How to pick your first Cuban link chain without messing up
Karat, weight, width, length, hollow vs solid. Thirty years of handmade Cubans, summed up in a clean guide.
Ariel
Founder· Ariel's Jewelry
If you've never bought a Cuban chain, odds are you'll overpay for something you didn't actually want. I see it every day in the store. Here are the five questions you need to answer before buying.
1. 10K, 14K or 18K?
Karats measure gold purity. 24K is 100% pure but too soft for jewelry. Your real choices are three: 10K (41.7% gold, more durable, more affordable), 14K (58.3% — the sweet spot between shine and price) and 18K (75% — warmer color, more expensive, more prestige).
2. Hollow or Solid?
Hollow means hollow. The piece looks identical from outside, but weighs less and costs less. Solid is full gold, weighs real, feels real. A 22-inch 12mm solid Cuban can weigh 180 grams. The same hollow weighs 28.
Hollow gets unfair flak. Made right, it lasts years. Solid is for investment: if you ever resell, solid gold holds its value.
3. Length and width
- 20" — sits on the neck, just under a shirt collar.
- 22" — most popular for men. Falls right on the chest.
- 24"-26" — longer, more visible, ideal to show off.
For width, men usually ask 8mm to 12mm. Women and kids, 3mm to 6mm.
4. Clasp and build
The clasp is the first thing that fails on a cheap chain. Ours are box clasps with double-safety mechanism. If the seller doesn't show you the clasp, bad sign.
5. Certificate and authenticity
Every chain leaving Ariel's has the karat stamp on the clasp plus an authenticity certificate. If you're buying online, demand photos of the stamp and a receipt with exact gram weight.
“Gold is honest. If someone has to hide the weight or karat from you, you're not buying gold. You're buying a story.”
— Ariel
Quick summary
- First Cuban: 14K hollow, 22 inches, 8mm.
- Investment: 14K or 18K solid, 24+ inches.
- Heavy daily wear: 10K hollow.
- Gift: 14K, 20-22 inches, medium width.
