Tutorial: Chunky Black and Gold Chain Necklace

Make an easy chunky chain necklace using items from your craft stash. This necklace was inspired by one seen in a street fashion photo from New York Fashion Week that appeared on NYMag.com. I already had some black chunky resin chain on hand but it seemed to lack something. The simple gold ring makes the necklace.

Project estimate:

  • Black resin chain, about $2 and up
  • Gold O ring, on hand or $2 and up
  • Ribbon, on hand or $1
  • Optional: gold paint or nail polish (on hand); chain connectors (on hand or $8 and up)

Total: about $2 and up

Black plastic link chain can be purchased from a hardware store or pet toy supplier for less than $1 a foot or a style of chain that lays flat is available from jewelry suppliers.

The gold ring can be duplicated using an O ring, which can be purchased for a few dollars from retailers who sell purse hardware. However, a less expensive option that requires no shipping is to take an O ring from a beat-up old purse. (Tip: Never throw out a damaged purse without stripping the hardware.) Here is the smaller O ring I used.

Tutorial: Chunky Black and Gold Chain Necklace

And a larger but slimmer one.

Tutorial: Chunky Black and Gold Chain Necklace

You can brighten up the metal with a gold spray paint intended for metal like Krylon or Rust-Oleum. Or, if you’re not in a position to be spray painting, then try my new favorite DIY product – nail polish.

Tutorial: Chunky Black and Gold Chain Necklace

Divide your chain into two even sections to the length you like. Then simply snap the ring on to the end of both pieces.

Tutorial: Chunky Black and Gold Chain Necklace

You can finish the ends with two pieces of dollar store ribbon or use chain. I used a Styled by Tori Spelling necklace top and connectors that I already had on hand.

Tutorial: Chunky Black and Gold Chain Necklace

I have ended up wearing this super simple necklace more than some fancy ones I’ve spent hours working on.

Tutorial: Chunky Black and Gold Chain Necklace