Anchor Chain vs Rope Chain: Which Is Better?

Not sure if you should get the Anchor chain or rope chain? Need some help deciding between these two chains? Let us help you. Both the anchor chain and rope chain have their pros, cons and differences. By understanding these, you’ll have a better idea of which one would suit your needs best.

In this blog, we compare the anchor chain vs the rope chain. We’ll go through their pros, cons and differences. By the end of this blog, you should feel more confident when it comes to choosing between these two great chains.

Anchor Chain

Pros

• Durable - The anchor chain has great durability. Each link is interlocked with the other and is often soldered together. This reduces the likelihood of links kinking and breaking under pressure.
• Versatile - The simple design of the anchor chain means that it is suitable for both formal and informal outfits. The anchor chain can easily be paired with other chains and pendants. There are also many different styles of Anchor chains to choose from.
• Lightweight - Each link in an anchor chain is smaller, thinner and weighs less than other styles of chain. This gives it a lightweight feel that is comfortable to wear on a daily basis.
• Shiny - Each link in the anchor chain is flat, this allows the chain to reflect light well.
• Resistant to tangling - the Anchor chain is highly resistant to tangling. This is because each link in the chain interlocks with each other in a way that allows it to lay flat when wearing. In addition to this, the links in this chain are often soldered together to prevent them from turning around.
• Easier to repair - The links on an Anchor chain are simple, making them easy to repair. Often, a jeweller will just need to solder broken links back together.
• Doesn’t catch on body hair - Because the Anchor chain lays flat whilst being worn, it is resistant to catching on body hair. In addition to this, the gaps in each link are large enough to allow hair to pass through and from them.

Cons

• Can’t hold pendants - the thin nature of the Anchor chain means that it won’t be able to delicate pendants. This is because the chain is too wide to fit through most pendant bails.
• Lack of customisation - the thin nature of the Anchor chain links means that it can’t be customised with diamonds or stones.
• Harder to find - the Anchor chain is not as popular as other styles of chain. This means that the supply of Anchor chains out there is limited as there's not as much demand for it.

Rope Chain

Pros

• Timeless - This style of chain has an iconic look to it that everyone is familiar with. It is a classic chain that is timeless and perfectly pairs with any outfit.
• Durable - Because of the rope chain’s twisted structure, it is more of a rigid chain. This gives the chain great durability and resistance to daily wear and tear.
• Versatile - The rope chain can be easily worn with both formal and informal outfits. They also come in a variety of widths and styles and work great when worn on their own or layered with other pendants and chains.
• Able to hold pendants - the durable characteristics of the rope chain make it the perfect chain to hold heavier pendants.
• Sparkle - the twisted structure of the rope chain allows it to reflect and refract light in a way that gives it a sparkly appearance.
• Resistant to tangling - the rope chain doesn’t have any interlocking links. This gives the rope chain a more rigid feel.

Cons

• Lack of customisation - the small surface area of each link in a rope chain means that the options for customisation are limited.
• Limited flexibility - links in a rope chain are not interlocking and are soldered together. This means that the chain has less flexibility than other styles of chain.
• Hard to repair - The complex and intricate structure of the rope chain makes it a chain that is extremely hard to repair.
• Prone to catching on body hair - between each link in a rope chain are tiny gaps. These tiny gaps will often trap body hair as the chain moves around your neck. For some, this may be uncomfortable to wear.
• Heavy - the cylindrical nature of the rope chain, combined with the many links that make up the chain structure means it is a heavier style of chain.

 

Differences Between The Anchor Chain And Rope Chain

• Appearance - The anchor chain consists of flat oval-shaped links with a horizontal bar in the centre. The rope chain consists of small cylindrical links soldered together that form a rope-like pattern.
• Weight - The anchor chain is much lighter than the rope chain. This is because the Anchor chain consists of flatter and thinner links, whilst the rope chain features a twisting design that overall uses more metal.
• Sparkle - The rope chain has a more sparkly appearance than the Anchor chain. This is because of its unique rope-like pattern.
• Repairability - The rope chain is much harder to repair than the anchor chain. This is because the structure of the chain is much more complex and intricate.

Anchor Chain vs Rope Chain: Which One Should You Get?

Which chain is best for you will depend on what you are looking for.

If you are looking for a chain that has a shiny and sleek look, is lightweight, resistant to tangling, easy to repair and doesn’t catch onto body hair, the anchor chain is ideal.

If you are looking for a more timeless chain that offers great durability, can hold heavier pendants and has a sparkly and reflective look, the rope chain is your go-to. Want to learn more about the rope chain? Check out our ultimate rope chain guide. 

Conclusion

Now that we have compared the anchor chain vs the rope chain, you should understand these two unique chains in more detail. At the end of the day, which one you choose will depend on your preferences, budget and styling needs.

Opt for an anchor chain if you are looking for a shiny, sleek, lightweight and easy-to-repair chain. Opt for a rope chain is you are looking for a more timeless, eye-catching and durable style of chain.