Most time, the chain for earrings is thinner, the bracelet chain are bigger. Well, this also depend on your design. I GUESS the rollo chain's rings are round and cable chain's rings are ellipse. I don't think there is a big defference. If you don't need to add beads on the braclet, I think the thicker chain or bigger chain is better, or the chain has some shape . Like:

http://artbeads.com/925ch46.html

http://artbeads.com/925ch40.html

http://artbeads.com/925ch22.html

IF you don't want to add beads, I also think the finished Chains are better.

http://artbeads.com/ss-brac1.html

http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=K073318JW

http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=K071568CH

If you want to add beadds on , you have to buy the chain with, as you said, the larger link . BUT, this isn't " the bigger, the better. In fact, you only need large enough holes to let the wire go through. If the chain too large, the links will be too big to deal with. I LIke these:

http://artbeads.com/925ch64.html

http://artbeads.com/925ch62.html

I like chains about this size.

Gauge is a unit of wire. As you see, all the chain made of rings( or links), All the rings made of wire. So the gauge can give you some idea how big the wire is which is made to the chain and how the chain will look like.

Gauge Inches Millimeters 10 0.102 2.59 11 0.091 2.31 12 0.081 2.06 13 0.072 1.83 14 0.064 1.63 15 0.057 1.45 16 0.052 1.32 17 0.045 1.14 18 0.04 1.02 19 0.036 0.91 20 0.032 0.81 21 0.028 0.71 22 0.025 0.64 23 0.023 0.58 24 0.02 0.51 25 0.0179 0.455 26 0.0159 0.404 27 0.0142 0.361 28 0.0126 0.32 29 0.0113 0.287 30 0.01 0.25 31 0.0089 0.226 32 0.008 0.2 33 0.0071 0.18 34 0.0063 0.16 35 0.0056 0.142 36 0.005 0.13 37 0.0045 0.114 38 0.004 0.1 Most time, the head pin or eye pin are 20-18 gauge. SO if you buy a small link chain, you should buy the large gauge wire or pins.

I hope this will help you a little.

Hehe, You r welcome.