate for pendants. Herringbone necklaces are incredibly finicky and tend to kink if not handled gently. Similarly, snake chains have such tiny links that they can be bent out of alignment. Snake chains are also difficult to repair, as broken links require soldering to fix.

The final consideration is the thickness of the chain. A chain that's too thin may not be strong enough to hold the pendant or could be prone to breakage. Meanwhile, a thick chain could impede the pendant's ability to slide along the length of the necklace. Consider starting with a chain with .9-1mm thickness and go up from there based on your style.

How to pair a chain with a pendant

Now that you know what types of chains work best with pendants, you should know how to pick the perfect chain.

The best way to pair a chain with a pendant is to match the necklace with the charm's attributes. These can include chain length and the type of precious metal that it's made of. For example, a small pendant may work as a choker necklace, while a larger one can be a long statement necklace.

If your pendant has warm red colors, a rose gold chain may amplify those features. Similarly, if there are cool colors or clear diamonds, a sterling silver or white gold chain may complement the pendant better.

If you want to make a statement with a pendant necklace, one of the best ways is with a unique chain necklace. However, with so many different styles of chain to pick from, picking the right one can feel overwhelming. If you're looking for something special, don't be afraid to ask your jeweler for their opinion. Our jewelers at Alexis Jae have an eye for trends and can pair a pendant and chain that is right for the special person in your life. Contact us today to see how we can help you.

Featured Alexis Jae Chains

14K Gold Paperclip Chain

14K Gold Curb Link Chain