WHAT DOES SEMI-SOLID MEAN?
A GOLD CHAIN TERM THAT COULD BE VERY MISLEADING
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Semi-Solid?
I ran across these chains on Amazon that say “semi-solid” in their description. I had never heard the term before in 30 years…
What does this mean?
Is the chain solid?
Partially solid?
Is it not?
No… It’s NOT!
Semi-solid is a misleading term that just means “hollow“. As in “not hard“.
The chain is not solid through-and-through. It’s hollowed out inside, meaning it’s lightweight, could, and probably would, CRUSH!
So doing a search for “14k solid gold chain” actually brings up chains that are not solid, nor even real gold.
It’s because of the way that Amazon’s search algorithm works. They look at each and every individual keyword; “14k“, “solid“, “gold“, “chain“. So anything with any of those words in it will show up; “semi-solid“, “gold plated“, “gold filled“, “14k plated“, “gold tone“, “14k over sterling silver“…
All these terms and keyword phrases indicate chains that are fake. They are cheap and will not last. The plating will wear off, the chain will tarnish, it will turn your neck colors, turn the chain colors, and more than likely break.
They’re made to look like a real chain, but aren’t. It’s the same with 10k gold, or 18k gold, you have to be careful when purchasing one, for the exact words used could be misinterpreted or deceiving.
“Semi-solid” is just another word to show up for when searching “solid“.
Tricky?
You bet. But no different then searching for “diamond” and getting “diamond replica“, “diamond look-alike“, “diamond cut“, “diamond cz“…
You have to read everything!
I would certainly advise staying away from any chains that aren’t real. Sure it will look like the same thing for a while, but they won’t last. They’ll fracture, smush, dent, turn black or green… The gold will wear off and look white underneath. It could break your neck out in a rash… Nickel allergies… It’s literally a waste of money!
If you want a genuine solid gold chain, read the title and description well.
If they use any of these words:
Plated | Gold Tone |
Semi-Solid | Gold Overlay |
Plating | Gold Filled |
Metal | Gold Plate |
Sterling Silver | Alloy |
Hollow | Inlaid |
Brass | Copper |
Faux | .925 |
Chances are they aren’t real!
And another surefire way to tell:
The PRICE!
Real gold is NOT CHEAP! So if a fat chain is selling for $25.95, it’s NOT REAL!
Granted, this all depends on the actual thickness and gram weight of the chain, but most real chains usually start around $100 and escalate quickly. A really nice, heavy, 20″ men’s figaro chain would probably run you anywhere from $600 to $2500…
But, being solid gold, it will last you a lifetime. So it’s worth every penny!
One more thing to keep in mind:
Lobsters are better than Spring Rings
Lobster claw clasps are bigger, longer and way more durable than Spring Ring clasps (which can pull apart and lose your chain or pendant). Stay away from those. Get the lobster claws instead. And if you chain doesn’t come with a lobster claw, you can always have a jeweler swap it out and secure your chain today!
See all the 14k solid gold chains here on Amazon (just read, read, read everything).
Because that really is SOLID advice!
Cheers! :)
Hello I’ve recently bought a hollowed out Miami curved Cuban chain, I was wondering if I may be able to fill in the hollowed links to increase the weight and also stop the jingling when it swings is that possible?