Cuban Link Chain Guide

The Cuban link chain is probably one of the most versatile gold chains out now. Here you will get a brief explanation of the way they’re made, Which Gold Cuban you should get, and we will provide recommendations when it comes to buying one. 

What are Cuban Link Chains Made Of?

Cuban links can be made out of practically any metal: silver, platinum, gold, etc. with gold being the most common. Even though most gold Cuban link chains are made to look yellow, other colored metals can be combined with gold to change the final color. For example, copper to make rose gold chains and nickel, manganese or palladium for white gold variations. 

How Big of a Chain Should I Get?

When it comes to the size of Cuban link chains, Besides the quality of the chains its all about the chain size. When we see hip hop stars like Jay Z and and Reggaeton singers like Daddy Yankee wear big gold Cuban chains in excess of 10 pounds in weight, it is not surprising to see regular consumers aiming high on the size scale as well. If impressing your neighbors is not your life purpose, how big of a chain should you buy to look cool?

The size of the Cuban link chain should depend on your particular taste, we suggest you wear multiple, smaller chains than one large “kilo” chain.

Most 18k Cuban link chain weighs 130-gram (.13 kg) and are 12 millimeters wide, a far cry from the 10-kilogram, neck breaking necklace that Daddy Yankee showed off at his concert!

The rule in width when it comes to Cuban link chains for men is between 8 and 12mm and 5 to 8mm for women. A good length when it comes to Men’s Cuban links is between 18 and 22 inches and 16 to 18 inches for women. This is a recommendation for those who still want to look fashionable, obviously not for folk who want to stand out!

10k, 14k, or 18k Gold?

Gold purity is one of the factors you need to consider when buying a Cuban link chain. The higher the purity (or the higher the “K’s”) of the gold used to make the chain, the more expensive the Cuban link chain will be.

An 18k gold chain is composed of 75% pure gold, while a 10k Cuban link has less than 50% of gold in it. The difference in purity makes the 18k chain about 60% more expensive than the 10k one.

We recommend that the minimum you should go is 14 - 18 karat. Despite our recommendation to go with a 14k gold Cuban link as a happy medium, customers concerned about price can go with an 10k gold chain instead.

Quality is the Key – The Smart Way to Buy a Cuban Link Chain

When it comes to price, it is obvious that a 10k chain will be cheaper than a 14 or 18k one. But if you’re trying to buy a cheap chain, don’t let your price objective steer you towards poor quality!

While it is OK to gravitate towards a 10k gold chain if price is one of your main objectives, lower purity doesn’t have to mean poorer craftsmanship. In fact, we stress to seek quality above all else when it comes to getting a good gold Cuban link.