Gold chain is a universal decoration that will suit a man, woman and even a child. Jewelry stores have a large selection of products, so it’s hard to stop at just one. To facilitate the choice, you need to evaluate the jewelry according to several criteria.
Selection criteria
Before you go to a jewelry store for a chain, you should determine the important points of choice:
- Gender and age of the person. Jewelry accessories for women or men differ in weaving, as well as in appearance in general. Separately, jewelry for young girls stands out, which is distinguished by a beautiful, original design. For older people, it is better to buy more conservative, strict models.
- Wearing option. If the accessory is the main one, you need to choose more massive chains with original weaving. If a cross or pendant comes with the chain, the chain itself should not stand out or distract attention from the main attribute. If you choose a gold chain for an arm or leg, you need to buy a thin chain with a beautiful weave that will not look likeshackles, but will emphasize the beauty of the ankle or wrist.
Types of models
The whole variety of jewelry accessories is divided into several types:
- male;
- female;
- exquisite;
- decorative;
- short;
- extended;
- wide;
- narrow;
- with pendant;
- singles.
Since the gold chain consists of links, the main division criteria are the method of weaving, the width of the links, and the length of the accessory. The minimum length of jewelry is calculated based on the size of the neck girth. For women - 40 cm, for men - 50. The accessory will look good with any dress or shirt, both with everyday wear and with festive clothes.
Metal samples
An important selection criterion is the gold standard on the chain. It determines the percentage of pure metal in the jewelry. The appearance and strength of the gold thing depends on the sample. On each product made of this precious metal, you can see a sample. Jewelers use gold 375, 550, 585, 750, 900, 926 and 958 in their work. Most of all they buy men's and women's gold chains for the neck 585.
585 assay - an alloy of metals, where gold is 59%. Such a metal is reliable, solid, does not tarnish over time, and can be easily forged, processed, and polished. The color is bright yellow. Gold chains around the neck - both men's and women's - are the most popular gift as a decoration for every day.
375 sample - an alloy of metals, where gold is 38%. The color range includes colors from pale yellow to red. Soover time, the product from it fades due to the appearance of iron sulfide on it.
500 test - an alloy of metals, where gold is 50.0%. The remaining 50% is distributed between silver and copper. The color is pale yellow. Item fades quickly.
750 sample - an alloy of metals, where gold is 75.4%. The composition includes silver, copper, platinum, nickel, and palladium. The color range includes colors from yellow to bright green. The metal is very hard and easy to work with. Products do not fade.
Gold of higher samples is very soft, easily deformed, does not keep its shape well. The color is not saturated. The price is several times higher than in previous cases. It is rarely used in the production of products.
Classic weaving methods
Gold accessories are made either on special machines or by hand. The most common are several names for weaving gold chains:
- "Shell". The most durable. The links are cast in the form of twisted elongated ovals. The surface of the chains is flat, so you can create simple or original patterns on it. The flat surface is also a disadvantage of weaving, as it scratches quickly.
- "Anchor". The links of the decoration are made in the form of ovals fastened together like a ship's chain. The weave is very durable, equally suitable for men and women. The quality of a piece of jewelry can be seen by the way the edges are filed.
- "Bismarck". The most popular weaving. Decorationthis type is universal. Due to the strength of the links, even thin products and jewelry with a small weight will be strong and durable. With careful wearing, an accessory from fifteen grams can last a lifetime.
- "Python", "Cardinal". Very similar in appearance. Their fragility is due to the fact that thin wire is used in the formation of links. Such jewelry looks elegant, original. If buying a gift for a man, you should choose jewelry with springs in the places where the links are connected, which will make it more durable.
Creative ways of weaving
More interesting options for weaving gold chains for women and men include: Nonna, Love, Singapore, Rombo, Rose.
- "Nonna". It differs in the arrangement of small links inside large ones in the same plane. This fastening looks elegant and has high strength. Outwardly, the product is a bit like armor weaving.
- Love. The links are made in the form of hearts. It looks very original, romantic. The mount is less durable than the previous version.
- "Singapore". The decorations are made of links located side by side and twisted in a spiral. The connection is very strong. The links shimmer as they move, creating a stylish effect. Crosses or various pendants look good on such accessories.
- Rombo. A type of anchor knitting. It differs in that the links are made in the form of rhombuses. The strength of such a piece of jewelry is average.
- "Rose". Differs in high skill of execution. It consists of twisted spirals. It is carried out exclusively by hand. Since a lot of metal is spent on the manufacture of the product, the jewelry is very expensive.
For women
All women are different. Some people prefer thin jewelry accessories, others - massive ones. Therefore, the classification of choice is conditional. If a woman will wear a chain around her neck, then you can choose a thin gold chain or a more eye-catching model. For chains around the neck, a product with weaving "Nonna", "Bismarck", "Python", etc. is ideal. Such models are reliable and will not tear at the first contact. In addition, with the help of such weaving, beautiful gold chains with pendants or unique hand accessories are obtained. Products are voluminous, but at the same time look elegant. Thinner options emphasize femininity, and more massive options solidity.
For men
Men mostly wear chains without added accessories. The exceptions are gold chains with a cross. At the same time, men prefer rather big crosses. Therefore, when choosing a men's gold chain for the neck, you need to pay attention to its strength.
For men, armored or anchored chains, as well as Rombo and Bismarck, are perfect. For larger people, products with Bismarck weaving weighing from one hundred to one hundred and fifty grams, more than 50 cm long are optimal. If a man leads an active lifestyle, it is best to pay attention to hand-knitted jewelry. They are considered the most durable gold chains.
Forchildren
Choosing jewelry for children and teenagers should be light and strong. A child does not need a heavy chain, and one with weak links.
Among the models for children, the following are the most popular:
- "Harness".
- "Venetian weaving".
- "Spikelet".
Such models are very beautiful and incredibly durable. The basis of their weaving is the constant crossing of links and weaving one into another. Products are multi-layered, but light.
Simple types of fasteners
The choice of fastener plays a huge role in choosing a chain. Even with the strongest weave, the product can easily be lost if the clasp is of poor quality. In addition, the lock must be in harmony with the product itself. There are several popular types of chain fasteners.
- Carabiner. The design of such a lock is simple, so it can be easily fastened without assistance. To do this, you need to pick up the lever with your fingernail and hold it. If it breaks, it's easy to fix. Such a castle can be in the form of a drop or a rectangle, depending on the design of the decoration itself. If you choose a thin chain, such a clasp will look very rough on it.
- Eight. The lock is made of wire bent in the form of a figure-eight. A lock ring is attached to one end, an ornament to the other. Such a mount is used for jewelry and cheap gilding products. The clasp is simple but unreliable. Masters practically do not undertake to repair such locks. If the wire was not made tight enough, the productmay simply slip out of the mount.
- Screw lock. Used to fasten necklaces. Fastening takes place by screwing the parts of the lock into one another. Such fasteners are short-lived due to thin and weak threads.
Complex types of fasteners
- Spring clasp. The option is suitable for thin products. The peculiarity of the lock is a small spring, which is the main one in the fastening mechanism. If one of its parts breaks, the mechanism will have to be completely replaced. It is difficult to fasten such a lock on your own. In addition, the spring wears out quickly and imperceptibly. Therefore, jewelry with such a mount is easy to lose.
- A box is the most secure lock. It is used when connecting parts of heavy and expensive jewelry accessories. A box is fixed at one end of the product, and a hook is inserted into it at the other. The reliability of the lock lies in the fastening of the hook in the box with the help of internal notches. Due to the heavy lock, the weight of the product will also increase, but it is guaranteed not to be lost.
- Chain lock. A simplified version of the box for thin chains. Instead of a box, it contains a tube with the same internal notches.
There are other types of fasteners, but they are not used for chains.
Special ways to clean gold jewelry
Speaking of gold chains, it is impossible not to talk about how to clean them. Most common:
- Cleaning by the master. The easiest way is to take the product to a jewelry workshop, where a specialistwill clean gold with the help of special devices or means. This will save time and effort.
- Paste for cleaning jewelry. Sold in all jewelry or speci alty stores. These include: Aladdin cleaning wipes, GOI paste and Thurman special formulations.
Home jewelry cleaning
- Cleaning with a pharmaceutical solution. You can do it yourself. To do this, mix a tablespoon of powder (dishwashing liquid), a teaspoon of ammonia and a glass of boiling water. Jewelry should be soaked in the solution for two hours, then rinsed with water and dried with a soft cloth.
- Soda solution. To clean a large number of products at the same time, a soda solution with powder is suitable. To do this, take an enameled pan, put a soft napkin on the bottom, spread the jewelry on it and pour a solution consisting of two tablespoons of powder, a tablespoon of baking soda and water on top (so that the jewelry is completely in the water). Water must be put on the stove and boiled for half an hour. When the solution has cooled, remove jewelry, rinse, dry with a soft cloth.
- Lipstick. Oddly enough, lipstick can also clean up impurities on jewelry due to the content of titanium dioxide. It is necessary to take the product and apply a tone of lipstick to the place of contamination. Then wipe off the layer with a soft cloth. If contamination remains, repeat steps.
- Sugar syrup. To prepare, take three to four teaspoons of granulated sugar and a glass of water (warm). Ingredients carefullystir and put gold jewelry there overnight. In the morning, rinse and dry with a soft cloth.
Jewellery, bought taking into account the age, lifestyle and preferences of the wearer, will delight the owner and last a long time, whether it is a gold chain on the hand or around the neck. And proper cleaning will keep your jewelry looking like new.
