Custom chains
Chain is sold by style, gauge and length, and it is the one jewelry product where the failure mode is mechanical rather than cosmetic — a chain that opens under load is a returned order regardless of how it looks.
- MOQ
- 500 pcs per style, per plating colour
- Sampling
- 10 days from approved 3D file
- Bulk production
- 25 days after sample approval
- Tooling
- Quoted as a separate one-off line — see cost breakdown
Styles we produce
Chain is sold by style, gauge and length, and it is the one jewelry product where the failure mode is mechanical rather than cosmetic — a chain that opens under load is a returned order regardless of how it looks. Each style below is produced from the buyer's own design or developed from a reference under ODM.
01Cable 
02Curb 
03Cuban 
04Box 
05Rope 
06Figaro 
07Snake 
08Herringbone 
09Wheat 
10Singapore 
11Ball 
12Mariner
Swipe · 12 styles
Material options
Ranked by how well each metal suits this category specifically, not by price. Follow any row through to the full property table for that alloy.
| Material | Why it suits this category |
|---|---|
| 316L stainless steel | High tensile strength at small gauges; no tarnish |
| 925 silver | Traditional choice; needs anti-tarnish packing |
| Brass | Plated fashion chain at low cost |
Process options
The forming and finishing routes that apply to this shape, with what each contributes. Tolerances and tooling costs are on the individual process pages.
| Process | What it contributes |
|---|---|
| Chain making | Continuous forming and interlocking on dedicated machines |
| Polishing & finishing | Diamond-cut, flattened and twisted finishes |
| PVD coating | Gold and black on steel chain |
| Electroplating | Gold on brass and silver chain |
Sizing and specification
These are the dimensions a quotation needs. Sending them with the first enquiry is the difference between a one-day quote and a two-week conversation.
| Gauge | 0.8–12 mm |
|---|---|
| Necklace lengths | 40–70 cm |
| Bracelet lengths | 16–21 cm |
| Link closure | Soldered or butted — must be specified |
| Clasp | Lobster, spring ring, box, toggle |
Customisation
- Soldered links for load-bearing designs
- Diamond-cut faceting for reflectivity
- Branded clasp tag
- Cut-to-length runs across several lengths from one batch
- Mixed-gauge layered sets
Order terms
The same terms apply across every category. Tooling is always quoted as its own one-off line and is never amortised into the unit price.
| MOQ | 500 pcs per style, per plating colour |
|---|---|
| Sampling | 10 days from approved 3D file |
| Bulk production | 25 days after sample approval |
| Tooling | Quoted as a separate one-off line — see cost breakdown |
Compliance for this category
Different product shapes are held to different limits. This is the one that applies here.
Testing is arranged on request against whichever standards the destination market requires. Which tests apply, what they cost and how long they take is confirmed in writing in the quotation — see EN 1811 nickel releaseand Prop 65.
What to watch out for
Custom chains — buyer questions
Each answer stands alone and can be read without the rest of this page.
What is the minimum order quantity for custom chains?
500 pieces per style, per plating colour. The per-colour part matters: each finish is a separate production batch with its own setup, so three colours of one design is three batches of 500, not one. Sampling takes about 10 days and bulk production about 25 days after sample approval.
Which metal is best for chains?
316L stainless steel is the usual first choice — high tensile strength at small gauges; no tarnish. 925 silver is the alternative where traditional choice; needs anti-tarnish packing. The decision is rarely about appearance, because plating can make most metals look alike; it is about how the piece behaves after six months of wear.
What compliance standard applies to chains?
Chain has a very high surface area per gram, which makes it the hardest jewelry form to bring under the 0.5 µg/cm²/week nickel release limit with plated base metals. Steel and silver chain pass comfortably; plated brass chain needs a nickel-free barrier and a batch test to prove it.
What sizing information do you need to quote chains?
gauge (0.8–12 mm), necklace lengths (40–70 cm), bracelet lengths (16–21 cm) and the finish. Sending these with the first enquiry is what turns a two-week back-and-forth into a one-day quotation, because each of them changes either the tooling or the unit price.
Can you produce chains from my own design files?
Yes — that is the normal route. Send CAD (.stl, .3dm, .step) or a dimensioned sketch and an engineer reviews it for manufacturability before quoting, flagging anything that will not produce as drawn. The buyer owns the design and the tooling, and an NDA is signed before files are received.
What is the most common mistake buyers make ordering chains?
Butted versus soldered links. A butted chain — links closed but not joined — costs less and looks identical in a photograph, and it opens under load. If the chain carries a pendant of any weight, specify soldered links in the purchase order.
Not answered here? All buyer questions →
On the floor
The departments this category runs through · named from the factory's own signage · see all twelve
Quote a chains run
Send the design, the material and the quantity. You get an itemised unit price, the tooling cost as its own line, and the compliance route for your market. Production runs on our own floor in Qingxi, Dongguan, Guangdong.
- 01Reply within one working day, Guangdong business hours.
- 02Itemised cost sheet — mold quoted separately, not folded into the unit price.
- 03NDA on request before any file is shared.