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By Jake Woolf and Michella Ore
Gold chains for...men? You better believe it. See, over the last few years, guys have embraced all kinds of jewelry with gusto, rocking pearls, beads, and not-so precious gemstones like their parents just let them loose in the accessories section at Claire's. But one piece of jewelry still reigns supreme: the simple gold chain. The type of necklaces we're talking about here are favored by fellas like Tony Soprano, who wore his gold pendant necklace while smoking cigars in the pool of his New Jersey mansion, and Michael Jordan, who rocked a duo of curb chain necklaces when he took off from the foul line in '87. (His Airness occasionally paired his with a single diamond-cut earring, too.)
What's behind the gold chain's enduring appeal? For one, gold will always be just a step above sterling silver, and in an entirely different league than stainless steel.The right gold chain also happens to be the easiest way to add some instant swagger to your summer outfits, without making you look like a perma-tanned Miami promoter trying to offload dubiously-sourced uppers outside of LIV. Versatile and understated (as long you want them to be), gold chains look just as good worn with a simple white tee as they do with your sharpest suit—preferably sans shirt à la Paul Mescal.
And best of all, the options are nearly endless. Are you going with white gold, rose gold, or yellow gold? A chunky rope chain or a more streamlined cable chain? A trendy choker or a classic collar? (And that's not even getting into karat count.) To help you find the necklace of your dreams, we went deep on the best gold chains for men, unearthing a treasure trove of choices from bestsellers and new arrivals alike—including a bunch that won't permanently curb-stomp your credit card.
Surprise, surprise—you don’t actually have to spend a million bucks to look the part. In fact, the market for affordable gold jewelry has gotten bigger and (much) better over the years. The swervy box and Cuban link chains ringing in for less than a Benjamin look way more expensive than they are and won’t turn you green—but they will save you a lot of it.
A lot of men’s gold chains on the market can lack that extra pizzaz. If you’ve got an extra Benjamin to spare then you might want to treat yourself to a solid rope chain with a little more fixings—cross pendants, snakes, abstract shapes—the options are endless. The idea is to enhance, not distract, from the real star: silky smooth gold.
"Julian" Chain Necklace
Rae Sterling Silver and Gold-Plated Pendant Necklace
Every now and then, your wishlist becomes your main cart and you’re speedily clicking your way to checkout. Accessibility isn’t the focus of this price range, it’s the diversity of options. Instead of simply looking for a gold rope chain, you’re faced with deciding between a franco chain, figaro chain, or a, brace yourself, mariner chain. It’s the type of distinctions that make jewelers tear up, and one you’ll be more than eager to entertain, wallet in hand.
Gold Diamond Cut Belcher Chain Necklace
When it’s time to pull out all the stops, budget gives way to making the best impression for a significant other—or yourself. There’s no shortage of fine jewelry dripping in nothing but gold, but this is an opportunity to let some stones shine. You can go the classic route with a diamond necklace, opt for pearls, or really switch it up with sizzling sapphire and peridot.
Chloroplast Sapphire & 9kt Gold Necklace
Peridot & Recycled 18kt Gold Necklace
14kt Gold Baroque Pearl Necklace
All products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Take it from friends at GQ Recommends: it's hip to be square.
An itty-bitty chain you'll be proud to pass down to the grandkids.
Keep it together with solid 14k gold.
This necklace is giving literal vibes; do yourself a favor and grab it while you can.
Packed with plenty of karats to nourish your fits year-round.
When in doubt, go the Paul Mescal route.
The go-to shop for icy accessories worthy of a bona fide rock legend also makes drippy curb link chains fit for mere mortals.
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