Sell Franco Gold Chains in Houston, TX

How a Franco chain is built

A Franco is made of tight V-shaped links that nest into each other to form a square or slightly rectangular cross-section. The result is a chain that looks like a rope but has flat sides, feels rigid in the hand, and lies straight rather than draping.

That construction is why Francos are popular as pendant chains — the tight weave resists twisting and holds a heavy pendant without rolling. It also means there is a lot of gold packed into a narrow width, so a 4mm solid Franco can weigh more than a wider chain in an airier style.

Franco vs rope vs Cuban — what changes the offer

Against a rope chain of the same width, a solid Franco usually weighs more, because rope construction leaves gaps between the twisted links. Against a Cuban of the same width, a Franco usually weighs less, because Cuban links are broader and thicker in profile.

None of that changes the per-gram rate — all three are paid the same way. It changes the total, which is why comparing your chain to a friend's by eye rather than by scale is misleading.

Also useful: see how each chain style compares.

Solid vs hollow Franco, and the kink problem

Hollow Francos are common in wider widths because a solid 8mm Franco is heavy and expensive. The trade-off is fragility: once a hollow Franco bends past a certain point, the link walls collapse and the kink is permanent. Jewelers can rarely repair it invisibly, and a kinked chain will not sell as a wearable piece.

This is the one place where condition changes what a Franco is worth, but not in the way people expect. The melt value is unchanged — the gold is all still there. What changes is whether the chain had any chance of being worth more than melt in the first place. A clean solid Franco might; a kinked hollow one will be valued on weight.

Purity, weight and length

Most Francos on the US market are 10K or 14K. 18K Francos are softer and are more often found in imported and custom pieces, and 21K and 22K examples turn up in jewelry bought overseas. Higher karat pays more per gram: 10K is 41.7% gold, 14K is 58.3%, 18K is 75%.

We test the chain body rather than relying on the clasp stamp, since replacement clasps often carry a different karat mark than the chain they were fitted to. Then the whole piece is weighed in grams on a legal-for-trade scale where you can read the display.

Also useful: how gold purity and spot price set the number.

Broken Francos, end caps and clasps

Francos usually fail at the soldered end cap where the chain meets the clasp, or at a point that has been kinked repeatedly. Neither affects gold content. Bring the chain and any pieces that came off it, including the clasp, and everything goes on the scale together.

If a jeweler has previously shortened your chain, the removed section may still be in the original box or bag — it is gold too, and worth bringing.

Also useful: how we buy broken and scrap gold.

Selling a Franco chain in Houston

Come 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) with the chain and a valid photo ID. Testing and weighing are free, take about ten minutes, and there is no obligation to sell.

If you want an idea of value before driving out, call 713-997-0875 with the karat stamp, the length and whether the chain feels solid or hollow, and we can give you a realistic range over the phone.

Also useful: selling a Cuban link chain instead or bring other gold jewelry the same visit.