Snake Chain vs Rope Chain: What's The Difference?

Stuck between the snake chain and the rope chain? Need some help deciding between the two? We’ve got you covered. Both the snake chain and rope chain has it’s own set of pros, cons and differences. By getting a better understanding of these two chains, you’l have a better idea of which one will suit you best. 

In this blog, we compared the Snake chain vs rope chain. We highlight their pros, cons and differences. By the end of this, you’ll understand each of these chains and feel more confident when choosing between them. 

Snake Chain

Pros

• Flexiblity - the snake chains link pattern allows it to have flexible movement. This also reduces the risk of kinking whilst being worn. 
• Shiny - the flat surface of the snake chain reflects light well. This gives the chain a shiny finish. 
• Versatile - The snake chain can be worn on it’s own as a statement piece, or even layered with other pendants and chains. The chain also suits both formal and causal outfits.
• Appearance - the snake chain’s appearance is truly unique. It’s flat and shiny surface gives it an elegant and luxurious appearance. 
• Resistant to tangling - the reason the snake chain is resistant to tangling is because of it’s link structure. Links in a snake chain do not interlink with eachother. 
• Lightweight - the flat and thin nature of the snake chain means that compared to other styles of chain, it is much lighter. 
• Easy to clean - often all it takes is a damp cloth that wipe over the surface of the chain to clean it. 

Cons

• Prone to catching on body hair - the small gaps between each link in a snake chain make it more prone to catching on body hair. The chain also lies flat on the body and therefore has great chance of catching onto hairs. 
• Fragile - the thin and delicate nature of the snake chain means it is extremely fragile. 
• Hard to repair - the complex structure of the snake chain makes it a hard chain to get repaired. Often when one area of the chain is damaged, other areas will be as well. 
• Limited customisation - although the snake chain is flat, each link is too small to customise with diamonds or stones.

Rope Chain

Pros 

• Sparkly - the twisted and rope like structure of the rope chain allows it to reflect light in a unique way. This gives the chain a sparkly finish. 
• Versatile - the rope chain is a timeless chain that can be worn on any occasion. Wear it on it’s own or pair with a pendant and chain for a more statement look. 
• Less prone to kinking - links in a rope chain are not interlinking. This makes it highly resistant to kinking.
• Durable -  the braided design of the rope chain makes it an extremely rigid and robust chain. 
• Resistant to tangling - the rigid nature of the chain makes it resistant to tanging. 
• Great for holding pendants - the durable characteristics of the rope chain make it the perfect chan to hold heavy pendants. 

Cons

• Prone to catching on body hair - small gaps between each link in a rope chain are perfect areas for body hair to catch onto. 
• Hard to repair - the rope chain is hard to repair because of it’s complex structure. 
• Hard to clean - cleaning between each link in the rope chain can be difficult because of how tightly packed they are to eachother.
• Limited customisation - the small size of each link on the rope chain makes it hard to get it customised with stones and diamonds.
• Heavy - the thick links combined with the rope like design of the chain gives it a heavy feel around the neck. 

Learn more about the rope chain by reading our complete guide on rope chains. 

Differences Between The Snake Chain And Rope Chain

• Appearance - the snake chain consists of slightly cured plated tightly woven to form a flat but tubular shape. The rope chain consists of many small rounded links wound together to form a rope like pattern. 
• Chain structure - the snake chain consists of curved V shaped links. The rope chain consists of small rounded links. 
• Finish - the snake chain has a shinier finish than the rope chain. This is because it’s a much flatter and smoother chain compared to the rope chain. 
• Sparkle - the rope chain has a more sparkly finish than the snake chain. This is because the rope chain features a rougher surface that reflects light in a sparkly way. 
• Weight - the rope chain tends to be heavier than the snake chain. This is because it has a cylindrical shape and consists of many small thick rounded links. 
• Durability - the rope chain is more durable than the snake chain. This is because overall the rope chain is more resistant to tangling and kinking. 

Snake Chain vs Rope Chain: Which One Should You Go For? 

The chain that is best suited for you will depend on your styling requirements, budget and even personal preferences. 

If you are looking for a sleek shiny looking chain that has a lightweight feel and offers great flexibility, go for the snake chain. If you are looking for a chain that has a sparkly look, offers maximum durability and has a timeless appeal, go for the rope chain. 

Conclusion

Now that we have compared the snake chain vs rope chain, you should be more aware of each ones advantages, disadvantages and differences. The choice between the snake chain and rope chain boils down to your preferences and needs. 

The snake chain is a super flexible chain that has an elegant appearance and lightweight feel. Whilst the rope chain is an eye-catching sparkly chain that offers great durability and is able to hold heavier pendants. 

Before making the final decision, take into account your personal style, occasions it will be worn and your budget. 

If you’re interested in further explore the perfect chain for your collection, check out our selection of rope chains.