Chain lengths
Only Pendant means the pendant ships without a chain and fits most chains up to 4 mm thick. Add a chain and its length is the full length when open.
Length is the first decision when choosing a chain: before the link style, before the finish, it decides where the pendant sits. Our chains run from 16 to 30 inches; where each one falls depends on your neck and build, so use the images and table as a guide.
Men
Women
| Length | cm | Men | Women |
| 16" | 40 cm | Choker fit, tight on most | At the collarbone, choker fit |
| 18" | 45 cm | Base of the neck, at the collar | At the collarbone, the classic length |
| 20" | 50 cm | Collarbone, the classic length | Just below the collarbone |
| 22" | 55 cm | Just below the collarbone | Top of the chest, below a crew neck |
| 24" | 60 cm | Mid-chest, sits on a T-shirt | Mid-chest |
| 26" | 65 cm | Below the chest | Below the chest |
| 28" | 70 cm | Long, base of the sternum | Long, over the stomach |
| 30" | 75 cm | Long, over the stomach | Long, over the stomach |
Not sure between two? Measure around the base of your neck with a tape or a strip of paper; a chain 2 to 4 inches longer than that sits comfortably at the collarbone, and every extra 2 inches drops the pendant about an inch lower.
Pendant size is the height including the bail (the loop the chain passes through); where a pendant comes in several sizes, each size's dimensions are on the product page. Questions: support@sarnion.com.
925 sterling silver
Every Sarnion piece starts as solid 925 sterling silver: 92.5% pure silver, alloyed with copper for the strength pure silver lacks. Each piece is stamped 925, and the alloy we cast is nickel-free, so it sits comfortably on sensitive skin.
Nothing is taken from a shelf. Your piece is cast to order in our workshop by lost-wax casting: molten silver poured into a mould taken from the original hand-carved model, then cleaned, hand-finished and given the finish you choose below. The finish changes how the piece looks and ages; the metal underneath is the same, unless you ask for it cast entirely in solid gold.
Finishes for this piece
Oxidized SilverLook Antique charm with modern weight. Deep charcoal settles into every recess while the high points stay bright silver, so each line of the carving reads like an engraving and the design gains depth you can see from across a room. The piece looks unearthed rather than freshly made, with the quiet, mystical character Sarnion is known for.
Craft After casting and hand-finishing, the sterling silver is immersed in a sulphur patina, the same chemistry antique silversmiths used, which turns the surface a dense black. Our artisans then polish the raised surfaces back to bare metal by hand, one piece at a time, controlling exactly how much shadow stays in the detail. No paint and no lacquer: the darkness is in the silver itself, which is why it never flakes.
Character A living finish and our customers’ favourite. The high points brighten with wear and the contrast deepens, so the ring grows more personal every year.
Best for Detailed, sculptural designs: skulls, scrollwork, animals, mythology. The finish that tells the story best and the one that made Sarnion’s name.
Polished SilverLook Bright, mirror-like silver with maximum brilliance. Light runs across the surface from every angle; the design shows through form and shadow rather than contrast, which gives even heavy pieces a clean, sophisticated line.
Craft Cast in 925 sterling silver and hand-polished in stages, from coarse compound through finer grades to a final rouge, until the surface reflects like glass. Polishing hides nothing, so every casting is inspected and refined by hand before it reaches this stage.
Character Silver as it is. It settles into a soft satin glow with daily wear and returns to a full mirror with a minute of the polishing cloth included in your order.
Best for Those who prefer clean lines and timeless simplicity: signets, bands, minimal pendants and anything worn next to a watch.
Gold PlatedLook Timeless golden brilliance over the weight and detail of sterling silver: a classic that never goes out of style.
Craft The sterling silver is polished to a mirror first, because plating magnifies whatever lies beneath it, then electroplated with a layer of gold in our workshop.
Character A surface finish that stays rich for years on pieces worn with a little care, mellowing gently toward the silver at the points you touch most.
Best for Pendants, earrings and pieces worn on occasion, where the golden glow matters most.
Black Rhodium PlatedLook Bold, modern and dramatically dark: a gunmetal sheen with a cool, almost liquid reflection. Detail reads through highlights rather than contrast, giving the design a stealthy, serious presence.
Craft Mirror-polished sterling silver electroplated with black rhodium, a rare metal of the platinum family. Rhodium is harder than both silver and gold, which is why jewellers have used it for a century to armour precious metal.
Character The rhodium layer shrugs off everyday scratches better than the silver beneath it. Over years, the edges you touch most may lighten toward silver, an effect many wearers come to prize.
Best for Those who dare to stand out: modern, masculine designs that pair naturally with black steel watches.
- 14K
14K Solid GoldLook The classic gold colour: warm and rich without tipping into orange, the shade most people picture when they think of fine jewellery.
Craft Cast entirely in solid 14K gold, 58.3% pure gold, in our workshop, from the same hand-carved master as the silver original, then hand-finished. Solid gold is heavier than silver, so the piece gains weight as well as colour.
Character The balance point of colour and strength: durable enough for daily wear, rich enough to read unmistakably as gold, and it never tarnishes. Our most requested solid-gold option.
Best for Heirloom pieces, wedding and anniversary gifts, everyday luxury.
- 18K
18K Solid GoldLook The deepest, warmest yellow of the three. 18K carries the most gold and shows it: a saturated colour with exceptional depth and glow.
Craft Cast entirely in solid 18K gold, 75% pure gold, in our workshop, from the same hand-carved master as the silver original, then hand-finished. Solid gold is heavier than silver, so the piece gains noticeable weight as well as colour.
Character Softer than 14K, so it takes on a fine, lived-in surface with hard daily use; it never tarnishes and polishes back beautifully.
Best for Pendants, special-occasion rings and pieces chosen for colour above all: the pinnacle of the range.
Caring for your Sarnion piece
Every Sarnion piece is cast to order in solid 925 sterling silver or solid gold and finished by hand in our Istanbul workshop. Precious metal is made to be worn for decades; a minute of care now and then is all it asks to stay at its best.
What comes with your order
Each piece arrives in an anti-tarnish pouch with a two-layer polishing cloth. Together they handle almost all routine care.
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Clean with the inner, lighter cloth. It carries a mild cleaning agent that lifts tarnish and skin oils from silver and gold.
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Buff with the outer, darker cloth to bring back the shine.
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Keep the cloth dry. Never wash it: it darkens with use, which is the cleaning agent doing its job, and it stays effective for years.
Five everyday rules
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Last on, first off. Put your jewellery on after lotion, perfume and hairspray, and take it off before washing your hands.
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Keep it dry. Remove it for the pool, the sea, the shower, the sauna, the gym and sleep. Chlorine, salt water and sweat are the main enemies of plated finishes.
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No chemicals, no machines. Household cleaners, bleach, silver dips, abrasive polish, toothpaste and ultrasonic cleaners can strip a patina or wear through a plating in one go.
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Store it apart. Each piece in its own pouch, in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Silver scratches silver when pieces tumble together; fasten chains before storing so they do not tangle.
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Travel in the pouch. The pouch keeps air and friction away in a bag or suitcase.
Finish by finish
Oxidised silver. The dark patina in the recesses is intentional and sits in the silver itself; there is no lacquer to flake. With wear the high points brighten and the contrast deepens, which is the finish at its best. Clean gently with the cloth only. Silver dips and liquid polish strip the patina, so keep them away.
Polished silver. Hand-polished to a mirror and then plated with white rhodium, so it stays bright rather than tarnishing. A wipe with the soft outer cloth is enough. Do not use abrasive polish or dips; they wear the rhodium layer.
Gold vermeil and gold plated. A layer of gold over sterling silver. Follow the five rules above, and wipe the piece with the soft outer cloth after wearing to remove oils. Avoid rubbing hard, and never use polish, dips or water with soap: a dry cloth is the whole routine.
Rose plated silver. Rose gold contains copper, which is more sensitive to perfume, sweat and moisture than yellow gold. Treat it exactly like vermeil, with a little extra attention to the five rules.
Black rhodium plated. Rhodium is harder than silver and resists scratches well, but it is still a surface layer. Dry cloth only; no abrasives. Over years the edges you touch most may lighten toward silver, a look many wearers come to prize.
Two Color. Treat the oxidised body as oxidised silver and the gold accent as a plated finish: cloth only, no dips.
Solid gold. Does not tarnish. Lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, a soft brush and a thorough dry are all it needs. 18K is softer than 14K and 10K, so give it the same care you would a fine watch.
Pieces with stones. Keep perfume and hairspray away from the stone, clean around it with a slightly damp soft cloth and dry fully. Do not soak set stones.
Good to know
Will my ring change over time? Yes, gently. Polished surfaces take on a soft satin with wear, oxidised pieces grow in contrast, and plated finishes slowly mellow at the points you touch most. This is precious metal living with you, not a fault.
Can I resize it? Each piece is cast in the size you choose, so please use our size guide before ordering. Resizing by another jeweller is not covered by the warranty.
Something feels wrong? Email support@sarnion.com with your order number and a photo and we will tell you what to do. Faults in metal, casting or workmanship are covered by our limited lifetime warranty.