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Chain necklaces and bracelets date as far back as the Stone Age and were typically made of stones, shells, bones, teeth, or claws. Found through hunting and gathering, these materials were strung on a thread and worn around the neck. It wasn’t until around 2500 B.C. that gold was being used in chains as jewelry. Around this time, people started alternating patterns of beads, colored stones, and gemstones, and metals like copper or silver.
We can attribute the dynamic variations in women’s and men’s 10K and 14K yellow and white gold, platinum, and sterling silver chains for necklaces and bracelets to the Ancient Egyptians. They evolved a simple string of beads to elaborate, complicated patterns worn by both sexes of the wealthy and elite class. In the Classical Greek period, three dimensional pendants were introduced and gold was plentiful. During the second century, it became high fashion for chains to consist of colored gemstones connected together by gold links.
Through the ages, people have worn jewelry for different reasons; some to symbolize religion or faith, others to represent economic or social status. The Egyptians had such a great affection for chain necklaces and bracelets, in fact, that they chose to be buried with them and keep them in the afterlife. Today, women and men alike from all classes in all areas of the world enjoy the versatility in chain design.
Whereas once the only choice was links of gold, now styles include men’s 14k gold and sterling silver marine chains that feature flat oval links with a line in the middle of each one, and women’s 14K solid gold and sterling silver rope chains that feature woven box chain links. Other styles include curb, cable, snake, herringbone, wheat, rolo, Singapore, arrow, bead, Boston, choice link, forzatina, oval link, or Figaro chains. Worn alone or with one or many of our specialty charms for bracelets and necklaces, our chains are sure to be a staple in your jewelry collection.
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