Every woman has a few pieces of jewelry that are truly special to her and for me one of those is the Hermes chaine d’ancre necklace.  I constantly marvel at it’s beauty in the form of elegant simplicity.

I never tire of it.

Like many fabulous designs, the chaine d’ancre, or anchor chain in English, was inspired by a visit to the seashore.

Robert Dumas, the Hermes visionary who would later introduce the firm’s iconic horse and carriage logo and signature orange boxes, became transfixed on the chain anchoring a moored boat on one seaside visit.  He set to work designing a bracelet and in the late 1930s the chaine d’ancre debuted.

What a perfect art deco example.  The graceful curves and silver tone have always suggested classic deco elegance to me.  I don’t know what it is about Hermes silver too, but it’s positively luminescent.  My pieces absolutely glow.

I have both the bracelet and necklace in the TGM, the largest of the three sizes.  I debated a bit on weight, but quickly decided to go big.

I appreciate that the chaine d’ancre is as versatile as it is beautiful.  It’s equally at home with scoop necked t-shirts as strapless gowns.

I love both pieces though I do seem to wear the bracelet a bit more for some reason.  I like the way it feels on my wrist and and hearing the playful sound the toggle makes throughout the day.

Most often I wear the necklace with the toggled pulled through so it dangles like a pendant.  Sometimes I link the bracelet to the necklace for a real statement.  Every once in a while I’ll create a very chunky bracelet by wrapping the necklace around my wrist twice.

The chaine d’ancre is not only the perfect statement piece; it’s also a perfect signature piece.  It’s a subtle way passionate sailors to give a silent nod to their love of the sea.

Christmas is just around the corner and the chaine d’ancre is an ideal gift; it’s one sure to be treasured for many years to come.  And… there is nothing like the excitement and anticipation of seeing that orange box under the tree!

Kara

Kara is a contributor at SailCouture. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.