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!
