This chain is also known as the "money chain." I found it in Indian Jewelry Making Volume I by Oscar T. Banson. According to this book, this chain was used in place of money because it was easy to remove links from the chain. Made of silver or gold, this chain was also used to decorate the clothing of the Spanish. Though each ring is soldered, they are bent around each other, not soldered together.
To make this chain you’ll need the following:
First you’ll need to make a number of oval shaped jump rings by wrapping the wire around the rectangular mandrel. You can use just about anything that is of appropriate size to wrap the wire around such as a ruler. Then follow the same instructions as previously described for round jump rings to make the oval jump rings. Once the jump rings are made, solder each ring closed.
Next, squish each oval ring in the middle to create an hour glass shape (also referred to as a figure eight).
Then, bend each hour glass piece in half. These are your "pieces of money."
Finally, you assemble the chain by linking all of these pieces together. Loop the round end of one piece into the round end of another.
Then pull the piece down so the narrow end rests inside the round end. Continue this assembly until you get the chain the length that you want.
All graphics created by Tammy Powley.
