FIELD NOTE ·
Record chain length in context
Length, clasp and pendant position tell different parts of a useful collection record.
Show the full chain
Lay the chain without stretching it and include both ends in one photograph. State whether your recorded length includes the clasp. Keep a ruler in the same plane and write down the unit. A close-up of one link cannot explain the total length or how the piece sits.
Add the pendant separately
If a pendant is attached, record its height and the way it hangs from the chain. Photograph the combination against a neckline or a neutral reference without including identifying details. The visible drop changes with the garment and with the shape of the pendant attachment.
Check the fastening
Include the clasp open and closed, together with any wear you can see around the attachment. Ask about repairs rather than inferring them from surface colour alone. Your archive can record observations and known history; it should keep uncertainty separate from a confirmed description.