Creating Chain Links

Isabel White
Nov 30, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Craig's a returning customer and a pleasure to discuss ideas with.

He got in touch wanting custom chain made, the specifics were as follows:

~60cm in length,

~Links not too fine, not too chunky.

~A mixture of silver and solid gold.

The first thing to do was to draw up some links in varying sizes, to make sure we're on the same page/are able to visualise the result.

We agreed upon the 6mm link.

I double checked my link measurements, to ensure the chain would have movement when put together.

Triple checked as I was avoiding/deciding how to make them.

There are multiple ways to make chain links, one would usually make each one from wire.

However I wanted to carve two sizes of links in wax and have them cast.

I chose this for uniformity and for my preference for working in wax.

Here's a video to show how I went about it:

Wax carving chain links ready for casting

This is the first time I've been commissioned to make a chain.

However I do remember making bracelets and wallet chains years back at The Great Frog in Soho. This served me well for a few reasons (a) Knowing how time consuming they are (b) working with cast links and the assembly methods, and (c) how to be as careful as possible when polishing (it's pretty dangerous).

For these reasons, I almost didn't say yes to Craig. It wasn't going to be cheap or easy.

Then I figured I love a challenge and let's see how it goes!

Cleaning up links, soldering, custom clasp ends and the finial polish

When I collected my castings from AA in Highbury and islington I was apprehensive/excited.

I'd ordered 30 silver links and 3 gold with out knowing for sure if they would fit together.

I carefully cleaned up each link and then headed to the workshop to solder the links. Thankfully all the measuring paid off and it connected like a dream.

Prepping the links, soldering, cleaning them up and polishing took 3 days in total.

Heres' a video to show you the process:

Polishing and Assembling

This is one of the most satisfying things I've ever made.

So much so I made another one immediately after.

I checked with my client before I got started;

Craig I said, are you happy if I make more of these? Sure Isa he said.

I made myself a chain to test out the smaller link (Craig's chain is just made from the larger size). It doesn't move as well as the larger one. That said, I still haven't taken it off since.

I plan on launching the larger link chain online come Jan 2026.

I look forward to making variations and experimenting with new links aswell.