Banyan Rope Chain — Minimalist Solid 9k Gold Necklace
Banyan Rope Chain
Our sleek Banyan Rope Chain, with its tightly twisted link design, is perfect if you're looking for something simple, substantial, and subtly unique for layering, or as a casual, stand-alone look.
Inspired by the winding roots of the Banyan tree, our signature twisted texture is a symbol of strength, growth, and self-awareness.
Exclusively sustainable, solid 9k gold.
Crafted with intention for a lifetime of meaning.
•Solid 9k yellow gold, 100% recycled & ethically sourced
•Length: adjustable to 16, 17, or 18 inches
•Width: 1.3mm
•Lobster clasp
•Requires charm/pendant bail opening with minimum 4x3mm clearance.
Please note all measurements may vary slightly due to hand-finishing.
Shipping
Where and how do you ship? What are the fees? How long does it take?
All of our shipments are carbon offset through Shopify Planet.
Please note:
Inventory status is indicated on product pages near the Add to Bag button.
Some of our jewelry is made-to-order and should ship within 4-6 weeks. (All 14k selections are made-to-order.)
We currently carry some limited stock. As we grow, so will our stocked items. Items in stock will generally ship within 1-2 business days (M-F), excluding holidays.
Duty and taxes for international orders are included at checkout, so no need to worry about surprise fees.
If your order is a mix of ready-to-ship and made-to-order, your entire order will be held until all items are in stock. If you would like to receive available items sooner, please place separate orders accordingly.
Delivery times are estimated and may be affected by unforeseeable delays such as weather, traffic, volume, etc.
Orders over US$1000 will ship with signature required for your protection.
United States
| SPEED | CARRIER | ORDER AMOUNT | FEE | TRANSIT TIME |
| Standard | UPS or USPS | $200 USD and up | Free! | 3-4 business days |
| Standard | UPS or USPS | below $200 USD | $10 USD | 3-4 business days |
| Express | UPS or USPS | any order amount | $25 USD | 1-2 business days |
Canada
| SPEED | CARRIER | ORDER AMOUNT | FEE | TRANSIT TIME |
| Standard | DHL Direct or UPS | $275 CAD and up | Free! | 3-7 business days |
| Standard | DHL Direct or UPS | below $275 CAD | $22 CAD | 3-7 business days |
| Express | DHL Worldwide | any order amount | $40 CAD | 1-3 business days |
United Kingdom
| SPEED | CARRIER | ORDER AMOUNT | FEE | TRANSIT TIME |
| Expedited | UPS | £160 GBP and up | Free! | 3-4 business days |
| Expedited | UPS | below £160 GBP | £15 | 3-4 business days |
| Express | DHL Worldwide | any order amount | £25 | 2-3 business days |
Ireland
| SPEED | CARRIER | ORDER AMOUNT | FEE | TRANSIT TIME |
| Expedited | UPS | € 200 EUR and up | Free! | 3-4 business days |
| Expedited | UPS | below € 200 EUR | € 18 | 3-4 business days |
| Express | DHL Worldwide | any order amount | € 30 | 2-4 business days |
Australia
| SPEED | CARRIER | ORDER AMOUNT | FEE | TRANSIT TIME |
| Expedited | UPS | $325 AUD and up | Free! | 6-7 business days |
| Expedited | UPS | below $325 AUD | $28 AUD | 6-7 business days |
| Express | DHL Worldwide | any order amount | $52 AUD | 3-6 business days |
New Zealand
| SPEED | CARRIER | ORDER AMOUNT | FEE | TRANSIT TIME |
| Expedited | UPS | $350 NZD and up | Free! | 6-7 business days |
| Expedited | UPS | below $350 NZD | $35 NZD | 6-7 business days |
| Express | DHL Worldwide | any order amount | $60 NZD | 3-5 business days |
Israel
| SPEED | CARRIER | ORDER AMOUNT | FEE | TRANSIT TIME |
| Expedited | UPS | ₪ 800 NIS and up | Free! | 5 business days |
| Expedited | UPS | below ₪ 800 NIS | ₪ 85 | 5 business days |
| Express | DHL Worldwide | any order amount | ₪ 200 | 2-4 business days |
South Africa
| SPEED | CARRIER | ORDER AMOUNT | FEE | TRANSIT TIME |
| Expedited | UPS | R 3750 ZAR and up | Free! | 4-5 business days |
| Expedited | UPS | below R 3750 ZAR | R 450 | 4-5 business days |
Materials
Why choose solid gold?
The short story: We exclusively produce our jewelry in solid 9 karat and 14 karat yellow gold for its sustainability, wearability, durability, and longevity (and in the case of 9k — affordability). Our metal is 100% recycled and nickel-free. Solid gold is an investment that not only holds its value, but increases in value over time.
These are the many reasons solid gold is our metal of choice — and why it should be yours, too.
What does solid karat gold mean?
Solid gold means the material is consistent throughout the piece – it's the same on the inside as it is on the outside. Pure solid gold is called 24 karat or 24k. In other words, if you break the pure gold ”recipe” out into 24 parts (karats), all the parts are gold. 24k is very expensive, soft, and malleable, but can be mixed with other metals to make it more affordable, stronger, and durable. This lightens the deep yellow color of pure gold and can also create other tones such as rose and white, depending on the other metals in the mix.
For alloys (a mixture of two or more metals), the gold content is expressed by the number of gold parts (karats), or the percentage of gold used in the mix. So, 9k means 9 of the alloy’s 24 parts are pure gold, or 37.5% gold (9 divided by 24). 14k means 14 of the 24 parts are pure gold.
You can verify quality by finding a ”9k” or ”375” stamp on your jewelry (or a stamp using the same logic for other karats). While 9k gold is not as commonly found in the US market, it is very popular for fine jewelry in other parts of the world such as Europe and Australia. Since the gold content is lower than 14k and 10k, it is less expensive and actually a little more scratch resistant, making it perfect for daily wear and activity.
Solid gold of any karatage is far more durable and valuable than gold-plated, vermeil, or gold-filled jewelry, which all have a limited shelf life.
What's the problem with gold-plated & vermeil?
Gold-plated jewelry is made by applying a very thin layer of gold to the surface of a base metal or sterling silver using an electrically charged bath of gold suspended in chemicals (to put it simply). If the plated layer of gold on sterling silver is at least 2.5 microns thick, it is often referred to as vermeil.
Due to the nature of this composition, gold-plated and vermeil jewelry is susceptible to oxidation, discoloration, scratches, flaking, abrasion, and corrosion. If kept away from moisture, gold-plated jewelry has an average lifespan of 6 months to 2 years. Vermeil has an average lifespan of 2–5 years (it can be replated, but this can be costly).
It is likely that most gold-plated jewelry will eventually end up being discarded, which is extremely wasteful. And the possibility of chemical exposure or leaching at any point of the plated product life cycle is not ideal for people or the planet.
Gold-filled is an improvement from plated because it's a thicker layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal core. While it's more durable and will last longer than plated (average 5–30 or more years, depending on quality), it can be more expensive than plated (depending on quality) and does not retain or increase in value as solid gold does.
What about white gold?
White gold alloys naturally have a grey-yellow tinge due to the gold content, and usually contain nickel (not the best choice for those with metal sensitivities). The jewelry industry standard is to plate white gold with rhodium to give it a bright white color and temporarily shield the wearer from the nickel content (until the rhodium eventually wears off and the piece needs to be replated).
Since we don’t use plating and we don’t want anyone to have an allergic reaction to our pieces, we only regularly produce in yellow gold. We do offer white gold as a custom order (nickel-free), but it’s not plated — so it won’t have that bright white color you might be used to seeing.
Will 9k gold tarnish?
Even 14k gold can tarnish due to the other metals present in the alloy… it just takes awhile and is usually not noticeable. Since 9k gold has a bit more of the other metals, the color may dull or darken very slightly over time, especially if you don’t wear your jewelry often.
If you do notice this, you can easily brighten that baby back up and get it looking like new again with gentle cleaning, a tarnish removal cloth for smooth surfaces, or a natural, environmentally-friendly tarnish removal cream (Sparkle Bright Products makes one) to work into the details of more textured pieces.
But if you wear your jewelry daily (which we hope you do) and store it properly whenever you aren't wearing it, you will likely not see any dulling or darkening.
What about the stones & enamel?
Diamonds
Over one billion years ago, under intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth, some carbon transformed and diamonds were born – the hardest natural substance on our planet. Our Kimberley Process compliant, high-quality natural diamonds are all full cut, GH color and SI1-2 clarity (translation: white, clear, and sparkly), and responsibly-sourced by our Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) certified partners.
Gemstones
We do not use any lab-created/synthetic or simulated stones – all our gemstones are genuine mineral, high-quality, hand-cut, and responsibly-sourced from our RJC certified partners. Please keep in mind that it is natural for gemstones to show some variation in color, clarity, and pattern – in their uniqueness lies their beauty!
Enamel
Traditional enamel is a glass-based material that, when heated at high temperatures, can be used to apply glossy opaque or translucent color to jewelry. We use “cold” enamel (epoxy resin enamel) to achieve the same effect. Cold enamel does not contain glass, making it way more durable for daily wear.
Orders & Returns
Can I cancel my order before it ships?
You may cancel your order for a full refund if you email hello@aidenjae.com within 60 minutes of placing your order.
Can I modify my order before it ships?
We cannot modify orders once they have been placed, but you may cancel your order for a full refund if you email hello@aidenjae.com within 60 minutes of placing your order and place a new order.
Can I change my address before my order ships?
Please contact hello@aidenjae.com within 24 hours of placing your order if you need to update your shipping address. We may still be able to change the address after 24 hours, depending on the status of your order, but this cannot be guaranteed. If we are unable to make the change because your shipment has already been processed, you should be able to update your address on the UPS website once you receive your tracking number from us and it is in the UPS system.
What is your return policy?
Because we are a small business and our jewelry is either made-to-order or minimally stocked, please understand that we cannot issue credit card refunds on returns at this time.
If there is an issue with your purchase, the jewelry is returnable for store credit (in the form of a gift card) if shipped back within 30 days of delivery of your order. Please contact us immediately at hello@aidenjae.com for assistance.
US RETURNS
We will provide you with a return shipping label via email. There are no return shipping fees for defective items on US orders. A return shipping fee of US$10 for customer remorse will be deducted from your credit amount, but may be lifted on a case-by-case basis at Aiden Jae's discretion.
Please note, if you were charged a shipping fee on your original order, it is not refundable and will be deducted from your credit amount.
INTERNATIONAL RETURNS
As a small business, we cannot handle return shipping fees for international orders. Return shipping arrangement and fees must be handled and paid for by the customer.
Please note, shipping charges, duties, and fees on your original order are not refundable and will be deducted from the credit amount.
ALL RETURNS
To qualify for a credit, items must be in their original condition without signs of wear or damage and must be shipped back in all original packaging (pouch included). We reserve the right to refuse any return with obvious signs of wear, damage from use, or damage from improper protection during return shipping.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on gift cards.
What is your exchange policy?
We're unable to offer exchanges at this time. If there is an issue with your purchase, please refer to our return policy above.
How does made-to-order work?
Currently most of our jewelry (except chains) is made-to-order, with full payment due at checkout. Your jewelry will go into production once you place your order and should ship to you within approximately 4-6 weeks.
How does waitlist work?
Since we are still a very new and small business, all our chains (except the Daylight cable chain which accompanies our pendants) are currently waitlist items. As soon as a chain style has enough waitlist interest for us to be able to carry stock, we will make that item available for ordering and advise on the delivery time frame. If you have signed up for the waitlist for that item, you will be updated via email so that you may place your order at that time, if you wish.
Jewelry Care
How should I care for my jewelry?
Solid gold is tough, but even the toughest among us need some TLC sometimes.
The following care instructions are for fine jewelry in general, not knotted gemstone jewelry.
We recommend regular cleaning once a month, especially if you wear your jewelry daily. For the love of jewelry, always work on a flat surface away from the sink:
- Mix a drop of gentle, phosphate-free dishwashing liquid with warm water in a small bowl using a soft toothbrush. For jewelry with no stones or enamel, you can use sparkling water and/or add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt to amp things up.
- Add your jewelry and brush gently, paying special attention to texture, stone settings, hinges, and clasps to remove any embedded dirt. For gold-only items, you can soak the jewelry for 10 minutes prior to brushing.
- Transfer the jewelry to another bowl of clean, warm water to rinse.
- Remove the jewelry from the bowl, replace the water, and rinse the jewelry a second time (or more) to ensure no residue remains.
- Clean your jewelry one piece at a time to avoid scratches from touching.
- Dry your jewelry thoroughly with a soft, absorbent cloth.
- If you notice any dullness over time, you can easily brighten that baby back up and get it looking like new again with a tarnish removal cloth for smooth surfaces or a natural, environmentally-friendly tarnish removal cream (Sparkle Bright Jewelry makes one) to work into the details of more textured pieces.
While your solid gold jewelry can withstand sweat and bathing, prolonged or repeated exposure to chlorinated pool water or ocean water isn’t ideal. Completely avoid any exposure to harsh chemicals and cleaners, such as bleach.
Chlorine, salt water, lotions, creams, perfumes, and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can affect gemstone color, appearance, and durability. We advise taking pieces with delicately set gemstones off before showering, exercising, or any vigorous activity that may damage the stone.
Our pouches and inserts are perfect for storing your jewelry! Just put the jewelry away dry and keep your pieces separated to avoid them touching and scratching each other, especially when stones are present.
Do you offer a warranty?
We stand behind the quality and craftsmanship of our jewelry and therefore offer a 1-year warranty on every item. Should you run into any damages due to manufacturing defects within one year of purchase, please reach out to us at hello@aidenjae.com for assistance.
Once the item’s return is approved, received, and inspected, at our discretion we’ll have your piece repaired, replaced, or issue you a store credit (in the form of a gift card) up to the amount of the purchase price.
Please note, our warranty does not cover lost items, lost stones, shipping charges, normal wear and tear (e.g., scratches, bent rings, broken chains), work done by another jeweler, or damages from neglect, improper care, or improper storage.
While restringing is not covered by our warranty (unless needed due to a defect), we do offer this service for a reasonable fee.
Packaging
What’s the story with your packaging?
We're committed to sustainability and providing you with a beautiful unboxing experience. Every shipment we make is carbon neutral and we're a proud member of the noissue Eco-Alliance community, so our packaging is as sustainable as it gets.
Our pouches are made by hand, in house, using cotton ribbon and organic wool felt. Wool felt is the perfect material for jewelry storage given its softness, durability, breathability, and water-resistance. And, unlike the microfiber commonly used in jewelry pouches, wool is biodegradable (however, currently our wool felt does contain 10% polyester).
Please refer to the chart below to learn what everything is made from and exactly how to handle it:
| MADE FROM? | COMPOSTABLE? | RECYCLABLE? | REUSABLE? | |
| POUCHES & INSERTS | Felt made from 90% organic wool and 10% polyester (GOTS certified, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, Responsible Wool Standard certified, mulesing-free), 100% cotton ribbon & thread | No, but they are over 90% biodegradable. | No | Yes! |
| SHIPPING LABELS | FSC-certified thermal paper, non-toxic adhesive | Yes! | Yes! | No |
| SHIPPING BOXES | FSC-certified kraft with up to 60% recycled fiber content, printed with non-toxic soy-based ink | Yes! | Yes! | As long as it stays in good condition |
| SHIPPING TAPE | FSC-certified paper with 100% recycled fiber content, non-toxic water-activated adhesive, printed with non-toxic soy-based ink | Yes! | Yes! | No |
| TISSUE PAPER | FSC-certified paper with a minimum of 30% recycled fiber content, printed with non-toxic soy-based ink | Yes! | Yes! | As long as it stays in good condition |
| STICKERS | FSC-certified, acid-free, lignin & sulfur-free paper, printed with non-toxic soy-based ink, non-toxic adhesive | Yes! | Yes! | You can try? |
| COASTERS | Sustainably farmed pulp board, printed with non-toxic vegetable-based ink | Yes! | Yes! | Yes! |
| PENDANT STRINGS | 100% natural hemp cord | Yes! | No |
This would require some creativity, but go for it! |
Do you gift wrap?
We take great pride in our packaging and the packing of our jewelry, with the intention that every order is gift-worthy as-is, to yourself or others. While we don't provide gift boxes or wrapping paper per se, our pouches are substantial enough to be wrapped by reusing our tissue paper, without the need for a gift box. Our packing slips don't include prices. We would be happy to include a gift message for you – just leave us a note at checkout.
Unless otherwise indicated at checkout, multiple jewelry pieces will be consolidated in pouches whenever possible to avoid excess packaging. Please keep this in mind if you are purchasing gifts for more than one recipient within the same order and be sure to request separate pouches for each item, if needed.
What makes
Aiden Jae
different?
You'll be glowing in our gold...
From the slightly softer yellow tone of 9k to the classic 14k standard, by offering both options we are making our sustainable solid gold designs accessible to all.
Your sensitive skin is safe with us...
Our solid gold is nickel-free and plating-free and won't be turning anyone green (except maybe your friends — with envy).
You'll never want to take it off, and you won't have to...
Unlike gold-plated and vermeil jewelry, solid gold is always in style, providing durability that will last a lifetime and beyond, even with daily wear and washing.
You might even forget you're wearing it...
We pay attention to every little detail, from the design phase through the final finishing touches to ensure impeccable quality, comfort, and wearability.
Your values are our standards...
Responsible, ethical, and sustainable materials and practices are at the heart of everything we do.
Your good taste is in good hands...
In addition to our commitment to sustainability, we prioritize thoughtful design, quality, and craftsmanship. A keen eye and 20 years of industry experience is behind every style.
