Tennis Chain Gold (3mm & 5mm)

Tennis Chain Gold (3mm & 5mm) With a Continuous Row of VVS CZ Stones

A continuous row of VVS CZ stones, unbroken over the whole length. On a tennis chain the metal is precisely what you should not see: the settings stand so close together that almost nothing remains between the stones. In gold that works differently than in silver, because the narrow edges you do see are warm, and that contrast with the white of the stones is exactly what makes the gold look.

Product details

• Base material: copper alloy, nickel-free

• Finish: gold-tone, 5x PVD

• Stones: VVS CZ (simulated diamond)

• Widths: 3mm and 5mm

• Lengths: 50, 55 and 60 cm

• Clasp: box clasp

• Delivered in a Carpe Ice jewellery box

What the Copper Alloy Does to the Gold Colour

Our iced out pieces sit on a nickel-free copper alloy rather than stainless steel, because copper can be worked more finely and the settings therefore close more tightly around each stone. On the gold version a second effect comes with it that you do not get in silver: the warm undertone of the copper shows through the gold layer. That gives a fuller, deeper gold colour than the same finish on a cool base would produce. Copper is also denser than hollow steel, which gives the chain the weight you expect from a serious piece.

Five Layers of PVD Instead of Plating

The gold colour is applied with PVD: the material is bonded at molecular level inside a vacuum chamber rather than laid on galvanically, at Carpe Ice in five layers. That makes the layer noticeably harder and more scratch-resistant than ordinary plating. On a tennis chain the vulnerability is not in the flat surface but in the small edges between the settings: those are the highest points and they meet your collar first.

3mm or 5mm, and Which Length

Gold naturally stands out more than silver tone, so the 3mm is already enough to be noticed here while still wearable alongside other pieces. The 5mm is the statement and wants to be the only one. For length: at 50 cm the chain stays inside a collar, 55 cm falls just below the collarbone and is the most chosen, and at 60 cm it hangs free on the chest where the row of stones is visible along its full length. If you go for the 5mm, take 55 or 60, because a broad row high against the neck looks squat.

Keeping It Sparkling

A copper alloy is more sensitive to moisture than steel, so this is a piece for going out rather than for the gym. Around the neck fragrance and deodorant are the biggest risk, far more than water: they seep into the seams around the settings and leave a film that dulls the stones. Apply them before you put the chain on, take it off for showering, swimming and training, and store it dry. A dry, soft toothbrush between the stones removes any build-up.

Styling

Gold asks for consistency: keep your watch and other jewellery in the same tone, because gold beside silver reads as unintended rather than deliberate. If you want a set, the gold tennis bracelet in the same width is the logical addition. If you wear a link chain alongside it, choose a clearly different length so the row of stones does not compete with the link.