The Best Gold Chains for Men Are the Finishing Touches Your Outfits Need

Gold chains for…men? You better believe it. See, over the last few years, guys have embraced all kinds of jewelry with gusto, rocking pearls, beads, and not-so precious gemstones like their parents just let them loose in the accessories section at Claire’s. But one piece of jewelry still reigns supreme: the simple gold chain. The type of necklaces we’re talking about here are favored by fellas like Tony Soprano, who wore his gold pendant necklace while smoking cigars in the pool of his New Jersey mansion, and Michael Jordan, who rocked a duo of curb chain necklaces when he took off from the foul line in ’87. (His Airness occasionally paired his with a single diamond cut earring, too.)

What’s behind the gold chain’s enduring appeal? For one, gold will always be just a step above sterling silver, and in an entirely different league than stainless steel.The right gold chain also happens to be the easiest way to add some instant swagger to your spring outfits, without making you look like a perma-tanned Miami promoter trying to offload dubiously-sourced uppers outside of LIV. Versatile and understated (as long you want them to be), gold chains look just as good worn with a simple white tee as they do with your sharpest suit—preferably sans shirt à la Paul Mescal.

And best of all, the options are nearly endless. Are you going with white gold, rose gold, or yellow gold? A chunky rope chain or a more streamlined cable chain? A trendy choker or a classic collar? (And that’s not even getting into karat count.) To help you find the necklace of your dreams, we went deep on the best gold chains for men, unearthing a treasure trove of choices—including a bunch that won’t permanently curb-stomp your credit card. Enjoy.