Chain on the Leg and Body: Making Jewelry from Chains with Your Own Hands Photo Video

We make super fashionable jewelry from chains for the summer.

Summer is getting closer and closer, and even if the weather does not always remind us of this, soon we will plunge into warm, summer evenings filled with the most joyful events. Therefore, it is worth thinking about what jewelry we will wear with our summer outfits. We've already written about chain bracelets, but why stop at just bracelets when you can create unique, elegant jewelry for both your feet and body. Moreover, in the summer, when there is so much exposed body, chains are the best option to decorate it. And most importantly, a beautiful chain on your leg - it’s very easy and doesn’t take much time, but it looks amazing, and of course, it’s incredibly stylish and fashionable!

A little history

Alexandra, Queen Consort, wife of King Edward VII.
1900s Neck decoration up to the waist and below in the form of a simple string of beads or pearls or multi-layered, with a large pendant, decorative inserts, tassels, came into fashion at the beginning of the 19th century. Translated from French, sautoir means “long necklace.” In English it is often called backlace (from back - “back” and necklace - “necklace”).

Audrey Hepburn

In the early 1900s, it returned as an element of formal dress for aristocratic women, but the real triumph for the sautoir was the 1920s. It was during the era of underground cocktail parties and boisterous jazz rhythms that the sautoir began to be worn not only from the front, but also from the back, because it perfectly complemented outfits with a low waistline and an open back. However, they wore a long necklace with a completely closed top made of thin fabric: proof of this is the iconic photo of the young Coco Chanel with many strands of artificial pearls on the back.

Coco Chanel

Nowadays, a sautoir can be part of both a formal look for the red carpet or a wedding, and a casual summer look for a walk or relaxation.

How to choose decoration

Unique designer jewelry is made to order according to individual sizes. The sketch of the product is made by the customer or the jeweler himself.

If a waist chain is worn on a naked body, then choose thin models with a suitable type of weaving. The size is taken with a margin: waist size + 20 cm.

When choosing an accessory, pay attention to the material. Jewelry made of gold, silver, and non-allergenic jewelry alloy (medical steel) are popular.

On top of clothes they wear jewelry with large links, decorated with pendants, pearls , crystal, cubic zirconia, rhinestones, and rings.

Lady Diana wearing a Garrard necklace

Premiere of the film "Back to the Future", 1985
Lady Di often wore dresses with an open back. At the London premiere of the adventure comedy Back to the Future, she appeared in a burgundy-colored velvet dress, adorning the neckline on the back with a long string of Japanese sea pearls, the same ones that naturally have a flawless round shape.

In the same creation by Garrard, the official jewelry house of the British monarchs, Princess Diana posed for journalists at the Expo 1986 international exhibition in Vancouver and at a gala reception in Hamburg in 1987. Only back, following the strict dress code of official visits, the queen of hearts no longer threw the pearl necklace.

Waist chain

Waist necklace. Designers offer owners of seductive shapes to highlight them with a chain belt. Both precious options and costume jewelry are in trend. Western fashion designers borrowed decoration from the culture of the East. In the Maldives, gold chains around the waist were a must-have for influential people. Accessories were worn by judges, scientists, and rulers. This is recorded in ancient documents stored on the islands. According to the papers, the nobility of the Maldives wore the insignia until the 18th century. The presence of fashion for chain belts in India is confirmed by paintings and sculptures by Eastern masters. Hindus used jewelry not only as an indicator of status, but also as an attribute for religious ceremonies. The belt-chain in India is called “patka”. This item is worn by Krishna himself. At least God is always depicted wearing a belt of gold links.

It is interesting that in Rus' they used oriental decoration back in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the Siberian expanses, chain belts began to be supplemented with tassels at the ends. Only representatives of the fairer sex wore the accessory. The decoration at the waist could only be seen on rich women. The wonders of the East were inaccessible to commoners. In past centuries, ring belts were made only from precious materials. Considering the fashion of that time for obese ladies, the sizes of the products were impressive. The more metal used, the higher the price.

In Rus', belts in the form of chains were worn over clothing. In the 21st century, the option of decoration on the naked body is more popular. Stylists advise combining products with swimsuits, jeans, shorts and short tops. A thin thread of gold or silver emphasizes the wasp waist. Only navel piercing rivals chains in terms of effectiveness. However, this procedure is painful. The piercing requires careful care. A belt made of metal links is not a troublesome thing. For those who want everything at once, there are models of belts with a pendant in the central part. The pendant is attached to an existing piercing. Precious threads extending from it emphasize and complement the decoration.

The length of the belly chain should be a couple of centimeters longer than your waist. If you purchase jewelry that is equivalent to your figure’s parameters, it may break. When squats and other movements, the volumes increase slightly. This will cause excessive tension on the links. In this state, they not only often tear, but also rub the skin, causing discomfort and irritation.

Fashionistas have adapted to using waist chains as an indicator of weight. The product is purchased at a time when the girl is in perfect shape. As soon as the jewelry is tightened, the lady realizes that she has gained weight. This helps to take timely measures to maintain the desired proportions. However, if the volumes have changed significantly, and you don’t want to put the accessory away, there is a way out. Most chains are float sized. Like any belts, link samples can be fastened in different divisions. Fixed size options are rarely produced because they are not in demand.

In addition to models from well-known brands or, on the contrary, little-known companies, there are offers for the exclusive manufacture of chain belts. Jewelers get to work. They are ready to create fashionable jewelry from clients' existing necklaces and precious scraps. It is also possible to produce a metal product from a master craftsman. However, in this case, the strap will cost a pretty penny.

Celebrities often set fashion. Naomi Campbell contributed to the popularization of chain belts in the West in the current century. The supermodel considers her talisman to be a string of links around her waist, connected to a necklace around her neck. The connecting thread runs along the back. Now the catwalk star has begun to sometimes take off her jewelry. Before this, the star wore it without taking it off for many years.

A waist chain is considered an informal, summer accessory. It is appropriate in a nightclub, on the beach, a picnic, a walk around the city, on stage. The accessory is not included in formal office looks. The exception is cases when the product is worn over clothing. In this case, a link belt looks harmonious even at a business meeting.

The pricing policy for chain belts is multifaceted. There are copies for a couple of hundred rubles, others for tens of thousands of dollars. The cost of jewelry is democratic. Thus, the online store “Oriental Jewelry” presents a product made of brass with rhinestones for only 500 rubles. You will have to fork out more when purchasing precious options, especially from famous brands. The amount of raw materials used in production also matters. There are models not from one chain, but from an ensemble of many threads. An example of such a product is a model with a square block in the middle. It is located on the navel and serves as the base for dozens of chains radiating to the sides. Some of the threads are longer, others are shorter. This allows them to rest on both the waist and hips, forming a bow or the outline of butterfly wings. Effective and fashionable.

Nicole Kidman in Forevermark sautoir

Nicole Kidman, Oscar 2008
This jewelry was created according to a sketch by designer L'Wren Scott especially for Nicole Kidman. The sautoir necklace is made from 7,645 diamonds weighing a total of 1,399 carats and took the jewelers 6,200 hours of work to complete. It is considered one of the most expensive jewels ever shown on the Oscars red carpet, and is valued at $7 million.

Many will also remember Nicole in the promotional video for the Chanel No. 5 fragrance (the video was released in 2004 and, with a budget of $20 million, became the most expensive advertisement in the world): the image of the actress in a black dress with an open back is complemented by a diamond chain with a pendant with the perfume logo .

Kate Hudson in Cartier sautoir

Kate Hudson, Screen Actors Guild Award - 2010
This film ceremony is not as famous outside the United States as the Oscars or the Golden Globes, but the dress code and chic of the main red carpets of the year rule the roost here too. For example, Kate Hudson relied on jewelry from Cartier, a house that is called the “king of jewelers.” Vintage 1920s style white gold and diamond earrings and sautoir are priced at $700,525.

Anne Hathaway wearing a Tiffany & Co necklace.

Anne Hathaway, Oscar 2013
The star of Les Misérables that evening was compared not with her heroine Fantine, but with... Audrey Hepburn, so graceful and elegant, but not without boyish enthusiasm, was her image. The floral necklace design chosen by Anne Hathaway is from Tiffany & Co.'s Blue Book 2013 collection. It is made of platinum and diamonds and costs $485,000.

Jennifer Lawrence wearing a Neil Lane necklace

Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar 2014
The total cost of the Hunger Games star's platinum and diamond Neil Lane jewelry worn on Oscar night was $3.5 million. An Art Deco style necklace with inserts of clear crystal links and diamonds weighing a total of 100 carats is the most expensive jewel in the set, it is estimated at $2 million.

A year earlier, at the 2013 Oscars, Jennifer Lawrence also chose to make a jewelry accent on her back - she added a Chopard diamond-platinum thread to her off-the-shoulder dress.

Naomi Watts wearing a Bulgari necklace

Naomi Watts, Cannes Film Festival - 2014
Naomi Watts is the face of the Bulgari brand, and therefore often walks its recognizable “snake” jewelry at social events. Thus, at the premiere of the animated film “How to Train Your Dragon 2” in Cannes, the actress shone in the Ultimate Temptation necklace from the Serpenti Collection. The jewel, specially created for the 130th anniversary of the jewelry house, is made of white gold and fancy-cut diamonds with a total weight of 60 carats, and the pendant is a 12.5-carat pear-shaped diamond.

Chains for the whole body - oriental flair for a determined girl

The most daring fashionistas go even further in their love for jewelry, putting a special chain on the body (“body chains”). This is an original accessory that attracts attention to a slender figure. Chains around the neck and waist are worn with a swimsuit, underwear, and over clothing (of course, summer). The ideal solution is to go to the beach in a body chain and enjoy the attention of other “vacationers”.

A body chain can decorate shoulders in the form of epaulettes, fall down like folds, be connected with all kinds of rings, and flow with multi-layered threads.

Extravagant girls even decorate their legs in this way.

Famous model Naomi Campbell has repeatedly demonstrated her gold set, consisting of a chain around the neck connected to a chain at the waist.

Thandie Newton wearing a Harry Winston necklace

Thandie Newton, Golden Globe - 2017
The star of the series "Westworld", probably tired of the image of a saloon owner, did not choose flashy, massive jewelry for her appearance on the red carpet of the Golden Globe. Harry Winston jewelry is graceful and elegant, from vintage 1962 earrings, a triangular-cut diamond cocktail ring, a pair of pavé diamond rings, and a long string necklace set with 47.66 carats of fancy-cut diamonds. The total weight of gemstones in Thandie Newton's jewelry exceeded 75 carats.

Chain belt: almost classic

A more traditional way to use a chain is to wear it as a belt. It is worn with both summer outfits and warm clothes. belt is a fashionable, bright accessory that can decorate a shirt, long jumper, dress, trousers, shorts. This belt is worn either at the waist or on the hips. Typically, a chain belt does not have a specific size, allowing you to attach the clasp to any link as desired. Stylists do not recommend wearing chains as a belt only for ladies with an apple-shaped figure, since the emphasis is on the hips, attracting unnecessary attention. Also, do not go overboard with other jewelry when wearing a chain belt.

Such belts can be made from all kinds of materials. For example, leather ones are made from pieces of natural or artificial leather interconnected. Plastic chain belts in bright colors are an excellent inexpensive option for a summer dress. Combined ones combine several materials at once. But the most popular, of course, are chain belts made of various metals - coated jewelry alloys, gold, silver. The imagination of modern designers creates amazingly beautiful chain straps of various sizes, shapes and weaves. They are decorated with inserts of stones, pendants, beads, figurines, tassels at the ends and original clasps.

Where to buy jewelry

JEWELIRUMA catalog - an updated selection of interesting jewelry brands with search filters | Where to buy designer jewelry - review of sites | Seven brands of premium jewelry presented in Russia | The main exhibitions and sales of jewelry and designer costume jewelry

JEWELRY - CHAINS

Types of neck chains. How to choose a chain?

Making chains - hand knitting, machine knitting, stamping. Hammered chains and diamond cut chains

How to clean a darkened chain?

Men's neck chains

Types of chain weaving

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Works by designers from the JEWELIRUM catalog

• Co.Cos Jewelry
• Co.Cos Jewelry
• Taiga Jewelry, Tomsk
• Taiga Jewelry, Tomsk
• Ilya Maksimov, Crimea
• Ilya Maksimov, Crimea
• UBIRING
• UBIRING
• Diamonds are Forever
• Diamonds are Forever
• Rings in natural style, Sergacheva Jewelery
• Earrings with pearls, Sergacheva Jewelery
• Cabochon ring, Minty Sky
• Fly earrings, Minty Sky
• Ring, Precious Park
• Ring, Precious Park
• Snake skin ring, Stoyanova Jewelery
• Chain earrings, Stoyanova Jewelery
• Children's pendant - stick, Matthew&Daniel
• Pendant for a child, Matthew&Daniel
• Bracelet, Svetlana Subbotina
• Ring with Slavic symbols, Svetlana Subbotina
• Indian style ring, Anna Goffman
• Indian style ring, Anna Goffman
• Earrings, ISTA
• Geometric ring, ISTA
• Earrings with enamel, PNJewelry
• Ring with enamel, PNJewelry
• Ring, Khramtsova Jewelry
• Ring, Khramtsova Jewelry
• Wedding rings to order, obruchalki.com
• Wedding rings to order, obruchalki.com
• Earrings, Yuri Bylkov
• Earrings, Yuri Bylkov
• Titanium bracelets, LanaMuransky
• Titanium pendant, LanaMuransky
• Brooch Elephant (after Salvador Dali), THING
• Ring Veil, THING
• Mace earrings, VLADIMIR MARKIN
• Cufflinks, jewelry mechanics, VLADIMIR MARKIN
• Drop-shaped ring, EKATERINA TOLSTAYA
• Drop-shaped earrings, EKATERINA TOLSTAYA
• Necklace with amber, LETA
• Earrings with amber, LETA
• Children's earrings, combinable, FASHBY
• Children's earrings, combinable, FASHBY
• Ring of architectural form, Elizaveta Malafeevskaya MANU_L
• Architectural bracelet, Elizaveta Malafeevskaya MANU_L
• Set Ginkgo Leaf, SHABUT JEWELLERY
• Brooch Wearable porcelain, SHABUT JEWELLERY
• Architectural ring, GEOMETRY
• Brooch, porcelain, GEOMETRY
• Necklace made of polymer clay, LICORNE ART
• Brooch made of polymer clay, LICORNE ART
• Ring, avant-garde, VALERY SEREDIN
• Bracelet, avant-garde. VALERY SEREDIN
• Wooden set, Scandinavian/Japanese minimalism, VLADIMIR SHESTAKOV
• Ring, Scandinavian/Japanese minimalism, VLADIMIR SHESTAKOV
• Earrings, TON ANT
• Ring, TON ANT
• Architectural ring, ANCHOR
• Architectural necklace, ANCHOR
• Earrings, GOHFELD JEWELLERY
• Necklace, GOHFELD JEWELLERY
• Massive ring, YAKISCHIK
• Designer jewelry, YAKISCHIK
• Architectural ring, ONE DAY ART
• Architectural ring, ONE DAY ART
• Brooch, bionics, VALERIYA MARKOVA (TESSA)
• Unclosed ring, bionics, VALERIYA MARKOVA (TESSA)
• Ring, bionics, BEAVERS
• Earrings, bionics, BEAVERS
• Earrings, asymmetry, VAGANOVA JEWELRY
• Airplane ring, VAGANOVA JEWELRY
• Flower ring, ALCHEMIA JEWELLERY
• Set, ALCHEMIA JEWELLERY
• Pendant-cat, ethnic, STUDIO OF ILYA AND VERA PALKIN
• Earrings, STUDIO OF ILYA AND VERA PALKIN