curb

You’ve probably been in this scenario: you’ve showered and freshened up ready to go out on your daily routine, an evening or a special day out. You’re all dressed and almost ready to head out the door with just the final pièce de résistance left to put on in the form of your favourite fashion accessory- your necklaces, chains or bracelets.

Your beautiful, dazzling jewellery made with Chain links are ready to put on around your neck or your wrists. But you’re wincing  in anticipation that your hairs- whether fine or long, are about to be jerked out at the base of your neck or wrist. Just the mere thought of it can be enough to make your eyes water right?

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a man or woman and you wear chain links on your neck or your wrist, when the links are brushing with the hairs on either of those areas on  your body the annoying sensation are along the same lines. We’ve all been there and it’s enough to make you feel why you’d ever bothered.

Sound familiar?

This year in the UK Sunday 31^st March is a special day to celebrate all that Mother’s and Motherly figures in our lives unconditionally provide us with.  Mother’s Day which is just one day in a year is an ample time to express our affection for that one of a kind, nurturing love. Love is not something we can see or touch. It’s something that can only be felt. But gifting tokens that last a lifetime as a symbolism that heartfelt affection can surely reflected upon in years to come, therefore choosing jewellery made of precious metal is sure to speak volumes of her worth.

Did you know?

Whilst Gold which is often associated in world mythology as being related to the Sun because of the Golden Colour and fatherly figures, Silver is closely associated with the Moon and it’s silvery hue and in turn Motherly figures.

Here we’ll give your our best Sterling Silver Jewellery Gift ideas from our collection at The Chain Hut for Mother’s Day in 2019 including: Sterling Silver Chains, Sterling Silver Bracelets, Sterling Silver Necklaces

Whilst in fashionwear trends evolve in cycles- whether seasonally, yearly or even longer, how often the scene changes can equally apply to whether it’s clothing itself or accessories such as jewellery. Precious metal jewellery however is a segment of jewellery, which features material that tends to be created with a longer period in mind. Specifically Platinum, Gold, Sterling Silver and more are the most recognised precious metals and related trends generally stick around a lot longer- at least a year or two. Very often some styles also go beyond all sense of time to form classic collections that defy the “in fashion” or “out of fashion” labelling and once you’ve formed a bond with the item it can last even longer and be passed on as heirlooms.

Opting for Mens Silver Chains are specific types of jewellery accessory that when worn naturally enhance an outfit. Whether that outfit is intended for an everyday wear look or that sharp occasional look that makes a unique statement, our collection of Mens Silver Chains will help complete a variety of looks and styles. Whether you’re gifting jewellery for Men, or are a Man that is in pursuit for inspiration to evolve your Chain Game- this post will help you stay a step ahead in discovering the Top Trends for Men’s Silver Chains for 2019.

Whilst fashion trends in jewellery come and go, the taste for Gold in jewellery continues to stand firm in its different incarnations, whether rings, bracelets, chains, necklaces and more. In this blog post we’re going to explore this trend of Gold as used as a plating on Sterling Silver Chains and the evolving mindset towards Gold fashioned onto Sterling Silver Chains to create pieces that are just as spectacular as solid Gold Chains.

Natural attraction to Gold

Little explanation is required to know that Gold itself has been historically been valued highly by cultures all across the world over thousands of years in jewellery- whether in religious or cultural practices or as a reflection of status, such as Royalty. In fact many ancient cultures closely associate Gold with the Sun, and Royalty, with the Sun being the King and life giver on Earth and solar system, it’s not wonder Gold is almost engrained in mind to be valued quite highly.

Sourced from deep beneath the earth, this precious metal has undoubtedly been one of the highest valued materials on the planet and whilst it may be difficult to put into words a single reason for the attraction to this naturally bright yellow metal, one thing is for sure- when it’s crafted into jewellery it’s charm surely magnifies tenfold.

Gold Chains themselves can be vibrant whatever the purity of Gold from which it has been crafted- whether 24ct, 22ct, 18ct, 14ct or 9ct since each emanate a different shade of Yellow suitable to our own tastes. The only difference however between each level of these purities are the relative cost.  9ct Gold being less expensive and 24ct being higher owing to the purity and concentration of gold content increasing at each increment.

Since the price of Gold being assessed on its weight, and Gold now being at all time high (at least 5-6 times more than 20 years ago) when you’re looking to accessories with Gold Chains and Necklaces, an evolving trend has emerged that maintains the luxury of the Gold appearance, yet won’t cost the earth- Gold Plated Chains on Sterling Silver.

So, what are Gold Plated Chains on Sterling Silver?

All you need to know about the Curb style of Chain Link and all its varieties...

Unlike newer chains where names are given and evolve, classic styles of chain link have names that have long stuck around for decades and are instantly familiar, and the Curb Chain is a part of the classic chain styles group. Where Fashion trends are historic and standards the basis for much jewellery in Italy and France, the curb is known as Grumetta and a Gourmette Chain respectively.

How is a curb chain made?
Like most of the classic styles of Chain Link, which have originated hundreds of years before any of the state of the art technology existed, the Curb chain links were crafted from a round wire that was cut to size and then twisted to create a link shape with distinctive grooves. These grooves allow another curb link of the same width, length and depth to sit snuggly in this little pocket and the pairing process is then repeated with until the right length was produced. From this one base shape, creativity and evolving technology has resulted in several varieties of this Curb Chain Link style to meet the latest fashion trends, but at the heart of the Curb Chain, lies that distinct link shape with two grooves on each side, and the formation of one link paired with another.

Whether you’re looking to purchase a gift or a cheeky treat for yourself in the form of Silver Chains, when it comes down to making a choice, opting for a Chain made from Sterling Silver is an undeniably great place to start. Silver Chains are the starting point for creating a fashion piece that will stand the test of time but not cost you the Earth. Our styles of chain choice are of varying characteristics such that you’ll feel like playing the lead role in a Charlie and the Chain Factory remake, ranging from: Fine, thin & light vs Thick & Heavy, Bold vs Subtle, Sparkling vs Muted, Intricate vs Simple.

But when you’re looking to support a cherished Pendant, Locket, Heirloom or keepsake you’ve owned for years or been gifted or even more essential like a medical ID it you need to prioritise the search for a Silver chain that is reliable and sturdy to support such pieces.

Overall, when you’re really looking for a Silver chain that is characteristically strong we look at it from a production level. This comes down to a combination of:

• The individual link itself- such as the thickness of the wire it has been made from, the shape of the link and the density of that link (must be solid not hollow)
• The way each link pairs up with the next link
• The times that chain has been soldered
• We might also say the way it has been crafted, as chains with modern technology are able to provide greater consistency than handmade items

Whether you’re looking for a fine Sterling Silver Chain for a Pendant that replaces a broken chain or are looking to inject a new lease of life for a cherished Pendant, in this blog post we’ll suggest the top fine Pendant Chains that are sure to freshen up your look but also provide sturdy & enduring support.

Before we give you our top 10 fine Pendant Chain suggestions, if you’ve not already read through our in depth blog post on How to select a Sterling Silver Chain for your Pendant we highly recommend to check this out HERE. Even at a brief glance, this blog post will surely help towards making a decision and provides important things to consider when choosing a chain style.

So let's get started...