Five chain styles — from ₹819
Chains for Men
Cuban, boa, serpenti and figaro chains in gold plating and silver-tone, all built on grade 316L stainless steel. Widths from 2mm to 3mm, lengths from 40cm to 55cm — rust-proof, hypoallergenic, and priced to be worn every day rather than kept for occasions.
Rated 4.9 / 5 by 2,800+ verified buyers across our jewellery
- Cuban, boa, serpenti & figaroGold plated and silver-tone
- Grade 316L steelHypoallergenic, won't turn skin green
- 6-month fade warrantyOn every gold plated chain
- Dispatch in 24–48 hrsStraight from our workshop
- Free shipping & CODAcross India
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5 products
Which Chain Style Should You Wear?
We make five chains rather than fifty, so it is worth two minutes to pick the right one. They differ by width, by length, and by how much they announce themselves.
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Boa — 2mm, 55cm, ₹819
A flat, close-woven snake link that sits smooth against the skin and disappears under a collar. The slimmest and cheapest chain here, in 12 carat gold plating or Italian-polished silver-tone. At 55cm it hangs low enough to carry a locket comfortably.
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Serpenti & Figaro — 3mm, ₹1,199–₹1,399
Both 22 carat gold plated and 3mm wide, and both more visible than the Boa. The Serpenti is a rounded snake chain at 40cm, which sits high on the throat. The Link is a figaro — alternating long and short links — at 52cm, so it sits around the collarbone.
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Cuban — 3mm, adjustable, ₹2,999
Heavy interlocking faceted links in 22 carat gold plating, and the only chain here we engrave with a name. It is also the only adjustable one, 30cm extending to 35cm. Buy this when you want the chain itself to be the point.
Only the Cuban is adjustable. The others are fixed lengths — 40cm, 52cm and 55cm — so check the number against where you want it to sit.
Gold Plated or Solid Gold: An Honest Comparison
If you searched for a gold chain, it is worth knowing exactly what this page sells. These are gold-plated steel chains, not solid gold, and the two are different purchases rather than better and worse ones. Here is the actual trade.
| Compare | Gold Plated Steel What we make | Solid Gold What a jeweller sells |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Gold plating over grade 316L stainless steel | Solid 22K or 18K gold, hallmarked |
| What it costs | ₹819 to ₹2,999 | The day's gold rate by weight, plus making charges |
| On the neck | Light — you stop noticing it | Heavy; you feel every gram of it |
| Where you can wear it | Gym, travel, monsoon, anywhere | Most people keep it for occasions |
| If you lose it | You replace it | It is a significant loss |
| Resale value | None — this is jewellery, not an asset | Holds its gold value |
| On skin | 316L is hypoallergenic and will not leave a green mark | Gold does not tarnish |
| Choose it if | You want the look, worn daily, replaceable | You want gold as a store of value |
Chains for Men, Built on 316L Steel
We make five chains rather than fifty, and every one is cut from grade 316L stainless steel — the alloy used for surgical instruments. That matters more on a chain than on almost anything else you wear, because a chain sits against the neck all day in the heat: 316L does not rust in the monsoon, does not tarnish, and is hypoallergenic, which is what separates it from the plated-brass chains that leave a green mark within a season.
Prices run from ₹819 for the Boa to ₹2,999 for the engraved Cuban, and every gold-plated chain carries a 6-month warranty against fading.
Gold Plated Chains for Men
Four of the five are gold plated over 316L steel — the Serpenti, the Link and the Cuban in 22 carat plating, the Boa in 12 carat. The warranty is the point of buying plated rather than solid: a gold chain you wear to work on a Tuesday rather than one that lives in a locker between weddings.
Plating wears from friction and chemicals rather than from time, so put the chain on after aftershave and take it off before a swimming pool, and the colour holds well past six months. If it ever does wear through, what shows underneath is stainless steel — not a green base metal.
Silver-Tone Steel Chains
The Silver Boa is Italian-polished 316L steel with nothing plated over it. Because there is no coating, there is nothing that can chip or wear through, and unlike sterling silver there is no tarnishing to polish out. At ₹819 for a 2mm, 55cm chain it is the most maintenance-free thing we sell, and the right pick if you want something you genuinely never take off.
Cuban, Boa, Serpenti and Figaro
The Boa is a flat, close-woven snake link, 2mm wide and 55cm long — the slimmest chain here, smooth against the skin, and the one most people buy to carry a locket. The Serpenti is a rounded snake chain, 3mm and 40cm, which sits high on the throat. The Link is a figaro — alternating long and short links — 3mm and 52cm, sitting around the collarbone. And the Cuban is the heavy one: 3mm interlocking faceted links, adjustable 30–35cm, and the only chain we engrave with a name.
If you have never worn a chain, start with the Boa. It is the least conspicuous way in, and it is the one men most often come back to replace with a Cuban a year later.
What Length Chain Should You Buy?
Only the Cuban adjusts. The rest are fixed, and the difference between them is larger than it sounds, so it is worth matching the number to where you want it to sit.
40cm — the Serpenti — sits high, at the base of the throat, and shows above an open collar. 52cm — the figaro Link — sits at or just below the collarbone. 55cm — the Boa — hangs lowest, which is why it is the natural choice if you are hanging a locket or pendant that needs to clear the collarbone. If you are between two, the longer one is the safer buy: a chain that sits low can be tucked, a chain that sits tight cannot be lengthened.
Is a Gold Plated Chain Worth It?
It depends entirely on what you want from it. If you are buying gold partly as a store of value — which a great many people in India reasonably are — then plating is not what you want, and a jeweller is the right place to go. Gold-plated steel has no resale value. We would rather say that plainly than have you find out later.
What plating buys you is the look at a fraction of the price, on a metal that survives the gym and the monsoon, in a piece you can afford to lose. For a chain you actually wear every day, that is a better trade than most people expect.
A Chain for a Locket or Pendant
Plenty of people arrive here because a pendant they already own needs something better to hang on. The Boa is the one designed for that job — slim enough not to compete with the pendant at 2mm, long enough at 55cm to let it sit properly. Our own lockets for men ship with a chain included, so the standalone chains here are mainly for replacing or upgrading one, or for pairing with an engraved name pendant.
Why Buy from Etchcraft Emporium
Everything ships from our own workshop in India within 24 to 48 hours, engraved pieces included, and arrives in a gift box. Shipping is free across India and Cash on Delivery is available on every order. Across our jewellery we hold a 4.9 out of 5 rating from more than 2,800 verified buyers.
Building a look rather than buying one piece? Our men's jewellery range covers bracelets, kadas, rings and engraved watches, all on the same steel.
Chains for Men — FAQs
Is this a real gold chain?
No — these are gold plated over grade 316L stainless steel, from ₹819 to ₹2,999. A solid gold chain is priced on the day's gold rate by weight plus making charges, so it costs many multiples of anything on this page and holds resale value that plating does not. If you are buying gold as an investment, buy solid gold from a jeweller. If you want a gold chain to wear daily, this is the trade.
What carat is the gold plating?
The Serpenti, Link and Cuban chains are 22 carat gold plated. The Boa chain is 12 carat plated, which is part of why it is the cheapest at ₹819. All four are plated over grade 316L stainless steel and carry the same 6-month warranty against fading.
Will the gold plating fade?
Every gold plated chain carries a 6-month warranty on fading. Plating wears from friction and chemicals rather than time, so put the chain on after aftershave and deodorant and take it off before a swimming pool, and it holds colour well past that. If plating ever does wear through, stainless steel shows underneath — not a green base metal.
Which chain style is best for men?
For a first chain, the Boa — 2mm, flat, smooth against the skin, and it disappears under a collar. The Serpenti and figaro Link sit in the middle at 3mm with more visible presence. The Cuban is the statement piece: 3mm faceted links, and the only one we engrave with a name. Start slim; heavier is the upgrade people make a year later.
What length are the chains, and can I choose?
Only the Cuban adjusts, from 30cm to 35cm. The others are fixed: the Serpenti is 40cm and sits high on the throat, the Link is 52cm and sits at the collarbone, and the Boa is 55cm and hangs lowest. If you are hanging a locket, the 55cm Boa is the one that lets it clear the collarbone properly.
Will a steel chain turn my neck green or cause a rash?
No. Green marks and irritation come from copper and nickel alloys reacting with sweat. Grade 316L stainless steel — the alloy used for surgical implants — is hypoallergenic and non-toxic, so it is safe for daily wear, safe in the shower, and suitable for most people with metal sensitivities.
Can I get a chain engraved with my name?
The Personalised Cuban Chain is engraved with a name at no extra cost — you type it in and preview it before paying. The Boa, Serpenti, Link and Silver Boa are plain chains with no engraving surface; if you want a name at your neck, pair one of those with an engraved name pendant instead.
Will these work with a locket or pendant I already own?
Yes. The Boa is the best suited — 2mm, so it does not compete with the pendant, and 55cm, so the pendant sits below the collarbone. Check your pendant's bail opening against a 2–3mm chain; almost everything standard will pass.
Do you have chains for boys and teenagers?
The Boa at ₹819 is the one most often bought for younger wearers — slim at 2mm, and in 316L steel, which is the safest material for skin that reacts to cheaper metals. The Cuban is heavy enough that it reads as an adult piece.
How long does delivery take, and is COD available?
Chains dispatch within 24 to 48 hours, with delivery typically 4 to 7 days after that depending on location. Cash on Delivery and free shipping are available across India, and everything arrives gift-boxed.