Miami Cuban Link Chain Buying Guide: Sizes, Metals, and What to Look For
The Miami Cuban link chain is one of the most recognizable pieces of jewelry ever made. It's been worn by athletes, musicians, and everyday people for decades — and unlike most jewelry trends, it hasn't gone anywhere. If anything, it's more popular now than ever.
But if you've never bought one before, the options can feel overwhelming. Width, length, karat, handmade vs machine-made, gold vs silver, clasp type — there are real differences between these choices, and they affect the look, feel, weight, price, and longevity of what you end up with.
This guide covers everything. We've been making and selling Miami Cuban link chains in Tampa since 1989, and this is the same advice we give customers who walk through our door.
What Is a Miami Cuban Link Chain?
The Cuban link chain originated in Cuba and became a defining piece of American jewelry culture starting in the 1970s. The "Miami" designation came from the city that helped popularize it in the United States — Miami's gold jewelry district became the center of Cuban link craftsmanship in this country, and the name stuck.
What distinguishes a Miami Cuban link from other chain styles is its structure: tightly interlocked oval links that are twisted and compressed flat, creating a wide, smooth surface that lies flat against the skin and catches light from every angle. The links are thick, dense, and — on a well-made piece — completely rigid when held up. That last point matters more than most people realize.
A true quality Miami Cuban link hangs perfectly straight. It doesn't kink, twist, or collapse. When you hold it up by the clasp, gravity pulls it straight down in a clean line. That's not just aesthetic — it's the result of every link being individually hand-soldered and hand-filed to precise tolerances. If a chain folds or kinks when you hold it up, the links are uneven and the craftsmanship is poor regardless of what the karat stamp says.
Handmade vs Machine-Made: What's the Actual Difference?
This is the most important thing to understand before buying, and most jewelry stores won't explain it clearly.
Machine-made Cuban links are produced by automated machinery, typically in Italy, which is the world's leading manufacturer of precision chain. The machines create links with flawless uniformity, a high-polish mirror finish, and consistent sizing. For smaller widths — anything up to about 6mm — machine production actually produces an excellent result. The links are tight, the finish is clean, and the chains are solid and durable for daily wear.
Handmade Cuban links are built link by link by a jeweler. The wire is drawn to gauge, coiled, cut into individual links, assembled by hand, soldered individually, and then hand-filed to ensure every link sits flush and aligned. The result is a denser, heavier chain with a tighter link weave and significantly more gold or silver per inch than a machine-made chain of the same width. Handmade chains are heavier, more substantial, and more durable under real-world stress. For larger widths — 7mm and above — handmade is the standard for serious quality.
At Liry's, we split our production along this line deliberately:
- 2mm–6mm: Italian precision machine-made. These sizes are ready to ship and deliver an excellent finish at their scale.
- 7mm–20mm: 100% handmade in-house at our Tampa store. These are made to order with a production time of approximately 3–4 weeks.
Neither method is a shortcut. They're each the right tool for the size. What we don't do — at any size — is sell hollow links. Every chain we make is solid metal through and through.
Size Guide: How to Choose Your Width
Width is the most personal decision in buying a Cuban link. Here's how to think about it:
2mm–4mm — Sleek and Stackable At this width, the chain reads as refined rather than bold. Best for layering with other chains or wearing as an everyday accent. Popular with women and men who prefer understated jewelry. Light enough that you barely feel it.
5mm–6mm — The Everyday Classic The most versatile range. Noticeable without being loud. Works with casual and dressed-up looks. Light enough for all-day wear, substantial enough to stand on its own without a pendant.
7mm — The Best-Seller Our single most popular size. The 7mm sits in the sweet spot — bold enough to be noticed immediately, comfortable enough to wear 24/7. At 22 inches, it's the combination most of our customers choose for everyday wear. If you're buying your first Cuban link and aren't sure where to start, this is the answer most of the time.
8mm–9mm — A Step Up in Presence Noticeably heavier and wider than the 7mm. The 8mm in particular hits a "premium daily wear" zone — it carries real weight and presence without crossing into statement territory. A popular choice for customers upgrading from a 7mm.
10mm–12mm — Statement Weight At this range, the chain becomes a focal piece. You feel the weight on your neck and other people notice it across the room. These are serious pieces typically worn for impact rather than as all-day jewelry, though plenty of customers do wear them daily.
13mm–20mm — The Show Piece The upper range of our collection. The 20mm is the largest Cuban link we make and represents the maximum in size and weight — what we call a "wall of gold." These chains are built for people who want maximum presence and are comfortable carrying significant gold weight. Production at these sizes is a significant undertaking and the pieces are priced accordingly.
A note on length: Standard lengths run 18" to 28" in 2" increments. For most men, 22" to 24" is the most popular range — it sits at or just below the collarbone. If you need an odd length like 25", order the next size up and email us — we'll adjust it for you.
Gold vs Sterling Silver: Which Should You Choose?
Miami Cuban links are available in both solid gold and 925 sterling silver. Here's the honest breakdown:
Sterling Silver delivers the same bold look at a fraction of the price. A 7mm silver chain weighing around 90 grams runs roughly $500–$600. Silver is also naturally bright — often brighter and shinier than white gold — so the visual impact is real. Silver requires occasional polishing as it will tarnish over time with exposure to air and moisture, but a quick clean restores it fully. For customers who want the Cuban link look without the gold price tag, silver is a completely legitimate choice.
Solid Gold carries intrinsic metal value that silver doesn't. A 7mm gold chain at the same weight would be $3,500–$5,000+ depending on karat. Gold doesn't tarnish, holds its value over time, and is generally more durable in daily wear. It's a different kind of purchase — part jewelry, part store of value.
At Liry's, our silver Cuban links are built to the exact same quality standards as our gold inventory. No hollow links, no plating shortcuts. The only difference is the metal.
Gold color options: Yellow gold (classic), white gold, and rose gold are all available across most sizes.
Gold Karat Options: 10kt, 14kt, or 18kt?
All of our gold Cuban links come in 10kt, 14kt, and 18kt. Here's what actually matters:
10kt (41.7% gold) is the most durable option. The higher alloy content makes it harder and more scratch-resistant than higher karats. It's an excellent choice for everyday wear, especially for active lifestyles. Visually, 10kt and 14kt yellow gold look essentially identical in person — anyone who claims they can see a clear color difference is likely looking at plated jewelry.
14kt (58.3% gold) is the most popular karat in the United States. It balances purity, durability, and price well. If you're buying a mid-to-large chain as a long-term piece, 14kt is the most common choice.
18kt (75% gold) has a noticeably richer, deeper yellow color than 10kt or 14kt. It's softer, which means it can show wear more easily, but it carries significantly more gold value per gram. Popular for customers who want the deepest gold color or maximum precious metal content.
One important note: at Liry's, every piece is exactly the karat stamped. No plating over base metal, no 13.5kt stamped as 14kt. We use an X-ray fluorescence machine to verify the composition of our gold. If you want to understand karats in more depth, we have a dedicated guide to gold karats on our blog.
Clasps: Box Lock vs Lobster Clasp vs Sleek Lock
The clasp is how your chain stays on. It matters more than most buyers think.
Lobster clasp is standard on our smaller Italian machine-made chains (2mm–6mm). It's the most common clasp in jewelry — easy to open and close with one hand, secure for everyday wear at lighter chain weights.
Heavy duty box lock with double safety latches is standard on our handmade chains (7mm and above). At the weight and value of a larger handmade chain, you want a more secure closure. The box lock requires deliberate engagement to open, which means it won't come undone accidentally. The dual safety latches add a secondary layer of security.
Sleek lock is our signature custom clasp upgrade, available as an add-on for handmade chains. Instead of a traditional box lock, the sleek lock integrates seamlessly into the chain's design — it's visually indistinguishable from the links themselves until you look closely. Available in plain gold, with genuine diamonds, or CZ stones. If you want a completely seamless look, this is the upgrade to consider.
How to Care for Your Cuban Link Chain
A solid gold or sterling silver Cuban link is built to last generations with minimal care. Here's what actually matters:
For gold chains: Wipe down with a soft microfiber cloth after wearing, especially if you've been sweating. For a deeper clean, soak briefly in warm water with a drop of mild dish soap, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush to get into the links, rinse thoroughly, and pat dry. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners for chains with sleek lock clasps that include stones.
For silver chains: Same cleaning method as gold. More important for silver is drying thoroughly after contact with water and storing in an airtight bag or jewelry box when not wearing. Silver tarnishes through oxidation — limiting air exposure when stored slows the process significantly. When tarnish does appear, a jewelry polishing cloth removes it quickly.
For both: Take your chain off before swimming in chlorinated pools. Chlorine accelerates tarnishing on silver and can affect gold alloys over time. Hot tubs are the same. Saltwater is generally fine but rinse afterward.
We clean any chain purchased from us at no charge. If you're in the Tampa area, bring it in and we'll take care of it.
Hollow vs Solid: Why It Matters
You'll see "hollow" Cuban link chains online — typically from large retailers — priced significantly lower than solid chains of the same width. The difference is exactly what it sounds like: the links are hollow inside rather than solid metal.
A hollow chain looks the same from the outside at first glance. The difference shows up in three ways: weight (hollow chains feel noticeably lighter and cheaper on the neck), durability (hollow links dent and collapse under pressure), and value (a hollow chain has a fraction of the metal content of a solid chain of the same width).
At Liry's, we do not sell hollow Cuban links. Every chain is solid metal. We state this plainly because we know customers sometimes compare our prices to online retailers selling hollow chains at lower prices — they are not the same product.
What Makes a Liry's Cuban Link Different
We've been making Miami Cuban links by hand in Tampa since 1989 — three generations of the same family, same store, same standards. A few things that are specific to how we build:
The Straight Hang Guarantee. Every handmade chain we sell passes a straight hang test before it ships. Hold the chain up by the clasp — it should drop perfectly straight without kinking, twisting, or folding. We hand-solder and hand-file every individual link to ensure this. If a chain doesn't pass, it doesn't go out.
Transparent weight and pricing. We display the estimated gram weight of every chain configuration on the product page before you buy. You know what you're getting before you commit. Most competitors bury this information or don't publish it at all.
No middleman markup. Our smaller chains are sourced directly from manufacturers in Italy. Our handmade chains are made in-house. We don't go through distributors or wholesalers, which is why our prices are significantly lower than what you'd pay at a mall jewelry store for the same quality.
Ready to Buy?
If you've read this far, you know more about Miami Cuban link chains than most people who've been wearing them for years. Here's where to go next:
Shop All Miami Cuban Link Chains → Shop Miami Cuban Link Bracelets → Shop Sterling Silver Cuban Link Chains →
Still not sure which size is right for you? Call us at (813) 888-8590 or stop by our Tampa store. We'll put chains on your neck and tell you what looks right — no pressure, no sales pitch.