This is usually referred to as a Roman chain, but the first time I saw it was at The Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibit at the Field Museum in Chicago in 1977. Since Tutankhamun lived from approximately 1341 BC – 1323 BC and Rome's rule as a super power began approximately 500 BC and ended approximately 476 AD, it's more correctly attributed to the Egyptians. Considering they had no steel tools and no gas torches the works they created were truly astounding. While this was nowhere near the scope or magnificence of the funerary mask, there was something about it that spoke to me and I set out to reproduce it. It took eight attempts until I got the proportions of wire diameter to link size exactly right so when finished it had the density I sought. My first one was just under 5 ounces of 24K gold and was approximately 18" long. Since that time, I have made several in sterling to provide the body for my Snake Necklace and the latest evolution is 5.5 ounces of 24K which, with clasp, is 21" long and 7mm. in diameter. Due to the volatility of the gold market, the price is dependent on the current market price of gold and available on request. Options for the clasp are limited only by your imagination and a great deal can be done with precious and semi-precious stones. While mine is better than the one I saw in the museum, I had the benefit of modern tools and equipment and merely replicated what had been done before and was only able to accomplish it by standing on the shoulders of giants–the goldsmiths of ancient Egypt. In private collection.