A hollow gold chain can still be genuine gold. “Hollow” describes construction; “gold” and its fineness describe the metal. Confusing the two leads to poor comparisons.
Solid-link construction
Links contain more metal for a given external size, which usually increases weight, price and resistance to dents. It does not make the chain immune to stretching or damage.
Hollow construction
Hollow links create a larger visual presence with less gold. They can offer good value for occasional wear but may be more vulnerable to crushing and can be challenging to repair.
How to compare prices
Compare purity, length, width and weight together. A low price on a wide chain may simply reflect hollow construction rather than a bargain.
Which should you choose?
Choose solid-link construction if durability and material content are priorities. Choose hollow when you want a larger look at lower weight and accept the care trade-off.
Put purity, length, width, gram weight and solid/hollow construction side by side. A visually larger chain is not necessarily the one containing more gold.