Don't buy another chain until you read this. I'm going to be brutally honest. I've been burned by online jewelers more times than I care to admit. When you search for a decent, heavy, iced-out chain, you'll find thousands of cheap options. They look amazing in the photos. They cost next to nothing. And they're all a complete lie.
Let me be straight with you. I bought a men's yellow gold necklace from a random site—let's call it SiteX—and I was seriously let down. I wanted that thick, bold look. I saw a 13mm Puffed Mariner link chain advertised for $30. I thought, "What a steal!"
I wish I had read the honest, hidden reviews. The chain arrived, and it was a joke. It looked decent for about six hours. Then the problems started piling up.
This experience taught me the hard way: Super cheap jewelry means thin plating, and thin plating fades in a week. You aren't saving money; you're buying trash.
Verdict: If the price for an iced-out piece seems too good to be true, it's a scam. Always check the base metal. If they don't list 316L Stainless Steel or solid brass, walk away.
After that disaster, I almost gave up on buying any iced-out chains online. I figured I either had to spend thousands on real gold or just stick with thin silver pieces. I didn't want to risk another $50 on something that would look bad in front of my friends.
But I kept searching for a high-quality alternative. I still wanted that heavy, shining look—specifically a 13mm Iced Out CZ Puffed Mariner Link Choker Chain. I decided to try one more place, knowing what red flags to look for this time. I looked for companies that:
That third point changed everything.