Check the setting first: prong set stones sit higher and throw more light, pavé sits flatter and wears smoother. From 4 to 6 mm is an iced chain for every day; 12 mm and up is the centerpiece. Most carry natural diamonds on the listing, and the Cubans with lab-grown diamonds say so in the name. "Hold a Cuban up by one end. A well-made one hangs straight down: the links do not spin, twist or curve. Getting that right comes down to who made the chain and how they made it." Trax, at the jewelry store on 47th Street since 2004.
Iced out chains at a glance
- Gold: 14K on most, some 10K; yellow, white or rose on most listings.
- Diamonds: natural on most listings; lab-grown ones say so in the title.
- Setting: prong on most, a few pavé or bezel.
- Grades: on most listings, clarity mostly SI to VS and color mostly F to H.
- Width: about 4 mm to 24.5 mm. Length: 16 to 40 inches, with 22 inches listed most.
- Weight: grams on every listing, from about 25 grams to over 900.
Are the diamonds on these iced out chains natural or lab-grown?
Nearly every chain here is set with diamonds, natural on most and lab-grown where the title says so, with the clarity and color on most listings.
What does VVS mean on a diamond chain?
VVS is a clarity grade, very very slightly included, above VS. The chains here list their clarity, most between SI and VS, and VVS diamonds explains every grade.
See men's diamond chains, Miami Cuban chains, tennis chains and our hip hop jewelry guide. The chain book has Miami Cuban styles made to order, pre-drilled or with settings for stones; a deposit starts the 3D design, and nothing is made until you approve.
Ask for a chain's grades or grams in the live chat; the phone and text line, 212-872-9692, has a person on it from 10 AM ET, and the showroom is on 47th Street.