Reviewed & updated: December 7, 2022 by Jamie Wilson BA
Looking for the perfect chain tattoo designs? Don’t worry as we have carefully curated some of the best tattoos with meaning and what they symbolize!
The chain tattoo is very common in the modern fashion trend and it symbolizes bondage and slavery
In this modern world of technology, loyalty is often depicted by the ancient Egyptian ankh tattoo. However, the barbed wire tattoo is a symbol of courage that helps us to see strength and how things can be different yet beautiful.
History has often shown that each man is different from one another and what we see is reserved completely to that person. In times of despair, a man can draw hope and strength from anything that inspires him for example, a simple tattoo. However, the inner meaning behind the tattoo images are deep and their value cannot be related to modern age’s technology.
If you find these matching tattoo ideas interesting then do check out the best ambigram tattoos and Adventure Time tattoos.
Broken Chain Tattoo
While chain tattoos portray a negative meaning many times, broken chains are the exact opposite of that. Broken chain tattoos usually represent freedom, both mentally and physically. Many people when survive and feel the freedom after feeling like being shackled to various things, they choose to get these tattoos.
The picture above is of a neo-traditional broken chain tattoo that with a beautiful background of rays of light. You can choose some other artworks such as realistic ones, or cartoon-like ones for your tattoo which can draw hope as a symbol of strength.
Bicycle Chain Tattoo
The first thing we learn to ride when we’re at a very young age is a bicycle. Our love for our first bicycle remains the same for years to come and for some that even becomes a profession. For the people who love to ride, bicycle chain tattoos can be perfect.
The picture above is one of the most common bike chain tattoo that people get. It is a symbol that riding is etched in your DNA. You can get other artwork ideas that represent a memory of yours or something that you love.
Religious Cross Chain Tattoo
One of the most popular religious tattoos is the cross and chain tattoo. Many people opt for this design as a statement. You can lose a chain and cross but tattooing a cross and chain will stay close to your heart, etched on your skin, which can be a great proclamation of your faith and your love for God.
The picture above shows a beautiful cross and chain tattoo wrapped around the hand. You can get a design around the neck or change the design of the chain or the cross to what you love in your life.
Traditional Chain Tattoo
Whatever design you’re going for, chances are there will be an American traditional version of it available to your tattoo artist. Even if they are not always on the trend, they are still just as popular as other styles of tattoos. People who love colour tattoos will love them as these tattoos usually have bold lines and colours.
You can get a simple metal chain tattoo of traditional style like the picture above. You may add some other elements to it to enhance its meaning and charm and see how the tattooed art looks different from others.
Ankle Bracelet Tattoo
Ankle tattoos are pretty famous among women around the world, and most people go for ankle bracelet tattoos. These can be simply fun ornamental tattoos, or you can express deeper meanings through these tattoos by adding more elements that are close to your heart.
The picture above is a classic ankle chain tattoo with a single feather and a butterfly. The feather represents freedom whereas the butterfly represents transformation. You could change the design to your liking for your next tattoo.
Wrist Bracelet Tattoo
Just like ankle bracelets, wrist bracelet tattoos are also quite popular, but both men and women wear them equally. Like ankle bracelet tattoos these can just be ornamental, but mostly, people show off or express their love for something specific through these tattoos.
The tattoo in the picture above shows a mini anchor hanging from an ornamental chain. The anchor represents that the wearer either feels stability, passion, and peace or is seeking it. Choose what you want to express and show it off to the world with these tattoos.
Chain Link Tattoo
Mostly chain-link tattoos are associated with their negative symbolism, prison time, slavery, and more. However, they have positive meanings to them as well. They represent your struggles and breaking free of them. They are a symbol of overcoming hardships and surviving.
The picture above shows a very common chain link fence tattoo which shows a hole in the middle that depicts breaking free of your shackles.
Bioshock Chain Tattoo
Bioshock chain is just another variety of chains. Their symbolism is the same as any other form of generic chain tattoos. Bioshock is mainly a video game where a character named Jack has these chain tattoos on his wrists and this has become pretty famous among people of all ages.
The basic meaning of the tattoo in the picture above is slavery. However, in this case, it basically means the person is a slave to a certain something. The tattoo is of a Bioshock chain on both wrists. You can choose some other design or other elements for your tattoo.
Lock And Chain Tattoo
There are two types of lock and chain tattoo that we ink. One is a locked up lock and chain tattoo which symbolizes that you want to keep something locked up within you, or the wearer is a private person. The other is broken lock and chain tattoo which holds the symbolism similar to broken chain tattoos.
The picture above is of a broken lock and chain tattoo with a charming yellow-coloured lock that is enhancing the beauty of the tattoo. You could choose other designs of the gold lock or chain linked together and add other elements to it for your next lock and chain tattoo.
Ornamental Chain Tattoo
Chain tattoos have deep meanings, but many people choose to ink them just for ornamental purposes. Such as ankle bracelets or wrist bracelet tattoos. Many add gems and make mandala designs with chains to make it look like jewellery. These tattoos are inked just for the sake of fun and their beauty.
You can choose a mandala design, add some gem tattoos to them to make an ornamental chain tattoo design like the picture above. There’s a lot of scope for creativity for these kinds of tattoo and they all look extremely gorgeous every time.
If you are wondering what does the chain tattoo on the arm mean or why do people get chain tattoo around arm then the answer to that is very simple. Chain tattoos symbolize a lot of negative things like slavery, obstruction of freedom and positive feelings. There is also a special type of chain tattoo, the 3 lines tattoo which signifies something important and significant like any event or place
feature image from Pinterest
