Sterling silver chains have been an extremely popular style for many years. There are several good and solid reasons for this popularity. They are attractive and modern, available in a wide variety of styles and are a strong basic chain.
Many chains are as thick as they are wide. Curb chains are wider than thick, so they are flat on the user. This design is a modified cable chain. Both are single links in link chains. The sidewalk chains are flattened, so the links nest one inside the other.
A simple sterling silver cable chain can be placed between two pieces of leather and tapped lightly with a rawhide mallet to flatten it into a basic chain. There are many variations on the basic style, of course. These popular sterling silver chains are made in a good range of sizes, from less than 1mm wide to heavy styles over 10mm wide. Women tend to opt for thinner chains; The men’s classic style is a large, 14k Gold Plated Chain.
Another reason this style is so popular is that jewelers use it as a component part. Most ID bracelets are made with this type of chain; It is also popular for key chains and is often used as a component in watch chains, spectacle holders, and ID tag holders.
Traditionally, this design is done with round wire links. Round wire curbs have a very smooth and smooth appearance. Many men like oversized curb chains – the top surfaces of the round wire are filed and polished. This style is sometimes called a diamond cut or Cuban link chain. Links can also be lengthened or stretched into long oval shapes for a completely different look.
A common twist of this style is the Figaro chain. This attractive and very popular design features long and short links in a set pattern: the most common type is 3 short links, then a long link in a repeating pattern. Similar designs can be one short and one long in an alternate pattern, or five short links followed by a long link. Another very popular variation of the basic curb is the Mariner or Marina chain. This style has a bar in the center of the oval links that divides them into two halves; In addition to the link shapes or the long / short pattern, these styles are made as the classic sidewalk design.
It can be difficult to find a gift for men, but an attractive sterling silver chain is always a pleasant surprise! The average man wears a bracelet 8 to 8 ½ inches long, and a large man may need up to an inch more. Most men prefer chains that are at least 5mm wide and wear neck chains that are between 22 and 28 inches long, but this really depends on personal taste.
Jewelry is one of those little luxuries that we simply don’t want to do without. Everyone likes to look good, and a little sparkle adds a nice accent. In tough economic times, we all need to get the best value possible when we spend our money, and right now sterling silver chains are a smart buy for the amount of money spent. Compared to the cost of other precious metal jewelry, silver jewelry is still reasonably priced. Silver chains can be used for many years and can even be passed on to the next generation. Sterling silver jewelry always has value, even if it is broken. If a silver chain breaks, it can usually be repaired. Some things never go out of style, and the curb will always be a popular choice when it comes to choosing a new silver chain!
