Gold chains are often worn by people who have the guts to show the people around that he or she is rich. A piece of gold is already precious, how much more if made into large links to form a long chain like that you can see in most who worked in the Middle East.
It is also one of the wise investment articles because gold always appreciate over time. When time comes that all is left is your jewelry you can have it pawned for a while or sold for a higher price to sustain your current financial need.