I am enamored with gold chain link necklaces, and the selection is plentiful right now — a little too plentiful. So many chain link necklaces look cheap, clunky, or lay awkwardly on your collarbone. Obviously, I am here to narrow down the extensive selection to only the best gold chain link necklaces. Scroll down if you are eager to shop, or learn how to style gold chains in my next paragraph.
How To Style Gold Chains
A gold chain link necklace is timeless. I am consistently reviving vintage gold chain link necklaces found at the bottom of my clients’ jewelry chests. Often my clients already own the necklace, but not the earrings or bracelets needed to complete the look, which I then have to source. Even a modern gold chain link necklace can be lost at sea. Sometimes the designer makes beautiful complementary items so you don’t have to source a bunch of pieces. But sometimes they don’t. Or more often, the items they make aren’t excellent, so we gotta do it on our own.
With that in mind, I went beyond just recommending the best gold chain link necklaces. I’ve also paired them with complementary items to complete the look and create your own jewelry cluster. Here are the guidelines I followed to create these lovely clusters…
1. Match the Golds: The number one rule on how to style gold chains is to match the color tone. You can’t pair a yellow gold chain link necklace with champagne gold earrings.
2. Match the Texture: You also can’t pair hammered gold earrings with a baby smooth gold chain link necklace. You must match the texture of the pieces.
3. Complement the Shape: If the links of your gold chain necklace are oval, oval earrings are probably better than round hoops. But this doesn’t mean you always have to match the shapes. Notice that I put square-edge hoop huggies with a gold paper clip necklace. The shapes are different but still similar. The key is to match the curves or a corner of a piece. You don’t have to match the shapes exactly.
Best Gold Chain Link Necklace: Monica Vinader Coin Necklace
How To Style Gold Chains: Pair this super shiny yellow gold necklace with highly saturated colors. See me wearing it in this Instagram Reel.
14k Yellow Gold Fancy Link Necklace: Monica Vinader Alta Charm Necklace
This Monica Vinader gold chain link necklace is gorgeous. The color, quality, and shape are perfection. The added bonus is the fancy links — almost all of the links open so you can add any charms and pendants of your choice. The creative expression available here is incredible. You can see me wearing this necklace in my Instagram reel.
How To Style Gold Chains: Pair this super shiny yellow gold necklace with highly saturated colors. See me wearing it in this LTK post.
Best Gold Chainlink Necklace: Julie Vos Ivy Necklace
I have both this gold chain necklace and the Monica Vinader one above. I thought I would wear the Monica Vinader necklace more, but the more champagne color of this textured Julie Vos necklace has been more versatile for me since I wear more earth tones on the day-to-day.
How To Style Gold Chains: Pair this softer gold set with earth tones. See me wearing it in this Instagram reel.
Best Affordable Gold Chain Necklaces: Baublebar Mini Hera Necklace
The selection of affordable gold chain necklaces is expansive, but most of them look cheap, cheap, cheap. The mini Hera Bauble Bar chain link necklace is the exception. It is absolutely one of the best gold chain link necklaces for daily wear. I have been wearing it most weeks for a year and I am so impressed. It also layers beautifully. I swear this necklace can do no wrong.
How To Style Gold Chains: This neutral gold tone can go with everything. See how I layer it with pearls in my post, “How To Wear Pearls.”
Best Gold Chain Link Necklace: Oak and Luna Initial Medallion Necklace
How To Style Gold Chains: This neutral gold tone can go with everything, but make sure you are pairing that necklace with deep v-neck tops so it has room.
Best Gold Chain Link Necklace: Laura Lombardi
How To Style Gold Chains: Pair this super shiny yellow gold necklace with highly saturated colors.
