Explore the Greatest 21 Gold Chains for Men for Every Budget

Compare a range of gold chain necklaces for men at different price points that range from subtle, minimalist options to flashy, blinged-out style.

In Search of the Best Gold Necklaces for Men

For over a decade now, it has become increasingly popular for men to wear jewelry, a trend fueled by social media and celebrity fashion. Jewelry has become another way for men to experiment with different kinds of self expression, communicating something about their taste, personality, and values.

For men’s gold necklaces, a growing number of brands are stepping up to provide a broader range of options. Men can choose minimalistic gold chains, which are already an established part of streetwear fashion, or they can opt for necklaces with gemstone pendants or other artistic designs. Prices vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the purity of the gold and the quality of the craftsmanship.

Different Types of Gold Chains for Men

When shopping for gold necklaces, you’ll come across a variety of chains. The most common styles you’ll see include:

• Cable. This is a classic chain style made of interlocking oval links that are all the same size. Jewelers create variations on this basic design by playing around with the style of the links, making them rounder or flatter. Pendants, including a cross or another religious symbol, go well with this type of chain.
• Curb. The oval links on a curb chain are twisted, flattened, and tightly interlocking.
• Cuban link. Because of its thicker links, this type of chain tends to be bolder than many other styles. It stands out more and looks heavier.
• Figaro. A Figaro chain has an alternating pattern of three smaller links followed by a larger one.
• Box. With these sleek chains, each link is shaped like a square.
• Rope. These chains have smaller links that look as if they have been woven together, creating a twisting, rope-like design.

What Karat Gold Chain is the Best?

Let’s step back for a moment: Karats are a purity measurement for gold. The most common karats in gold jewelry for men are 14K, where the gold content is roughly 58%, and 18K, which clocks in at 75%.

So the answer is that it depends whether you value a flashier radience and purity or durability and price. The greater purity of 18K gold makes it more expensive. It typically has a stronger radiance, and it’s less likely to produce an allergic reaction. However, it’s less resistant to scratching or denting than 14K gold, which is hardier and more resilient.

Because gold jewelry isn’t 100% gold, what other metals is it mixed with?

Yellow gold contains zinc, copper, and silver. White gold, which has a platinum-like appearance, contains nickel and zinc. With rose gold, the other metal is copper. As for black gold, it’s produced by darkening yellow gold, which can be done through the use of cobalt or through electroplating.

Multiple factors beyond karats affect the durability and overall quality of the gold chain you choose. For example, some necklace styles, such as popcorn chains, are more vulnerable to breaking. Hollowed-out links, as opposed to solid gold, can also make a chain more fragile.

Where to Find the Best Gold Necklaces for Men on the Internet

Here are my favorite options for gold chains for men at a variety of price points.

David Yurman

David Yurman and his wife have brought strong artistic sensibilities to their high-end jewelry brand, which they founded in 1980. You’ll find a selection of bold and vivid necklaces made of 18K yellow, rose, or white gold, many of them designed with larger links. The least expensive necklace is a box chain that costs more than $1,300, while the most expensive is a curb chain decked in diamonds and priced at over $50,000.

Podium Design

Podium Design aims to enhance men’s style without breaking their budget. Priced at less than $200, each men’s gold chain is gold-plated sterling silver, and the available styles are Cuban link or rope. Founded in 2022 by Chip Longenecker, the Chicago-based brand has made a commitment to improving environmental sustainability and supporting men’s mental health.  Chip told me in an interview that he founded Podium with a goal of encouraging “men to feel more free to express themselves and explore a concept that’s more common in women’s fashion.”

Score a 20% discount off Podium’s minimalist gold chains for men when you follow this link. (The deal will show up in your cart when you check out.)

Shay Jewelry

If you’re interested in tasteful bling, you should check out the dazzling gold necklaces for men at Shay Jewelry. These typically feature diamonds or other stones set in 18K yellow, white, rose, or black gold, and the styles include tennis and flat-link necklaces. Founded by Ladan and Tania Shayan, a mother-and-daughter team, the Los Angeles brand has become a celebrity favorite, and the price range stretches from a few thousand dollars to over $200,000.

Oliver Cabell

When entrepreneur Scott Gabrielson founded Oliver Cabell way back in July 2016, his focus was on disrupting the premium footwear space. Oliver Cabell has expanded to serve men with a range of affordable luxury clothing and accessories — including a stellar lineup of jewelry including gold chains and gold pendants. Oliver Cabell offers Cuban chains in widtsh of 2, 3, 5 and 8mm as well as rope chains and Franco chains, all for around $100-175 (or less on sale).

Miansai

The handcrafted gold chains from Miansai have an elegant, minimalistic look. While some items may be made only of 14K gold and priced at several hundred dollars, most of the necklaces are sterling silver with yellow gold vermeil, and they cost less than $300. Founded in 2008 by Michael Saiger, the Miami-based brand produces different appealing styles for its men’s necklaces, such as cable and Cuban link.

Spinelli Kilcollin

Made by hand in Los Angeles, the unisex jewelry from Spinelli Kilcollin is durable while still looking delicate and chic. The company, which was founded in 2010 by Yves Spinelli and Dwyer Kilcollin, crafts some of its gold necklaces with diamonds or pearls, and it gives you the option of customizing your piece with a choice of your own stone or another feature. You can expect to pay at least several thousand dollars for a necklace, which will typically be made of 18K yellow, white, or rose gold.

Jaxxon

Founded in 2017 by Josh Deemer and Josh Pierce, Jaxxon aims for “everyday luxury” with its durable and beautifully crafted gold chains for men, which include popular Cuban link and rope designs. These necklaces typically cost less than $200, because they’re made of sterling silver coated in 14K gold. An antioxidant solution helps keep them resistant to tarnish and in good shape even when regularly worn throughout the day.

Mejuri

Mejuri, a Toronto-based brand, offers simple and stylish men’s necklaces made with 14K yellow gold. Priced between $350 and $750, the pieces are either unadorned chains or come with gleaming pendants, and a couple of these pendants may be customized with an engraving at no extra cost. Another plus to buying from this brand is its demonstrable commitment to sustainable and ethical jewelry production.

Frost NYC

If you’re looking for hip hop jewelry, Frost NYC is an excellent resource, with prices that range from under $400 to more than $10,000. The highlights of the selection include Cuban link chains made of 14K or 10K gold, some of them iced out in diamonds. The brand, which was founded decades ago, also produces rope, Figaro, and other chain varieties.

Craftd London

Offering both affordability and a high level of quality, Craftd London produces chains made of stainless steel plated with 18K gold. This trendy British brand, which was founded in 2018 by Alex Cannon and Danny Buck, designs its necklaces to remain hypoallergenic and resist the effects of sweat and heat. Prices are usually under $100, and you can find a range of styles, from low-key box chains to a bold toggle chain with heavier links.

John Hardy

John Hardy, a Canadian artist and designer, relies on Balinese jewelry-making techniques, and his company crafts each men’s gold necklace by hand. The highlights of the collection include curb chains made of 18K gold and an intricate double-woven necklace, the Kami, made of 14K gold. These artisanal pieces typically range from $1,800 to $10,000, though the price occasionally jumps higher, as with one graduated gold necklace that costs $48,000.

Helzberg

Although known best for its diamonds, which come from conflict-free sources, Helzberg is also worth checking out for men’s gold chains, most of them made without diamonds or other stones. Founded over a century ago in Kansas City, Kansas, Helzberg primarily offers necklaces in 14K yellow or white gold, though it also has lovely 10K pieces, such as a rope chain in yellow, white, and rose gold. The designs include Cuban link and Figaro chains, and prices generally range from a couple of hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

The GLD Shop

Offering jewelry that fits well with an urban or street-style look, The GLD Shop was founded in a Pittsburgh basement in 2015 by Christian Johnston and Dan Folger, two childhood friends. Each men’s gold chain is made of surgical steel plated with 14K or 18K gold, mostly white or yellow varieties, and many of the chains are also iced with cubic zirconia. At prices that usually stay between $100 and $400, you can find necklaces for men in a range of styles, including the brand’s G-link pattern.

Kay Jewelers

With more than 1,000 stores around the country, Kay Jewelers is a convenient choice to check out if you also want to shop offline. Founded in Pennsylvania in 1916, the brand may be known best for its diamond rings, but it also has many gold necklaces for men, in styles that range from rope to Rolo and with costs stretching from $100 to $18,000. Necklaces may have hollow or solid links, and you can pick out a tennis necklace or Cuban link chain decked out in diamonds.

James Avery

In 1954, James Avery started making jewelry in his in-laws’ garage in Kerrville, Texas, and his brand has since expanded to five Texan manufacturing plants, gaining a reputation for its fine craftsmanship and the timeless simplicity of its designs. For men’s gold chains, the brand uses 14K yellow gold, and the selection includes rope, cable, and interwoven Spiga designs. Although some of the necklaces cost over $1,000, most fall between $260 and $700.

Bony Levy

Although women are the target customers for Bony Levy, a jewelry brand that has been exclusive to Nordstrom since 1998, you can also find a fine selection of men’s jewelry made in Italy. All of the men’s gold necklaces are 14K, and your options include box chains, curb chains, and necklaces with religious or dog-tag pendants. Prices range from a few hundred dollars to a little over $5,000.

Hatton Labs

At FWRD, you can browse a selection of gold jewelry from Hatton Labs, a London-based brand known for using innovative techniques, such as 3D design and printing, to produce its relatively affordable pieces. Founded by Jack Cannon and Joe Gelb, the brand manufactures all of its jewelry in Italy, and its necklaces typically fall between $170 and $730. These Cuban link, rope, and anchor chains are sterling silver plated in 18K gold.

Stephen Webster London

When British designer Stephen Webster founded his brand in 1989, he became well-known for his artistic and exquisitely made jewelry. Priced between $2,300 and $16,500, the brand’s gold necklaces for men stand out for their eye-catching pendants, and they have earned a Butterfly Mark certification for sustainability. Each piece has been crafted with 18K recycled yellow gold.

Sydney Evan

Through Mr. Porter, you can enjoy a fine selection of Sydney Evan jewelry, including 14K gold necklaces with playful and elegant designs. The brand, which was founded in 2001 by Rosanne Karmes, typically incorporates diamonds and other stones, such as malachite and aquamarine, into its necklaces. Prices range from roughly $1,300 to over $30,000.

42 Suns

Available only at Mr. Porter, 42 Suns is a high-end brand specializing in colorful jewelry with large-cut gemstones. For example, you can enjoy a 14K-gold necklace with a pendant displaying a lab-grown sapphire. There’s yellow, white, and black gold jewelry for men, and the prices range from $1,100 to $17,000.

FoundRae

Founded in 2015 by Murat Bugdaycay and Beth Hutchens, FoundRae produces pieces of jewelry that reflect genuine artistry, a number of them tastefully incorporating gemstones or sporting pendants with exquisite details. The gold necklaces for men cost between $2,200 and $18,000, with styles that include chunky links and delicate chains.

Which Brand Makes the Best Gold Jewelry for Men?

Share what style of gold necklace you like best, and name any brands that you think should be added to this list.