Wie viel wiegt eine Goldkette 585 mit 50 cm?

Das hängt an der Stärke. Bei 1 mm sind es rund 2,5 Gramm, bei 2 mm etwa 6 Gramm, bei 3 mm rund 12 Gramm und bei 4,5 mm ungefähr 23 Gramm. Die Legierung selbst ändert am Gewicht kaum etwas, 585er und 750er Gold liegen in der Dichte nur wenige Prozent auseinander.

Ist eine schwerere Goldkette automatisch besser?

Nein. Schwerer bedeutet mehr Materialwert und meistens auch mehr Stabilität am Verschluss. Für den Alltag ist eine sehr schwere Kette aber oft unbequem und rutscht ständig unter den Kragen. Viele Leute tragen eine 20-Gramm-Kette nach zwei Wochen nicht mehr, weil sie am Nacken drückt.

Wie erkenne ich eine Hohlkette?

Am Gewicht im Verhältnis zur Breite. Wenn eine 4 mm breite Kette mit 50 cm nur 8 Gramm wiegt statt der erwarteten 18, ist sie hohl. Hohlketten fühlen sich beim Anheben leicht an und lassen sich mit dem Fingernagel eindellen. Reparieren kann man sie kaum.

Warum wird meine Kette am Nacken stumpf?

Dort reiben Kragen, Schal und Haare dauerhaft an derselben Stelle. Bei beschichteten Ketten wird der Farbton an dieser Stelle zuerst kühler. Ein Wechsel zwischen zwei Ketten verteilt die Belastung und verzögert den sichtbaren Abrieb deutlich.

How heavy is a gold chain? Weight in grams by length, thickness, and style

05.06.20266 Min. Lesezeit

Goldfarbene Gliederketten aus Edelstahl von Corelune in verschiedenen Stärken nebeneinander

Kurz gesagt: From a delicate anchor chain weighing 3 grams to a thick curb chain of 30 grams: find out what gold chains really weigh and how to estimate the weight in advance.

How much does a gold chain weigh? Weight in grams according to length, thickness, and style. In short: Depending on the length, thickness, and chain type, a gold chain weighs between 2 and 30 grams. A delicate anchor chain with 1 mm thickness and 45 cm length is 2 to 4 grams, a medium curb chain with 3 mm is 8 to 14 grams, and a wide men's chain with 6 mm and 55 cm is 25 to 40 grams.

Status: September 2026. By Phil Oberlaender, Corelune Jewellery, Düsseldorf.

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If you are looking for a chain to wear rather than as an investment: Corelune offers stainless steel chains with a gold or silver coating ranging from €16.95 to €59.95. Water-resistant, tarnish-proof, without a hallmark and without material value.

Gold-colored link chain made of stainless steel from €31.95, 46 to 70 cm
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View all stainless steel necklaces or gold jewelry for women. Free shipping from €59, 14-day returns.

The question about weight almost always comes from one of two reasons: either you want to know what a chain is worth for gold buying, or you are ordering online and want to estimate if the piece will look delicate or chunky. The answers differ, so here are both.

Weight table according to thickness and length

Material note: The information here regarding gold and silver alloys is for comparison purposes. Our range consists of stainless steel with gold or silver coating without a hallmark, between €12.95 and €59.95. Free shipping from €59, 14-day returns.

The values apply to solid chains in 14k (585) gold. Hollow chains weigh 40 to 60 percent less for the same look, which many online retailers do not state.

Chain thickness	42 cm	50 cm	60 cm
1.0 mm	2 g	2.5 g	3 g
2.0 mm	5 g	6 g	7.5 g
3.0 mm	10 g	12 g	14 g
4.5 mm	19 g	23 g	27 g
6.0 mm	30 g	36 g	43 g

Why the chain type matters more than the width

Two chains with an identical 3 mm width can differ in weight by a factor of two. A Venetian chain is a dense cube strand and brings a lot of mass to a small area. A Figaro chain has long, open links and weighs significantly less at the same width. A snake chain lies in between, and a Byzantine chain is at the top.

This is the reason why specifying "3 mm gold chain" says little when buying. Ask for the weight in grams; reputable dealers include this in the product description.

What the weight means in euros

When selling gold, only the fine gold counts. In 14k (585) gold, this is 58.5 percent of the weight; in 18k (750), it is 75 percent. A 12-gram chain in 14k therefore contains a good 7 grams of fine gold. Buyers typically pay 80 to 90 percent of the daily market price, keeping the rest as their margin. Workmanship, brand, and design contribute zero to the purchase price.

And that is the catch if you are looking for a chain to wear and not as an investment: you pay for material plus craftsmanship plus retail margin when buying, but only get the material portion back when selling. The gap between the purchase price and the resale value of a gold chain can easily be 60 percent.

If the look is more important to you than the material value, gold-plated stainless steel is the more honest calculation. A gold-colored stainless steel link chain weighs 15 to 25 grams for the same look, costs under €30, and does not tarnish. It does not, however, have any material value that could be resold. That is the honest disadvantage, and for most people, it doesn't matter because they don't want to sell their chain anyway. Corelune builds its entire catalog based on this logic. You can find more lengths and thicknesses under stainless steel necklaces.

Estimating the weight yourself

A kitchen scale with 0.1-gram resolution is perfectly sufficient. Place the chain in a bowl, press tare, and read. If you need the weight before buying, use the rule of thumb: the weight roughly doubles if you increase the thickness by 40 percent. Moving from 2 to 3 mm is therefore no small step. With coated stainless steel, you can save yourself the calculation; the weight is in the product description, for example with the link chains and bracelets.

A piece to which this applies: Long gold-colored stainless steel chain, large from €35.95.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 585 gold chain with 50 cm weigh?

That depends on the thickness. At 1 mm, it is around 2.5 grams, at 2 mm about 6 grams, at 3 mm around 12 grams, and at 4.5 mm about 23 grams. The alloy itself changes almost nothing in weight; 585 and 750 gold differ in density by only a few percent.

Is a heavier gold chain automatically better?

No. Heavier means more material value and usually more stability at the clasp. For everyday wear, however, a very heavy chain is often uncomfortable and constantly slips under the collar. Many people stop wearing a 20-gram chain after two weeks because it presses against the neck.

How do I recognize a hollow chain?

By its weight in relation to its width. If a 4 mm wide chain with 50 cm only weighs 8 grams instead of the expected 18, it is hollow. Hollow chains feel light when lifted and can be dented with a fingernail. They are almost impossible to repair.

Why does my chain get dull at the neck?

Collars, scarves, and hair rub permanently against the same spot. For coated chains, the color tone at this spot becomes cooler first. Alternating between two chains distributes the stress and significantly delays visible wear.

View stainless steel chains

About the author

Phil Oberlaender runs Corelune Jewellery in Düsseldorf and has been working with stainless steel jewelry daily since 2024: quality checks, complaints, and everyday wear tests. The information in this article comes from our own product range and customer feedback. Where Corelune does not offer something, it is stated as such.

Which categories match this topic?

Chains to which this applies:

Discount by quantity: 20% for two items, 25% for three, 30% for four, 35% for five. Shipping is included over 59 euros. A short and a longer chain together create a layering look that works.

View gold jewelry for women at Corelune