A closed-link element and a chain made from such link elements are manufacturing by a process, wherein each link element exhibits a unique visual property, such as coloration, surface texture, reflectivity, design feature or characteristic, shape, or other visually attractive appearance. Methods of construction include surface pre-texturing, stamping, simultaneous surface texturing and stamping, and wire bending. Such unique visual property traits for the succession of link elements results in a more attractive, fanciful, more delicate and interesting fashion item. Each of the interconnected link elements may have the same or different visual properties, and may have multiple portions of varying color, texture, or other visual properties. In other aspects of the invention, each link element may have differently shaped portions. Additionally, the interior and/or exterior edges of the link element may exhibit different shapes, colors, patterns, or textures.