Men's Thick Chains

Men's thick chains: 6 mm and up, worn on their own

A thick chain is the piece people notice first. Every chain in this collection is offered in at least one width of 6 mm or more, up to 18 mm on the gold-tone Cuban link. All are stainless steel or titanium steel (a stainless steel alloy), in silver-tone, gold-tone or black, depending on the model.

If you want something you can wear every day without it being the focus, look at our thin chains instead.

How thick is thick? A width guide

• 6 mm: the entry point. Clearly visible over a T-shirt, still fine with a shirt collar. A good first thick chain.
• 8 to 10 mm: the classic bold chain. This is where a Cuban or curb link starts to look heavy and dense. The bold Cuban link in titanium steel is 10 mm, in 20", 22" or 24".
• 12 to 14 mm: a statement. Best on a broad frame or with an open collar.
• 16 to 18 mm: the widest we offer. Offered on the heavy curb chain (up to 16 mm), the silver Cuban link (up to 16 mm) and the gold-tone Cuban link (up to 18 mm, with a cubic zirconia box clasp).

A practical tip: the wider the chain, the more it weighs, so start one size below what you think you want if this is your first bold chain.

Width and length go together

On a thick chain, length changes the look more than on a thin one. Wide links at the base of the neck read tight and bold; the same chain at mid-chest reads more relaxed.

• 18" to 20": close to the neck or at the collarbone. The most assertive way to wear a wide Cuban.
• 22": just below the collarbone, the easiest length for most men.
• 24" and longer: mid-chest and lower, a looser look that suits 6 to 10 mm.

Not every width is offered in every length; each product page shows which combinations exist.

Thick chain styles, compared

• Cuban link: tight, flat, interlocking links. The most popular thick style; see all of them in Cuban chains.
• Curb: close to the Cuban, a little more open. Our heavy curb goes from 6 to 16 mm.
• Franco: V-shaped links that form a dense, square-looking chain. The Franco link chain, in 316L stainless steel, comes in 6, 9 or 13 mm.
• Byzantine: an intricate woven pattern, 8 mm wide on our gold-tone and silver-tone versions.
• Wheat: rounded and textured, up to 7.5 mm in silver-tone and 8 mm in gold-tone.
• Cable: large, round open links, up to 10 mm.

How to wear a thick chain

Let it be the only chain. A bold chain with a second chain or a pendant usually looks crowded. If you add anything, make it a bracelet in the same link and color. Plain dark T-shirts and open-collar shirts show a thick chain best; under a buttoned shirt it pushes the collar. Match the tone to your watch: silver-tone with steel, gold-tone with a gold-colored case.

Care for a thick steel chain

Wide links collect skin oils between them. Rinse in warm water with a drop of mild soap, then dry the chain fully, flat on a towel. On gold-tone or black plated chains, rinse after the pool, since chlorine wears plating over time, and put the chain on after perfume. Check the clasp from time to time, since a heavy chain puts more load on it.