Rope Chain 18K Gold Plated (2.8mm)

Rope Chain 18K Gold Plated (2.8mm) With a Spiral That Catches Light Separately

The middle size in the plated rope line, and the right one for most people: broad enough to wear on its own, narrow enough to disappear under a shirt. The core is solid 925 sterling silver with 18K gold plating at 2.5 microns. What sits under the layer decides how a plated chain ages, and here that is precious metal.

Product details

• Base material: solid 925 sterling silver

• Finish: 18K gold, 2.5 microns

• Width: 2.8mm

• Lengths: 50, 55 and 60 cm

• Clasp: lobster clasp

• Delivered in a Carpe Ice jewelry box

Why a Rope Is Harder to Plate

A rope is made of links twisted around one another in a spiral, which creates far more edges and hollows than a flat chain. When plating, the layer has to bond evenly everywhere, including deep in the grooves, or you end up with an uneven look over time. It is also exactly why a rope glitters the way it does: all those faces sit at different angles and catch light separately. The flip side is that the raised edges wear first, because they rub along clothing and collars.

What 2.5 Microns Means

Micron is the thickness of the gold layer. What the jewelry trade calls gold plated often starts around 0.5 micron, and this layer is five times as thick. We deliberately put no number of years on it, because that depends entirely on how you wear it. What we can say: if the layer wears through somewhere, silver appears and not a base metal. So there is no green residue on your skin, and a jeweler can have the chain re-plated on a base that is worth it. Take it off before the pool, the shower and sport, because there is a layer on it; the silver-colored steel chains have no layer and can stay on. Apply fragrance before you put it on, and store it dry.

50, 55 or 60 cm

On a plated chain, length has a consequence that does not apply to steel or solid silver. A short chain sits tight against a collar and rubs there all day, while a longer one hangs free and mostly touches your shirt. At 60 cm (24 in) the gold layer therefore has an easier time than at 50 cm (20 in). If you prefer to wear it high, choose 50 and expect a little more friction; 55 cm (22 in) is the middle ground and our best-selling length.

Why This Costs More Than a Steel Rope

With silver you pay for the weight of the metal, not for the width. A twisted rope link is dense and heavy for its size, so a lot of precious metal goes into it. Our stainless steel gold rope chain therefore costs a fraction and has a harder finish, but no material value and no possibility of being re-plated. It is a choice between practical and lasting, not between good and better.

Care

Lukewarm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft cloth are enough. Do not use silver polish, abrasives or an ultrasonic bath: those are meant for solid metal and attack a finish instead. More soap collects in the grooves of the spiral than on a smooth chain, so rinse well and pat it dry.