Silver Byzantine Chains

Byzantine: what is a Byzantine chain, the woven link

A Byzantine is woven, not laid flat. Each pair of small round links bends back and locks through the pair ahead, and the chain builds into a round cord with texture all the way around. With no face to keep turned out, it never flips. All those links in every inch give it a soft drape, and it looks thicker than a curb of the same width. The silver rope chains twist their links for a smoother texture. The same weave in 14K gold has its own Byzantine chains page.

Width: a 4, 5 or 6 mm silver Byzantine chain

Take the 4 mm for every day. It sits close to the neck and still reads as a real chain. The 5 mm is the one people notice. The 6 mm, the widest, is the whole look. The round weave makes each one wear a little bigger than its number. Those widths are the round figures in the titles, and each web address reads a touch wider, so ask for a measured width if two tempt you. None of the three prints its grams, so ask for the weight at your length too.

Length: a 20, 22 or 24 inch silver Byzantine chain

Start at 22 inches. Every width here comes in it, and in 24. At 22 the chain falls to the top of the chest on most men, where it shows over a T-shirt. Go to 24 for a pendant with some size, or to clear a crew neck collar. The two narrower chains also come at 20, closer to the base of the neck. We shorten or lengthen a chain to your measure. Once altered it is final sale, so be sure of the inches before ordering.

Pendant: hanging a pendant on a silver Byzantine chain

All three carry a pendant, as their listings say. Check the bail first. Its opening must clear the chain, and the widest weave needs a roomy one. A small cross or medallion looks right on the 4 mm. A big, heavy piece wants one of the wider two, or the chain looks skinny under it. Say which pendant you own in the live chat, or call or text 212-872-9692 from 10 AM ET, and we will match it to a width. The men's silver pendants hold plenty to choose from.

Sterling: .925 silver, tarnish and care for a Byzantine chain

Each title says .925 silver, and the listings call it sterling. That means 92.5 percent silver, with copper for strength. Sterling darkens with air and skin, and in a Byzantine the folds go dark first. Regular wear keeps it bright, and a polishing cloth drawn along the chain lifts the film. For dirt in the weave, soak it briefly in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, work the folds with a soft toothbrush, then rinse and dry it fully. Keep it in a closed pouch. The tarnish article has more.