Today the story will be about chains, namely about anchor weaving products. This type of jewelry was not considered fashionable until recently, and all because the anchor weaving chain itself looks rather harsh, angular and not elegant. And women of fashion did not often buy such accessories for themselves, preferring openwork, ornate, designer types of captivity. Men paid more attention to the anchor, who used products for crosses, amulets or amulets.
However, fashion does not stand still. Everyone got bored with intricate openwork jewelry, and people began to turn their attention more and more to simple products without twists. And then such a direction as minimalism appeared in jewelry fashion. This includes the usual simple-shaped accessories that have found their application in ordinary everyday life, in the official dress code and then smoothly switched to evening decoration.
Jewelers began to create elegant jewelry for the neck and hands with classic anchor weaving, but with the addition of trendy interesting modern design details. In order to understand what you should pay attention to when choosing jewelry today, let's figure out what types of anchor weaving chains exist, how to combine them correctly with pendants and clothes, and what advantages and disadvantages this type of knitting basically has.
Anchor chain creation method
Jewelers believe that anchor weaving appeared first because of its simplicity and ease of manufacture, therefore it is now difficult to surprise and express one's individuality with an anchor. But sometimes, when choosing a chain or bracelet made of gold / silver, you want to dwell on the most practical and at the same time stylish option. For such cases, anchor weaving and its varieties are great.
Technique for creating an anchor option decorations lies in the fact that the oval-shaped links are interconnected perpendicular to each other. The even links are in one plane, and the odd ones are in the other. As a result, you get a chain that is very similar to those used on ships. This method of making accessories is also called natural, since it does not require much imagination to reproduce the finished product.
Filling anchor chain can be very different. In one case, the jewelry will have gold inside of the same standard as the outer layer of the rings, and in the other, the links will be hollow. The difference in price between these two options is significant, which is quite obvious. But in general, anchor chains and other products of this group belong to the middle price category.
There are almost no defects in anchor weaving and its varieties, regardless of the method of production, since the links are large, easily soldered and do not require special technological sophistication.
Filled links are more durable, and they are also easy to repair in case of breakage of jewelry on the neck or bracelet. Soldering a break in an integral anchor chain is quite simple, and the repair site will be completely invisible to prying eyes. But to cope without flaws with a hollow product will not work, you have to lose a few links.
Please note that, in addition, hollow products are more fragile and tear more often. Do not forget that the filled anchor chain is quite heavy in weight, so it will cost more than a hollow counterpart.
To reduce the price of the product, you can order or purchase a gilded jewelry. In appearance, it will be the same as ordinary gold. It’s just that from time to time the chain will fray, and the gilding layer will have to be constantly restored.
Benefits of weaving an anchor chain
The anchor technique has been popular for a very long time and is still successfully used today because has a number of advantages:
Universalism. Weaving is suitable for both men and women. The main difference between ladies' and gentlemen's options is the thickness of the product, namely, the diameter of the rings.
Bulkiness. Since the links in the chain are located at right angles, this means that the product itself is not flat, but has a certain volume. Due to the shape, it seems that the chain is thick and massive, although in reality it is not. If you do not want the chain to be invisible against the background of the pendant, then you can order a more subtle decoration, where the links as such will not be noticeable. And at first glance you will not be able to understand the essence of weaving. And if you want to highlight the chain against the background of clothes, then pay attention to jewelry with a thicker and coarser weaving. Both options look decent and harmonious.
The advantage of an anchor is that if you order handmade from a professional chainlinker, it won't cost much more than a machine made one.
Ease of execution. No wonder they say that everything ingenious is simple. To make a silver or gold chain of anchor weaving, the craftsman does not need to invent intricate combinations. The technique is performed quite quickly even by hand. In addition, the product can be made using machine knitting or stamping. This does not mean that it will have poor performance, just modern methods make it possible to reduce the cost of the chain.
Compatibility with other jewelry. This item is quite important, since the chain is usually not worn separately, the accessory is worn together with bracelets, rings and pendants. Due to its simplicity, the anchor chain looks good with a pendant. When choosing the latter, do not forget to take into account the dimensions of the pendant and compare them with the thickness of the chain. If the chain is thick, you should not take small, delicate pendants, as they will simply be lost against a massive background. And, conversely, the pendant should not pull the chain down.
Suitable for religious attributes. Pendants in combination with an anchor chain can be different, not necessarily secular or full of multi-colored stones. Often this chain is considered for religious pendants, for example, crosses and amulets. Often the decoration becomes a gift from the godparents before the rite of baptism.
Anchor weaving is wonderful suitable for those who do not know the size of the jewelry и takes a chain for a gift. Pulling out a few links to shorten the product is quite easy and cheap. You can also optionally add links that are bought from a jeweler to order in a finished piece of jewelry in order to increase its length.
Varieties of the technique of anchor weaving a chain of silver and gold
Classic in the form of a regular anchor became the most popular last year and is actively gaining a club of fans this season. Huge chains with links in diameter exceeding 3 and even 5 cm have come into fashion. Such jewelry looks attractive under black small dresses, both for creating evening decoration and for business office style.
The first chains that people began to wear are those found during excavations in Egypt. This country was famous for its gold anchor weaving jewelry, and many of them have been perfectly preserved to this day.
Moreover, not only necklaces are in fashion, but also bracelets made of large anchors. They are complemented by various inserts, pendants and pendants. But remember that against the background of a huge link, there should be an exceptionally small, delicate, elegant pendant. Otherwise, your outfit will be too colorful and too conspicuous.
In addition to the main basic creation technique, the knitting pattern continues to be actively developed in modern jewelry. Recently, several types of hitches have appeared that diversify the range of anchors. Among them are:
Rollo. These decorations are essentially no different from the basic anchor. The only difference is the shape of the accessory link. If in the classics the element has an oval silhouette, then in the rollo technique only round regular-shaped links are used. This technique was developed by the Swiss fashion house Chopard in the middle of the XNUMXth century. Therefore, rollo is now often referred to as a chopard.
Rollo jewelry looks very modern and resembles more jewelry than a precious chain. The reason is very simple, we are subconsciously accustomed to the fact that if a person wears something simple in shape and design, then this accessory does not carry any value. Although we all know that not all that glitters is gold.
The men's chain of anchor weaving made of gold or silver performed by rollo gained the greatest popularity at the beginning of the XNUMXst century. Many fashion houses used this version of accessories in their men's collections, which raised the rating of the anchor and gave impetus to its further development.
Anchor chains/bracelets are made of gold 585. This alloy is the most reliable. If the content of the precious metal is higher, then the chain will deform over time under its own weight. And medium samples optimally keep their shape, their appearance does not change over time.
Anchor weaving of a chain around the neck made of gold, made using the rollo technique, just looks great as an independent unit. This chain does not require additional pendants, pendants, or even clipped earrings. If you want to diversify the bow with something, then you can simply add a beautiful women's handbag or a large ring on your finger.
Double anchor. This technology is not too different from classic weaving. In this manufacturing technique, when knitting, each link is doubled, that is, instead of one ringlet, two are threaded into each next link. The described technology was created to give additional volume to the classic chain.
The double anchor chain gained the greatest popularity in our country in the dashing 90s. We all remember the image of a successful man in a crimson jacket with a huge silver or gold chain around his neck and a large cross on his belly. It was for such brutal buyers that a double anchor was created.
The times of the 90s have passed, but the fashion has remained. Today, this thick chain is still quite popular among men. The stronger sex chooses such threads for wearing large religious symbols: crosses or amulets.
But women use more silver or gold chains of anchor weaving in two rows as bracelets. This knitting looks great with small flat pendants in the form of hearts, coins and other figures.
Double anchor weaving in red or white gold looks great in the form of a necklace on a woman's delicate neck. But usually, ladies do not stop at double knitting and order triple or quadruple weaving. Such an accessory costs very decently, but it certainly looks attractive and luxurious.
Technique garibaldi very similar to making a rollo chain, only the link rings in this case are not single, but double. This type of knitting is already more designer, intricate, sophisticated. From a distance, the Garibaldi technique does not look like anchor weaving at all, so such accessories are very often confused with Bismarck or shell weaving.
The Garibaldi technique is considered one of the strongest chains in terms of reliability.
Gold and silver garibaldi anchor chains are most preferred by women. These accessories look harmonious with stone pendants, various brooches, vintage earrings and other jewelry.
As for men, it cannot be said that for them, jewelry of the Garibaldi style is very popular.
Cord weaving also belong to the anchor group. According to the technology, several rings are connected at once with jumping through 2-3 links. Products are often found in jewelry stores and have a twisted shape, so from a distance they do not at all resemble a simple type of anchor knitting.
Based on the anchor technique, it is possible to produce not only standard chain options. There is also fancy jewelry with intricate names: Hawaiian, Aurora. These are more complex techniques that are most often used for women's products.
Weaving Hawaiian is a more complex and unusual version of the anchor hitch. Each link has an unusual shape. When made from the outside, the links are squeezed a little to make one of their surfaces flat. From afar, outwardly, the decoration looks like armored Venetian weaving, but the essence of production is completely different.
Hawaiian looks great, both in women's and men's images. Often this chain is worn without any additions, as the decoration looks quite self-sufficient as an independent accessory. Moreover, women are very fond of wide massive Hawaiians, as they look not only massive, but also very expensive.
Weaving Aurora - is considered the middle between anchor and shell weaving. Outwardly, the product looks like a double spiral knit. Aurora is characterized by strength, and thus the reliability of the jewelry design. Chains and bracelets, as a rule, are made with a diamond cut to give the product an unusual brilliance and radiance.
In general, “Aurora” is the morning dawn, dawn, the sun. Apparently, thanks to the extraordinary play of light and shimmering tints, weaving was named that way. Chains - aurora bracelets can be made with different thicknesses of wires: for gold jewelry it is 0,44 ... 1,1 mm, for silver jewelry - 0,5 ... 1,3 mm. This weaving is fantasy, its twisted design attracts the views of others. This anchor weaving of a women's chain looks good both on the neck and on the wrist in the form of a bracelet, and will suit both a girl and a woman of age. But usually the beautiful half of humanity, which is over 30, is more interested in such a hitch.
How to check the quality of weaving?
In conclusion, I would like to draw your attention to the following point: how to check the chain when buying. After all, remember that jewelry cannot be returned according to the law. That is why when buying, you should inquire as much as possible about the quality and reliability of the product you are purchasing. Of course, jewelry of inadequate quality can be miraculously returned to the store through the court, but it is better to check its reliability before buying.
It is worth noting that items made of precious metals (especially gold or platinum) will always be in fashion and will never lose their relevance. On the contrary, every year jewelry becomes more and more expensive and valuable, especially if the products are made to order.
Both a machine knitting chain and a handmade product can have a marriage - no one is immune from mistakes. So, you have chosen a chain with a certain weave. Gently pull it between your fingers and carefully look at the links and their connections. The elements must be uniform in size and shape. Of course, we are talking about types of weaving, where the same links are used.
If the knitting technology suggests that the links should be of different lengths and shapes, then consider this. Compare different segments of the chainin which the pattern repeats. Touch the surface of the rings with your fingers, run your hand along the entire chain. The links should be equally evenly polished, there should be no bumps or scratched protrusions.
Turn the inspected chain in your hands for a few minutes, the links should not get stuck, pinched, rub tightly against each other or sink.
Also we recommend that you evaluate the reliability of the lock before buying jewelry. Open and close the clasp several times, the mechanism should work flawlessly. As a rule, domestic-made chains are equipped with simple and reliable mechanisms called a spring ring clasp. This is a widespread variety, which is a round clasp with a spring latch.
Typically, the accessory is machine-made and is often used in large-scale production jewelry. So, if the lock is not made with high quality, then its spring does not press the main movable plug well. In this option, you need to either ask to give you another chain to look at, or if you have already bought it, then hurry to the master immediately to replace the spring on the lock, otherwise there is a possibility that you will soon lose the chain.
How to choose a chain for the type of figure
When choosing an anchor weave of a gold or silver chain around your neck, you need to take into account some nuances, including complexion:
- slender ladies fit narrow jewelry with subtle and elegant elements;
- madams with large piquant forms are recommended to wear voluminous accessories with large links;
- for girls, a light product with elegant elements, such as garibaldi, would be a good option;
- for girls with a long neck, it is preferable to wear short chains with thin links;
- those who have a short neck should pay attention to long chains. They visually adjust the proportions;
As for the length of the women's chain, its most versatile version is 45-50 cm.
In conclusion, I would like to add that chains, no matter what kind of weaving, like any other type of jewelry, require special care, storage and cleaning rules. Our neck is very susceptible to pollution, and that is why, from time to time, it is worth cleaning accessories so that the products do not lose their inherent brilliance, overflow and beauty.
You can also add that the jewelry, which is worn for years without treatment with special soap solutions, looks dull and noticeably dirty. Dust and grease accumulate between the links, and all this goodness looks disgusting and completely unaesthetic. If you have not yet read the rules for caring for neck jewelry, then we advise you to take a look at this article.
