Chrome Hearts Dagger Jewelry Guide: Pendants, Rings, Earrings and Zipper Pulls

The dagger is one of Chrome Hearts' recurring motifs, alongside the cross and the fleur-de-lis, and it appears on far more than pendants: rings, earrings, bracelets, keychains, cufflinks and the sterling silver zipper pulls on dagger-logo zip-up hoodies. A classic silver dagger pendant is a narrow cast blade, and published listings put sizes at roughly 38 to 52 mm, with a gold version listed at about an inch. This guide covers each piece, the sizes to expect and what to check on a pre-owned one.

One caveat first. We could not find an official Chrome Hearts size chart for daggers, so the measurements below come from published resale and auction listings of specific pieces. Treat them as examples, and check the exact piece you are considering.

Once Legos is an independent NYC reseller of pre-owned Chrome Hearts. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or authorized by Chrome Hearts, and the names in this guide are the labels used in the resale market, not an official catalogue.

What a Chrome Hearts dagger looks like

One resale description of the dagger pendant lists its parts: an ornate hilt with scrollwork and a twisted grip, a banner across the crossguard carrying the brand name, and a blade that tapers to a point with lettering down its center. The gold dagger in the photo above shows the same layout, with the word Chrome on the banner and Hearts running down the blade. An auction catalogue entry for a gold fleur dagger dog tag describes openwork sword and fleur-de-lis motifs.

The dagger is not limited to jewelry. Complex has noted that the brand's silver dagger hardware has appeared on custom Air Jordan 1s and on Rolex watches, and the motif turns up on apparel and footwear as well. For context, Chrome Hearts began in 1988 as a Los Angeles leather and motorcycle-gear label, and a sterling silver jeweler joined the founders shortly afterwards.

Dagger pendants and charms

The dagger pendant is the piece people most often search for. These published measurements (length first, then width) show the range:

• Small dagger pendant: 38 mm by 11 mm, in a listing for a piece dated 1998.
• Larger sterling dagger pendant: 52 mm by 16 mm. Another resale listing gives a length of 2 inches, which is about 51 mm.
• 22K gold dagger pendant: listed in our shop at 1 inch.
• Angel dagger charm with diamonds: 29 mm by 20 mm, a relief of angels and a dagger framed by a halo of diamonds.
• Dagger dog tag: a dog tag-shaped pendant with a cut-out cross and a dagger motif, 57 mm by 28 mm, on a ball chain.

Resale listings also label dagger pendants with numbers (such as #5 and #10) or with words like Small. We could not verify what the numbers refer to, so use millimetre measurements rather than labels when you compare pieces.

Dagger pendants are sold both alone and on a chain. One small dagger listing includes the pendant alone, while a #10 dagger is sold as a necklace on a ball chain, and a dagger dog tag hangs on a ball chain as well. Our chain types guide explains paper, roll, ball and twist chains and how long each hangs. Because a dagger is long and narrow, it hangs point down, so a chain of 20 to 24 inches shows the whole blade on top of a tee while a shorter chain tucks it into the collar.

Dagger rings

The dagger ring puts a three-dimensional dagger as the centerpiece of a heavy sterling band, finished with an oxidation process that darkens the engraving. Vintage examples are documented as well: a diamond-set dagger ring listed as dating to 1992 measures 1 inch by 0.6 inches, and a sterling dagger-heart band is listed as engraved with the year 1995.

In February 2022 the Japanese magazine Houyhnhnm covered Chrome Hearts half-cut rings, in which classic motifs including the dagger are cut in half so the two halves can be worn together or mixed. They came in silver and in 22K gold and carried the brand name inside the band. If you are shopping for a ring, confirm the size and the band width in writing before you buy.

Dagger earrings

Chrome Hearts earrings are commonly listed as single earrings, which matters because you may need to buy two. The Drop Stack Dagger Earring is described as .925 sterling silver with the dagger suspended so that it moves, and it is listed as one earring. Always check whether a listing is for one earring or a pair.

Zipper pulls and other dagger pieces

On clothing, the dagger shows up as hardware. Dagger-logo zip-up hoodies are described with a signature sterling silver dagger zipper pull. If you are looking at one pre-owned, check that the pull is present and in good condition, because a missing or replaced pull changes the piece.

Other dagger pieces include a sterling silver cross and dagger keychain measuring about 3.25 by 2 inches, sterling silver dagger cufflinks and dagger-detailed link bracelets, such as a dagger box fancy link curb chain bracelet. Daggers also appear on slippers and loafers in the wider range.

Gold and stone-set daggers

The dagger is also made in 22k gold and with stones. Our shop has listed a 22K gold dagger pendant at 1 inch, a published listing shows a sterling silver angel and dagger charm framed by a halo of diamonds, and an auction house has catalogued a 22-karat gold fleur dagger dog tag pave-set with about 183 diamonds. Gold and stone-set pieces need a few extra checks: the karat stamp, whether the stones are firmly set and whether the listing states what the stones are.

Wearing a dagger on its own or stacked

A single dagger on one chain is the cleanest way to wear it, and the narrow shape reads well against a plain tee. Daggers also work as part of a stack. One published listing shows a ball chain of about 21.5 inches carrying a three-charm pendant with a dagger charm and two tag charms, and a dagger pairs naturally with a small cross when you want two motifs without doubling the size. Vary the pendant lengths by a few inches so the points do not catch each other, and keep the blade away from loose knitwear, which a sharp tip can snag.

What does the Chrome Hearts dagger mean?

We could not find an official Chrome Hearts statement about what the dagger means, so treat any meaning you read online as interpretation. What is documented is the context: the dagger sits with the cross, the fleur-de-lis, scrolls and floral engraving among the Gothic motifs the jewelry keeps returning to, and it comes from a brand that started out making leather motorcycle gear. If a seller tells you what the dagger officially means, ask where that comes from.

What to check on a pre-owned dagger

1. Lettering and detail. The banner and blade lettering should be crisp, even and fully legible, and the hilt scrollwork should have real depth. Compare the piece with a confirmed genuine one, and see our guide to how to tell if Chrome Hearts jewelry is real.
2. The point and edges. The tip and the blade edges are the parts most exposed to wear, and heavy polishing can round off the detail.
3. The bail or jump ring. Check it is intact, since it carries the weight of the pendant.
4. Stamps and dates. Use them for comparison, not as proof. A catalogued gold dagger dog tag has a pendant dated 1998 and a chain dated 2006, so a pendant and chain with different dates are not automatically mismatched.
5. Size and weight. Ask for millimetre measurements and the weight in grams, and compare them with a verified reference for the same design.

No single check is conclusive, and well-made counterfeits exist, so for an expensive piece have it checked in hand.

Buying or selling a dagger piece through Once Legos

Every piece we list is physically in hand in New York, authenticated and graded Brand New, Excellent, Great, Good or Fair, with the grade shown on the listing, and all sales are final. Browse current necklaces and pendants and rings, or handle pieces one-on-one at our private, appointment-only NYC Showroom.

Browse current Chrome Hearts jewelry for the dagger sizes and styles in stock now. If you own one, Sell To Us gives same-day offers, and payment is released once the piece is in our hands and passes authentication.

The bottom line

The Chrome Hearts dagger is a motif first and a product second: it is cast as pendants and rings, hung as earrings, and built into zipper pulls and keychains. Buy by measurement instead of label, check the lettering and the bail, confirm whether you are getting one earring or two, and compare any expensive piece with a genuine one before you pay.