Chain styles
Figaro vs. rope chain: how to choose a link pattern
Compare a Figaro chain’s open links with the twisted outline of a rope chain. Use width, viewing distance and your favorite outfit to choose between them.
Read one repeat of the pattern
Zoom in on a Figaro chain and follow one elongated link to the next. The shorter links between them give the chain a rhythm you can pick out with your eye. Against a dark shirt, little patches of fabric show through the openings. In the Figaro photograph above, several widths appear together for comparison. Trace one strand at a time.
Now look at a rope chain. Follow the diagonal ridges around its outline. The twist gives the eye a continuous line to follow, even when the individual links are hard to distinguish. If you like a strand that reads as one textured cord, start with the rope. If you enjoy seeing how the links join, look more closely at the Figaro.
Compare the same width at two distances
Both of the sterling silver chains linked below have a 2 mm option. That makes a useful side-by-side comparison. Width describes the distance across the strand. It tells you little about the size of a Figaro opening or how strongly a rope’s ridges catch the light. Product photos can also enlarge two chains by quite different amounts.
Try a chain you own with the shirt you expect to wear. Look first in a hand mirror, then step back to conversation distance. Which detail still shows against the fabric? Use that observation when comparing the listing photos. For help deciding where the pattern should sit, the box-chain length and layering guide explains how to try different positions.
Decide what you want to notice first
If you wear the chain alone, compare the center stretch, where the link pattern is easiest to see. If you plan to hang a pendant, hold that pendant against a shirt and picture each pattern beside its edge. A plain disc can leave room for a distinct link pattern. An intricate charm may already have all the detail you want.
Before ordering a chain for a pendant you own, measure the opening that the chain must pass through. A 2 mm strand can have a wider end fitting. Our pendant and chain compatibility guide shows which parts to check.
Explore the pieces
Sterling Silver Figaro Chain — Necklace & Bracelet Lengths ↗Diamond-Cut Sterling Silver Rope Chain — 2mm ↗See current sizes, availability and prices on each product page.
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