Chain Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gol...
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s Thai Chain Necklaces
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Natural Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire,...
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s Antique Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century French Chain Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Natural Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Y...
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Antique Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Garnet, Natural Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver, Enamel
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Aquamarine, Diamond, Sapphire, Topaz, Pearl, 18k Gold, Wh...
2010s British Chain Necklaces
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Black Diamond, Brown Di...
1980s Italian Vintage Chain Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Black Diamond, Emerald, Black Pearl, Natural Pearl, Rock...
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Chain Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapph...
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
20th Century French Belle Époque Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Yellow Gold, Silver, White Gold
Mid-20th Century American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, 24k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold P...
19th Century English Victorian Antique Chain Necklaces
Amethyst, Natural Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Belle Époque Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, ...
1890s Antique Chain Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 15k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Pearl, Diamond, Natural Pearl, Tsavorite, ...
1910s British Belle Époque Vintage Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Natural Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Chain Necklaces
Amethyst, Onyx, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Natural Pearl
2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, 22k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Chain Necklaces
Malachite, Natural Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Chain Necklaces
Malachite, Opal, Natural Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
2010s Italian Artisan Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s American Art Nouveau Vintage Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Chain Necklaces
Coral, Natural Pearl, Onyx, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s American Edwardian Vintage Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Platinum
Vintage Chain Necklaces
Vintage chain necklaces can make a statement on their own. What’s better than eye-catching chains of yellow gold or subtle silver to accessorize with everything from a designer evening dress to a comfortable sweatshirt?
Personal ornament in general has been around for eons. Ancient Egyptians designed jewelry and wore necklaces, rings and other accessories, and the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber in 1922 had the greatest impact on Art Deco jewelry. When chain necklaces first took on some visibility in ancient civilizations, these items weren’t exactly democratic.
Chain necklaces were accessories that were relegated strictly to royal families and the upper class. In ancient times, pendant necklaces conferred prestige, for example. Wealthy Greeks and Romans opted for gold and silver necklaces that featured ornate pendants and semiprecious stones. By the Renaissance period, the pendant had replaced the brooch as the most worn type of jewelry. Pendant necklaces were commonplace, or pendants were simply strung on long gold chains.
Thankfully, jewelry became more accessible over time. And trends have come and gone, but the popularity of chain necklaces today owes in part to hip-hop culture. Big, chunky gold chains and diamond necklaces were the order of the day in publicity shoots and on album covers for rappers in the early 1980s onward, and a gold chain is still a mainstay in the ever-evolving and broadening hip-hop culture as we know it.
In our modern era, a number of chain-link necklaces are trending, worn alone or layered. The stylish links that have passed the test of time include oval links, paper-clip chains and more. The best way to discover your perfect fit is to zero in on a particular name and type of link.
While it was once key to accessorizing for a formal event, a vintage chain necklace now adds a fresh dynamic to any outfit at any time of day. Find yours on 1stDibs.