Men's Byzantine Chain

Men's Byzantine chain: the king's link, explained

The Byzantine chain, also called the king's chain or bizantina, is one of the oldest patterns in chainmaking. Pairs of small rings are folded through each other again and again, so the chain becomes dense and three-dimensional. Up close it looks intricate; from a step away it reads as a soft, square rope. It is a chain for men who want texture first.

This collection holds our three Byzantine chains, in stainless steel or titanium steel. Silver-tone is the bare polished steel; gold-tone and black are platings.

Our three Byzantine chains

Choosing the width

• 4 mm: the elegant choice, under an open collar or with a blazer. Start with the Byzantine Chain in Stainless Steel.
• 5 mm: clearly visible over a t-shirt, still easy to wear every day.
• 8 mm: a chain you wear on its own and nothing else. The Byzantine Link Chain Necklace in titanium steel comes in 8 mm, in silver-tone or gold-tone.

Byzantine with or without a pendant

A plain Byzantine chain looks best alone: its pattern is the decoration. The one exception is our Byzantine Chain with Crucifix Pendant, where the density of the chain balances a crucifix engraved with the Lord's Prayer in Spanish. It is the only Byzantine chain we offer in several lengths.

Byzantine or rope?

Both are round, textured chains. A rope chain twists and catches light in a spiral; a Byzantine chain folds its rings into a deeper, denser weave, with a heavier, more structured feel. If you hesitate between the two, our types of men's chains page compares them with every other link.

Care

The folded rings can hold soap, sweat and dust. Rinse the chain in clean water, pat it dry, and let it air-dry fully before storing it flat. Shower, sea and pool are fine; rinse after salt water or chlorine. Perfume and chlorine wear gold-tone and black plating over time. 1-year warranty against defects, 30-day returns, free shipping over $60.