Mens necklace

[Sheen]

I have a commision to make a man's necklace based on this design (that I put together recently). I wonder if anyone could recommend a suitable chain to start with. I would imagine it needs to be chunkier. Maybe a cable or rolo chain? He say he wants it 15cm below the neck.

12515

[theresa]

what about ball chain?https://www.cooksongold.com/Loose-Chain/Sterling-Silver-1.2mm-Loose-Ball---Chain-prcode-WVY-100&query=ball chain&channel=u
It comes in other thicknesses too & just slots into a little clasp NVF BC3X or you could make a clasp for it.

[Petal]

I'd suggest Curteis? https://www.curteis.com/ You have to register to see their prices, as they are wholesale, but they are based in Shropshire, very helpful and good on price too. I'd also possibly suggest asking him to measure any necklaces he currently has, so you can get more of an idea. Mens necklaces can be 18" for smaller necks, 20" being a standard length, up to 24 above the sternum. Good luck and I hope it goes well for you.

[josef1]

I like the look of marine chain and its strong too

[Sheen]

I'd suggest Curteis? https://www.curteis.com/ You have to register to see their prices, as they are wholesale, but they are based in Shropshire, very helpful and good on price too. I'd also possibly suggest asking him to measure any necklaces he currently has, so you can get more of an idea. Mens necklaces can be 18" for smaller necks, 20" being a standard length, up to 24 above the sternum. Good luck and I hope it goes well for you.

Am I able to buy from them when I'm just a hobbiest? That's a good idea him measuring a necklace he has. What's in a person's mind can be completely differant to what they've told you :)

[Sheen]

I like the look of marine chain and its strong too

never heard of marine chain, will Google that one :)

[Sheen]

ball chain is very distinctive, I feel that it would maybe dominate the design too much. Also the problem of attaching the silver disc to it :)

[josef1]

Its called anchor chain as well there ;ots of versions of it

[CJ57]

I would have thought you’d want something quite masculine but not too heavy so he looks like a rap artist. Also don’t want the chain to be more important than the pendant. Chain length is a nightmare for everyone as everybody has a different neck size so what might fall just below you could be a choker on him.
A heavier belcher3? Maybe lightly oxidised and rubbed back. I get all my chain from Curteis too, you just need to register

[Dennis]

Hi Sheena. 15cm below the neck is 57cm of chain, when measured on me. That's a lot of silver to waste if he decides he doesn't like it.
Get him to look at some illustrations of chain, masculine but neutral so as not to upstage the pendant.
Get him to confirm the length of the chain, with a pendant-like object on it, if necessary using string.
Then buy the shortest sample possible for him to confirm the pattern, and factor it into the final price.
Out of the top of my head you might be spending £70 or more on materials when you include the fastener.

We'd all like to see the result. Dennis.

[Petal]

The other option would be to send him a link to the Curteis website, without the prices, so he can choose some types of chain he likes. That way he has a few choices, plus you can also discuss them with the guys on here, or Curteis to see which ones might suit, if you are not sure. Yes you can register if you are a hobbyist. Let us know how you get on. xx

[pearlescence]

The other option would be to send him a link to the Curteis website, without the prices, so he can choose some types of chain he likes. That way he has a few choices, plus you can also discuss them with the guys on here, or Curteis to see which ones might suit, if you are not sure. Yes you can register if you are a hobbyist. Let us know how you get on. xx
Not a good idea to give a client too many choices. They often get confused and end up running away. Select two or at most three yourself and provide photos
Getting any client to measure something they already have which is the length they want is highly recommended.

[Sheen]

Thankyou, everyone for your advice. There's a lot of valuable information. Have signed up for curteis will see when they get back to me. I'm looking at the belcher chains as I reckon he's not going to want anything too fancy or at the higher end. I'll will let you know how I get on. I do really enjoy making jewellery in a unisex style, so I'm hoping it'll turn out blokey :) the riskiest part is the sea pottery but I'm going to use a tube rivet which should help it man up.

[CJ57]

I would agree that too much choice will mean endless dithering, I’ve done it myself with stones for stacker rings, sorry Tabby! Curteis don’t give prices unless you’re registered but I agree that giving customers your suppliers would lead to all sorts of problems with some customers.
I’m often asked why I don’t make jewellery for men, the neckwires would be the main reason. I did sell a non specific dog tag and he wanted a leather necklet

[Petal]

Its a funny thing with mens necklaces and to a certain extent bracelets Caroline. When we first did shows we made a range of 'mens' chunky bracelets, after being asked for big chunky bracelets by some bikers, which still sell well. The following show, they were all bought by petite ladies who wanted something chunky. We make a range of different weights of bracelets, which appeal to both the ladies and men. Some things look 'lost' on the wrist and others look really striking.

Did you find there was a lot of indecision with customers with the stacker rings Caroline? The reason I ask is I've just made a few tube set stones and plan to offer them to customers.

[CJ57]

Its a funny thing with mens necklaces and to a certain extent bracelets Caroline. When we first did shows we made a range of 'mens' chunky bracelets, after being asked for big chunky bracelets by some bikers, which still sell well. The following show, they were all bought by petite ladies who wanted something chunky. We make a range of different weights of bracelets, which appeal to both the ladies and men. Some things look 'lost' on the wrist and others look really striking.

Did you find there was a lot of indecision with customers with the stacker rings Caroline? The reason I ask is I've just made a few tube set stones and plan to offer them to customers.

I don’t make rings Jules so had asked a friend to make me a set. I’m pretty sure she wished she hadn’t agreed as she gave me so much choice I was a nightmare of indecision! I would say unless it a commission I would make a set and stick to it.
There will be groups of people who will like a certain item but I don’t make repeats so that would be a problem for me. I’m pretty sure if I started making jewellery for men it would sell so rarely it wouldn’t be worth the effort.
I did have a friend who said I should make Harley Davidson logo pendants as they would sell. He was a bit put out when I said I didn’t mass produce and apart from that there is probably some trademark issue!

[pearlescence]

It's entirely personal but I only like jewellery on men which looks as if it is something they happened on while out hunting or made themselves at the forge. Leather is a good manly alternative to chain. Even Jeremy Clarkson wears stuff on leather and he would run a two minute mile at the mere suspicion of not-manly

[CJ57]

It's entirely personal but I only like jewellery on men which looks as if it is something they happened on while out hunting or made themselves at the forge. Leather is a good manly alternative to chain. Even Jeremy Clarkson wears stuff on leather and he would run a two minute mile at the mere suspicion of not-manly

I now have a vision in my head Wendy! Does this jewellery include tusk and bone too:)
Forged would be good too which is why I suggested a bit of oxidisation

[pearlescence]

Yes, man stuff. Tusk, teeth, bone, bits of wood. Even feathers I suppose, thinking of native americans.
Anything but the Mr T look!

[Sheen]

Well so far, he wants it pretty much how it was originally. He loves it that much:) So I've made the silver disc smaller and oxidised everything. He really wants the small original chain but longer. So I've ordered another and something similar but a bit plainer incase it needs to be more male.

[CJ57]

Yes, man stuff. Tusk, teeth, bone, bits of wood. Even feathers I suppose, thinking of native americans.
Anything but the Mr T look!

That was what worried me about chunky chain earlier!

[Sheen]

Well this is how it ended up, I put a very slightly thicker plainer link chain on, the disk is now smaller and chunkier and all the silver has been oxidised. I think it is enough to turn it into a man's necklace! (Excuse the terrible photo! It's not going well today)

[Dennis]

Top of the class for you then Sheena. Hope he approves. Dennis.

[Sheen]

Top of the class for you then Sheena. Hope he approves. Dennis.

He did :) one happy customer