Item: Iced out cuban link chain: which width and which length?
Iced out cuban link chain: which width and which length?
Almost every guide to this chain starts with length. That is the second decision, not the first. On an iced out cuban link the width decides how heavily the chain sits on your chest, and only then does the length decide where it falls.
The line runs in 6, 8 and 10 mm and in 50 cm (20in), 55 cm (22in) and 60 cm (24in), in gold tone and silver tone. There is no 45 cm (18in). This guide explains which width goes with which length, where each length falls, and what to do if you want it shorter.
1. Width first: 6, 8 or 10 mm
The difference between the three widths is not only the size of the link. At 10 mm every link carries two rows of stones; at 6 and 8 mm it carries one. That is why the 10 mm reads as a continuous block of light from a meter away and the 6 mm reads as a line.
6 mm is the version you wear under a jacket or over a T-shirt without it being an announcement. It is also the only width that can sit next to a second chain without the whole thing turning busy.
8 mm is the middle size and, in practice, the safest choice if you are unsure. Wide enough to be worn on its own, narrow enough to forget you have it on.
10 mm is the statement size, with that double row of stones. This width you wear solo.
2. Then length: where 50, 55 and 60 cm fall
All three widths run in the same three lengths, so you can combine freely.
50 cm (20in) stays inside a buttoned shirt. The chain sits high on the chest and disappears behind a collar. Pick this length if you mostly wear it at the office or under clothing.
55 cm (22in) falls just below the collarbone. This is the length that shows best over a T-shirt and the size chosen most often.
60 cm (24in) hangs free on the chest, well below the collarbone. This length is meant to be seen and works hardest with oversized clothing, where a shorter chain disappears into the fabric.
There is one link between the two you should know: the wider the chain, the shorter it reads. A 10 mm at 55 cm looks like an 8 mm at 50 cm, because the links themselves take up room. If you want a 10 mm to look like an 8 mm at 55 cm, take 60 cm.
3. There is no 45 cm iced out cuban
You hear it often, guides to this chain included, but in this line 50 cm (20in) is the shortest size. Anyone looking for 45 cm (18in) is really looking for a finer link: at 45 cm a 10 mm cuban sits so tight against the neck that the links push against each other instead of falling.
If you want shorter or finer, these are the logical alternatives in the same style:
- The 4 mm cuban chain in solid 925 sterling silver, without stones but with the classic link.
- The 18K gold plated cuban at 5 mm, also without stones.
- The silver tone cuban in 3, 5 and 7 mm or the gold tone version, if you want to stay under 6 mm.
If you want to go the other way instead, the 12 mm moissanite cuban in 925 silver is the widest we carry.
4. Measuring without guessing
Your neck circumference on its own says little, because a chain hangs forward. What you want to know is where it lands.
The quickest method takes a minute. Put a tape measure around your neck and let it hang at the front down to the height where you want to see the chain. Read off the figure at that height. That number is your length, and for most people it falls between 50 cm (20in) and 60 cm (24in).
Already have a chain that sits well? Lay it flat and measure clasp to clasp, clasp included. That is the most reliable measurement there is, because you have already worn it for a day.
Still unsure? Use the size chart for chains.
5. What the chain is made of
The iced out chains have a nickel free copper alloy as their base, with five layers of PVD for the gold or silver color. In PVD the color is bonded to the metal at molecular level in a vacuum chamber instead of being applied galvanically, which makes the finish harder than ordinary plating.
The stones are VVS cubic zirconia, that is, simulated diamond. Not real diamond and not moissanite: that is how the product page puts it and that is how it is put here. The clasp is a lobster clasp.
One thing to keep in mind: copper alloy is more sensitive to moisture than stainless steel. This chain does not come into the shower, the pool or the gym. If you want something that takes all that and still has the same link, look at the 925 sterling silver or 18K gold plated versions.
6. Two chains at once
Layering works with this link in only one way: keep about 10 cm between the two lengths. With less they slide over each other and you see the link of neither.
The combination that works out best in practice is a 6 mm at 50 cm (20in) with a 6 mm or 8 mm at 60 cm (24in). Two 10 mm iced out chains side by side is not layering any more, it is one wide surface.
If you would rather vary shape than length, pair the cuban with a finer link such as a box chain. The contrast between a flat, wide link and a tight round strand does more than two of the same pattern.
7. Care: between the links, not on them
On an iced out cuban, dirt collects in the space between the links and around the settings, and that is exactly where the light enters. A chain that looks dull is almost never worn out, it is dirty.
A dry soft toothbrush along the settings takes most of it off. Do that once a week if you wear the chain daily.
Beyond that: apply perfume, deodorant and body lotion before you put the chain on, let it dry, and store the chain dry in its box. That keeps the PVD layer intact longest.
Four mistakes you can spot instantly
- 10 mm at 50 cm (20in). The chain then sits so high that the links push against the collar instead of falling. At this width it starts at 55 cm (22in).
- Two wide chains side by side. Without about 10 cm of length difference and a difference in width, it becomes one surface.
- Taking the chain into the shower. The copper alloy is more moisture sensitive than steel, and the clasp is where you notice it first.
- Guessing the size. Measuring with a tape along the front takes a minute and saves a return.
Where do you start?
Unsure about everything? Take 8 mm at 55 cm (22in). That is the combination that comes back least often and works both over a T-shirt and under a jacket, in gold tone or silver tone.
Want it really seen? 10 mm at 60 cm (24in). Want to be able to tuck it away? 6 mm at 50 cm (20in).
For a set, the iced out cuban bracelet in the same width belongs with it, also in gold tone and in 18, 20 and 22 cm. To look further, try the cuban link chains, the cuban bracelets or the whole iced out collection.
Frequently asked questions
Which lengths does the iced out cuban link chain come in?
50 cm (20in), 55 cm (22in) and 60 cm (24in), in all three widths. A 45 cm (18in) does not exist in this line. If you want shorter, look at the finer cuban in 3, 4 or 5 mm.
Which width should I choose: 6, 8 or 10 mm?
8 mm is the safest choice if you are unsure. You wear 6 mm under clothing or next to a second chain, and 10 mm solo. At 10 mm every link carries two rows of stones instead of one.
Which length is chosen most often?
55 cm. It falls just below the collarbone and shows best over a T-shirt. At 50 cm the chain stays inside a buttoned shirt, at 60 cm it hangs free on the chest.
How do I measure which length I need?
Put a tape measure around your neck and let it hang at the front down to the height where you want to see the chain. Or measure a chain you already own flat, clasp to clasp, clasp included.
What is the iced out cuban made of?
A nickel free copper alloy with five layers of PVD for the color, set with VVS cubic zirconia, that is, simulated diamond. The clasp is a lobster clasp.
Can the chain come into the shower?
No. Copper alloy is more sensitive to moisture than stainless steel. Take the chain off before showering, swimming and training, and apply perfume and deodorant before you put it on.
