Solid vs. hollow gold chains: how to tell the difference

A solid gold chain is gold all the way through every link. A hollow chain is a thin gold tube around an empty core, and a semi-hollow chain sits in between, with a thick gold wall around a small hollow center. All three can be real 14K gold. What changes is the weight, the price, how well the chain resists dents and how easily a jeweler can repair it. At Heon we work in two of them only, solid and semi-hollow; we don’t make hollow jewelry.

In this guide7

Solid, semi-hollow and hollow: what’s inside the link

Picture a single link cut in half. Choose a construction to see what you would find inside.

Inside a gold link

Construction	Inside the link	Weight and feel	Strength	Best for
Solid	Inside the link Gold all the way through	Weight and feel The heaviest for its width, with a satisfying drape	Strength The most dent-resistant, and the easiest to repair or shorten	Best for Chains you never take off, and pendants
Semi-hollow	Inside the link A thick gold wall around a small hollow core	Weight and feel Real weight in the hand, lighter than solid at the same width	Strength Holds up to everyday wear; a hard knock can dent a link	Best for Bold widths, such as Cuban and mariner chains, without the full weight
Hollow	Inside the link A thin gold tube around an empty core	Weight and feel The lightest, with a big look for the gold it uses	Strength Can dent or crimp if crushed or snagged, and dents are hard to repair	Best for Light layers and bracelets worn with a little care

None of these is a lesser grade of gold. A hollow 14K chain is made of the same 14K alloy as a solid one. There is simply less of it.

How to tell if a gold chain is hollow or solid

You can usually tell without any tools:

1. Read the listing. A good jeweler states whether a chain is solid, semi-hollow or hollow, and lists its weight in grams. If a listing avoids the question, ask.
2. Compare the weight with the width. A wide chain that feels almost weightless is almost always hollow. For a fair test, compare grams against a solid chain of the same style, width and length.
3. Look at the ends. Where the chain meets the end caps or the clasp, a hollow chain may show a seam or the open end of a tube.
4. Watch for dents. Small flat spots or pinched links on a used chain point to a hollow build, because solid links rarely dent.
5. Ask a jeweler. A jeweler can tell from the weight and a close look, often in a minute.

Please don’t squeeze a link to test it: that is exactly how hollow links get dented.

Are hollow gold chains real gold?

Yes. A hollow chain stamped 14K or 585 is real 14K gold. Hollow construction is a way of shaping gold, not a different metal, and it should never be confused with plated or gold filled jewelry, which put a layer of gold over another metal. If you want to check a piece yourself, our guide on how to tell if gold is real covers the safe at-home checks.

The difference shows up in value. Gold buyers pay by the weight of the gold, so a hollow chain is worth less as metal than a solid chain of the same size, and a dented hollow chain is harder to resell as jewelry.

Should you get a hollow or solid gold chain?

It depends on how you will wear it:

• Choose solid if the chain will be on every day, day and night, if it will carry a pendant, or if you want the piece to be as repairable as possible for decades.
• Choose semi-hollow if you love a bold, wide link such as a Cuban, mariner or rope chain but want it comfortable enough to wear all day.
• Choose hollow if you want the look of a wider chain at a lighter weight and a lower price, and you are happy to take it off for sleep, sport and travel. We don’t make hollow pieces at Heon: we want a bold chain to keep its shape for years, so ours are solid or semi-hollow.

Style matters too. Our guide to gold chain types compares cable, curb, rope, paperclip and more.

Which Heon chains are solid and which are semi-hollow

We would rather you know exactly what you are buying, so here is the full list. Every piece is 14K gold (58.5% pure gold), stamped 585, never plated or filled, and ships with a certificate of authenticity. Each one is either solid or semi-hollow, never hollow.

Construction	Heon chains
Semi-hollow	Heon chains Miami Cuban link chain, Cuban link bracelet, mariner link necklace, mariner link bracelet, thick paperclip chain, 3mm paperclip chain (bracelet or necklace), rope chain necklace, rope chain bracelet, rolo chain necklace and rolo chain bracelet
Solid	Heon chains Every other Heon chain, including the herringbone chain, diamond-cut cable chain, dainty 1.8mm paperclip necklace, flat curb chain, belcher chain (full solid rolo links) and box chain

Beyond chains, several of our earrings are semi-hollow too, from the small hoops and endless hoops to chunky hoops and thick huggies, along with the puffed heart necklaces and the dome rings. It keeps bold shapes comfortable to wear. Everything else we make is solid.

Each product page also says how the chain is made and lists its weight in grams. Shipping is free and insured, and returns are free within 30 days (custom-engraved and personalized pieces are final sale).

How to care for a semi-hollow chain

• Take it off for sleep, sport and heavy work, when links are most likely to be pressed or snagged.
• Store it flat or hanging, on its own, so heavier pieces can’t press into it.
• Keep heavy pendants for solid chains. A heavy pendant rubbing on one spot wears a semi-hollow link faster than a solid one.
• Clean it gently with warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft cloth, then dry it well. Our guide to cleaning 14K gold jewelry has the details.
• See a jeweler for dents or kinks, instead of trying to straighten a link yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Shop 14K gold chains