Sell Cuban Link Gold Chains in Houston, TX

What actually makes a chain a Cuban link

A Cuban link is an interlocking oval curb link, twisted and flattened so each link lies flat against the next. The Miami Cuban variation adds a thicker, more squared profile and a tighter fit between links, which is what produces the dense, solid look people are buying it for.

Terminology in the market is loose. Sellers call flat curb, Monaco, prong-set and boxed-link chains all "Cuban." It does not affect what we pay — the offer is built from tested karat, gram weight, stone content and resale demand — but it does change whether a piece has a resale market above melt, which is why we identify the actual construction rather than going off the seller's description.

Solid vs hollow Cuban chains

This is the biggest single variable on a Cuban chain, more so than on any other style, because Cuban pieces are sold on visual heft. A 20-inch 10mm hollow 14K Cuban might weigh 45 grams; the solid version of the same dimensions can pass 150 grams. Same look, three times the payout.

Hollow Cubans usually give themselves away by dented or collapsed links, an unusually light feel for the width, and seams visible under a loupe on the underside of the link. We confirm on the scale and show you the reading either way — nobody has to take our word for it.

Purity: 10K, 14K, 18K and imported 21K/22K

Most Cuban chains sold in the US are 10K or 14K, chosen for durability at heavy widths. 18K Cubans exist but are softer and stretch under their own weight at large sizes. 21K and 22K Cuban-style chains are common in pieces bought overseas and pay noticeably more per gram.

We test the links themselves, not just the clasp tag. Two-tone and plated-over-base counterfeits are common in this style at large widths, and a stamp alone proves nothing. Electronic testing plus acid where needed settles it in a couple of minutes at no charge.

Also useful: how karat purity converts to a per-gram price.

Length, width and why the tag price is not the resale price

Length and width matter only because they drive gram weight. Going from 8mm to 12mm at the same length can nearly double the gold content, and that is what the offer follows.

Retail pricing on a custom Cuban includes labor, casting, stone setting and jeweler margin, none of which come back on a resale. A chain that cost $12,000 new is valued on what its gold and stones are worth today, and we walk you through both figures instead of quoting one blended number.

Iced-out and diamond-set Cuban chains

Iced-out Cubans are valued as two components. The gold is weighed with an allowance made for stone weight and setting material, and the diamonds are examined for size, quality and whether they are natural, lab-grown, moissanite or CZ.

Small melee stones in low-clarity commercial grades add much less than owners expect — the labor to set hundreds of them is not recoverable. Larger VS-quality stones in prong or bezel settings do carry real value. We separate the two honestly so you know what you are being paid for.

Also useful: how diamonds are graded and priced here.

Broken Cuban chains and damaged clasps

Cuban chains most often fail at the box clasp or at a single stressed link near it. Neither reduces the gold content, and neither should be repaired before selling. If a section has been cut out at some point, the chain simply weighs less than an untouched example of that length — we weigh what is actually there.

One caveat specific to this style: some Cuban pieces have steel or brass reinforcement inside the box clasp or safety latch. That hardware is removed from the weighed total because it is not gold, and we show you the parts that came off.

Also useful: selling broken gold by weight.

Selling a Cuban chain in Houston

Bring the chain to 6809 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77074 during store hours (Monday–Thursday 9:30 AM–7:00 PM, Friday–Saturday 9:30 AM–8:00 PM, Sunday 12:00–7:00 PM), along with a valid photo ID. Custom-piece paperwork, an appraisal document or the original jeweler's receipt is useful context on high-value pieces but is not required.

Because heavy Cuban chains often run into five figures, payment can be made in cash or by bank wire, whichever you prefer. Call 713-997-0875 first with the karat, length and width and we can give you a realistic range before you drive out.

Also useful: compare other chain styles we buy or how our cash offers are calculated.