Three-Strand Open-Ring Chain Necklace

• Three-strand graduated construction
• Hand-linked open-formed rings
• Bar-and-loop toggle closure
• Layered drape at the front

Each ring is hand-formed and open-linked rather than machine-stamped, so no two links sit exactly alike. Slight differences in shape and spacing are part of the piece.

The chain is built ring by ring. A metalsmith opens each brass loop, threads it through its neighbor, and closes it with pliers — a step repeated hundreds of times across three full strands. Because the rings are shaped and closed by hand rather than stamped in a die, no two sit at quite the same angle, and the finished surface reads as faceted rather than uniform.

Brass is the working material behind this kind of Indian chainwork — warm, forgiving, and heavy enough to hold volume without the cost of silver or gold. Layered, graduated chains use that weight to build presence from a single material.

The bar-and-loop toggle at the back is a practical, traditional fastening for multi-strand pieces: it holds a heavier chain securely, and it opens by feel.

• Technique: Hand-linked brass chainwork

Polish gently with a dry, soft cloth. Store away from moisture to preserve the brass finish.