DATE: Vintage, c.1975

The Cuban link, aka the Miami link, is said to have become popular in the late '60s among Miami's Cuban communities, before becoming synonymous with the early '70s hop-hop culture from the very start with DJ Kool Herc (who took styling cues from Disco). How many rap albums since Kurtis Blow's 1980 debut have featured a cuban link (or two) on the cover? Over the years styles have changed - anything from graduated rose gold links to thick and fully iced out to so big they're verging on absurd (Google Jay-Z's circa 2013 5kg monster by Rafaello & Co., or Kanye's Yeezus era cuban) - but the cuban link remains ubiquitous in the hip-hop world today.

This vintage example is a French 18 karat gold cuban link dating from the late 1970s, with strongly graduated links getting larger towards the middle and fastened with a concealed clasp. An incredible example of one of the most coveted and enduring chain styles of the past half century; bold enough to stand out, while retaining a modicum of modesty (about as much as a thick gold chain can).

MEASUREMENTS

Wearable length: 18 inches

Links range from: 11.8mm to 5.8mm

WEIGHT 

30.5g

MARKS  

French 18k gold hallmarks

CONDITION 

Excellent. Note the links are made of heavy duty hollow construction