If you've sourced chain from more than one supplier, you've probably noticed the units don't always match: some quote by the metre or foot, others by a fixed reference length with a weight range attached. Neither is wrong - they're just different ways of describing the same underlying thing (how much silver is actually in the chain), and it's worth understanding both before you compare two suppliers' pricing directly.
Why weight is the real variable, regardless of the unit quoted
Silver is priced by weight - that's true no matter which unit a listing leads with. A chain quoted "by the metre" still has an actual gram weight per metre that determines its real silver cost; a chain quoted by a fixed length with a weight range is just showing you that number more directly. Two chains of the same visual style can carry meaningfully different weight per unit length depending on link thickness and construction, so the unit on the label matters less than the actual weight figure attached to it.
How our own chains are listed
Our 41 chain styles are sold in a fixed 16-inch reference length, with the real weight range for that length stated on each design - for example, our Anchor Chain is listed across weight increments from 0.8g up to 8g at that same 16-inch length, and our Curve Chain spans a much wider 2g to 100g range at the same length, reflecting how much link thickness varies within one style name. This is deliberately concrete: a stated weight at a stated length gives you a real number to price against the day's silver rate, rather than an unfamiliar per-metre figure you'd need to convert yourself.
What to ask a chain supplier, whichever unit they use
- What's the actual weight for the length or quantity I'm ordering? Don't accept a style name alone as a spec - "anchor chain" can mean very different weights depending on link gauge.
- Is the chain supplied in continuous lengths, pre-cut lengths, or as finished pieces with a clasp attached? This changes what you're actually receiving and what assembly work is left to you.
- Does the weight range reflect real variation, or is it an approximation? A wide weight range (like our Curve Chain's 2g-100g) usually means multiple genuine link-thickness options within one design name, not imprecision.
Ready to compare real numbers? Browse the full Chains collection - every design lists its actual weight range at the stated length - and add what you need to your inquiry list.
Need a length, thickness or pattern that isn't in the range? We take custom silver chain orders to your dimensions and quote them against the day's silver rate.