3mm, 5mm or 8mm? Choosing a Byzantine Necklace by Width and Length

A Byzantine necklace’s width describes how broad the chain is from side to side. Length is a separate choice. Start by picking the widths you like the look of (3mm, 5mm or 8mm), then check which lengths each one can be ordered in right now. No width is best for everyone, and each product's length selector is the final word on what's available.

What 3mm, 5mm and 8mm actually tell you

All three chains are listed as solid .925 sterling silver in the same Byzantine pattern. The pattern is made of textured groups of interlocked polished curves with dark grooves. Each chain closes with a lobster clasp and decorated end caps.

The number in each name is the listed chain width, measured from side to side. Front-to-back thickness is a different measurement, and none of the listings give it.

The table below collects the listed details and the lengths that could be selected when we checked on October 7, 2026. It summarizes the product listings. It isn't a side-by-side measured test. Availability changes, so confirm it in each product's length selector before you decide.

On small screens, scroll across the comparison table.

No length was available in all three widths

On the date we checked, you couldn't order any single length in all three widths. The 3mm chain was available only at 24 in. The 8mm chain was available at 19, 22 and 26 in, but not 24 in. That means the 3mm and 8mm had no available length in common.

The 5mm shares lengths with both. Its 24 in option matches the 3mm, and its 22 and 26 in options match the 8mm. Of these three chains, the 5mm currently has the widest choice of lengths: all six listed lengths, from 18 to 28 in. That only helps if getting your preferred length matters more to you than getting a particular width.

Choose width and length separately

It's easy to think of a wider chain as simply a bigger version of a narrow one. But width and length answer different questions. Width describes how broad the chain looks. Length helps determine where it sits on you. Decide on the length you want, then check whether the widths you like come in it.

Here's a simple way to estimate length:

1. Put on a shirt you'd usually wear with the chain, so you're judging against your normal neckline.
2. If you own a chain and know its length, wear it and notice where it sits. That's the most useful reference you have.
3. If you don’t, drape a loose piece of string around your neck. Bring the ends together at the front, at the point where you’d like the necklace to fall. Mark that join, then lay the marked section flat and measure it in inches.
4. Compare the two nearest listed lengths with your estimate, then check what each width offers right now.

Treat the result as a starting point. A piece of string can't copy the weight, stiffness, link shape or drape of a real silver chain. A wider chain may also sit a little differently from a narrow one at the same listed length. Use the estimate to narrow your options, rather than treating a length label as a promise of one exact landing point.

Judge each width on its own

Before you add a pendant or other jewelry, picture each width alone against plain fabric. That's where the link pattern is easiest to see.

• 3mm: the narrowest listed width. It's a slim line that shows the pattern at a small scale.
• 5mm: in between the other two. The texture is easy to see, but the chain isn't as broad as the 8mm.
• 8mm: the broadest listed width. In the product photos, its links look visibly larger.

These are differences in look, not quality. A wider chain isn't automatically stronger, more comfortable or better, and no width belongs to a particular kind of wearer. Choose the width you'd like to see in the mirror.

What the reference weights do and don't tell you

Each listing gives an approximate reference weight for the whole item: about 33 g for the 3mm, 70 g for the 5mm and 210 g for the 8mm. They are whole-item reference values, including the fittings, rather than a separately stated silver-only weight.

The 3mm and 8mm listings don't say which length was weighed. The 5mm listing notes that actual weight depends on the length you choose. So don't treat the three numbers as a same-length comparison, and don't calculate ratios from them. If weight matters to you, especially if you're considering a heavy sterling silver necklace, ask for the weight of the exact length you plan to order.

Adding a pendant?

A chain's width doesn't tell you whether a pendant will fit on it. If you're buying for a specific pendant, first check the pendant bail and the chain's end fittings with our fit guide. It explains what to measure and what to do if the two don't fit together.

Compare the three widths

3mm Byzantine Sterling Silver Chain Necklace

The narrowest listed width, for a slim line of the Byzantine pattern. On October 7, 2026, it was available only at 24 in (61.0 cm), so it works best if that's your length.

View lengths and details

5mm Byzantine Sterling Silver Chain Necklace

The middle width, and the most length options of the three. On October 7, 2026, all six listed lengths from 18 to 28 in (45.7 to 71.1 cm) were available.

View lengths and details

8mm Byzantine Sterling Silver Heavy Chain Necklace

The broadest listed width, with visibly larger links. On October 7, 2026, it was available at 19, 22 and 26 in (48.3, 55.9 and 66.0 cm).

View lengths and details

Find your width and length

Pick the widths you like first. Then use the length selector to confirm you can order the length you want. If none of these combinations works for you, browse necklaces to see other chain styles.