Chainlynk of Birmingham
Our good friends make great hand-made gold chain.
See the process at Linkmaker
The gold wire is drawn through plates to thin and strengthen the wire. It is then shaped by bending and winding and twisting, it is then joined in traditional and modern link patterns the length of which determines if they form bracelets or necklaces. Because it is formed by skilled hands the gauge of the wire can be altered to make heavier links, or have a twist added, or be rolled round pegs to form intricate shapes that are invariably still based on a piece of bent wire.
Not so much a Goldsmith - more an engineer in gold.
Our goldsmith is a bloke you can enjoy a pint with and talk about life, he is not one of those delightfully precious people who we also work along side. Given a piece of gold wire he and his team could turn it into a piece of jewellery that was a real craft, a desireable object of beauty that wears beautifully.
There is also the willingness to adapt that is found in the characters of many people in Birmingham, Britain's metal bashing capital. Indeed The boss refers to himself and his team as engineers in gold. They have a task to achieve and their pride in their work is evidenced by the way the chains behave in wear, you see so much chain is made to look good on jewellers shop displays. Whereas the secret of long term success is to make it look good in wear. That is when the curves of wrist and neck can play havoc with links that are not carefully thought about, and experimented with before being sold.
Heavy fetter link, Rope, and Alternating triple link or Prince of Wales
Even though we are a fashion based industry
because the skill is in the hands and not in machines we are able to offer
continuity of supply. You can buy the gold bracelet this year and have a
gold necklet made -to your required length next year, or in five years time. The choice is yours whether you
have 9ct or 18ct Gold. You can have all yellow, all rose, all white or a
combination of colours.
Gold links include belcher, fetter, curb, lapped curb,
triple linked belchers, Prince of Wales (triple trace), the links can be
trombones or twisted trombones, they can be spaced by knots or cages.
"Horseshoe Magnet"or paperclip, Trombone, and ring and wrap
Always on the look out for best value, we often suggest that you select a gold necklet in 16/17/18 inch length, and have a 7¼ or 7½ inch gold bracelet, and to ring the changes when winter arrives and you want a thicker jumper, then add the bracelet into the necklet for a fetching long chain.
Bobble wave, Mini-match and cage, Bend and Cage, Mini twist trombone and cage.
As these are hand made you don't have to buy necklet and bracelet at the same time, gives us about 2 weeks and we will get Lenny to make you up the matching piece - and if you let us send him the original he can polish it up so that the two jewellery pieces look well together.
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Pattern |
Image |
| yellow and white cooking matchsticks |
|
| Satin white and mini twist |
|
| Light trombone and cage |
|
| Heavy Fetter |
|
|
Rope half twisted |
|
| Prince of Wales Triple |
|
| Paperclip |  |
| Trombone |  |
| Ring and wrap |  |
| Bobble & Curve |  |
| Mini Match and Cage |  |
| Cage and curve |  |
| Twist trombone & Cage |  |
Most of the above patterns are available in different gauge of wire and thus different prices.
Here is a selection of what we call roller curbs, the curb link base has a round belcher link formed over the joints. This fills the gap, and causes a rolling action of the bracelet, very smooth and comfortable. The upper links have lighter weight doubled curbs.
