Pure Pearls Glossary
Chain
Linked metal forming a flexible necklace or bracelet, sold by length, gauge and link pattern.
Common patterns include cable, curb, box, snake and rope. Each drapes differently and has a different resistance to kinking.
Snake and box chains look sleek but kink permanently once bent. Cable and curb chains are far more forgiving.
Gauge, the wire thickness, matters more than the pattern for durability. A fine chain of any pattern is a fine chain.
When you are buying
Match the chain's gauge to the pendant's weight. A heavy pendant on a delicate chain wears through the bail and the link it hangs from.
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Bail
The loop connecting a pendant to its chain. Its inner width caps what chain the pendant will fit.
Pendant
A single ornament hung from a chain or strand, worn as the focal point of a necklace.
Clasp
The fastening that closes a necklace or bracelet. The most common point of failure and the most overlooked part of a purchase.
925 Sterling Silver
An alloy of 92.5% silver with 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The international standard for silver jewellery.
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