Women's necklaces – how to choose the right one

A necklace is the piece people notice first – it sits right at face level. In this guide: how to choose a length that works with your wardrobe, how to layer several necklaces and which material to rely on for everyday wear.

Start with the length, not the design

Most disappointing purchases come down to length rather than looks: a beautiful necklace in the wrong length simply stays in the box. The most common lengths and where they sit:

• 40–42 cm – close around the neck, drawing attention to the collarbones. Works with open necklines and plain tops.
• 45 cm – the most versatile: it sits just below the hollow of the throat and goes with both a shirt and a dress.
• 50–55 cm – falls onto the chest and looks good with a pendant and with higher necklines.
• 60 cm and longer – a long line that visually lengthens your silhouette; works over jumpers and in layered looks.

For a full chart of lengths and how to measure yourself, see our size guide.

Match the necklace to your neckline

A simple rule: the necklace either echoes the shape of your neckline or fills the bare space it leaves open.

• V-neck – a pendant or a V-shaped necklace echoes the V and lengthens the neck.
• Round neck – a shorter necklace (40–45 cm) sitting just above the edge of the fabric.
• High neck or polo neck – a long 55–60 cm chain worn over the knit.
• Collared shirt – a fine chain under the collar or a short necklace over it.

How to layer several necklaces

Layering only looks effortless when there's space between the necklaces and they aren't all the same.

• At least 5 cm between lengths – otherwise the chains get tangled.
• Different thicknesses: one fine, one more noticeable – that way the eye reads it as a deliberate combination.
• One focal point: only one necklace has a pendant or a stone; the rest are the backdrop.
• One tone: gold-tone with gold-tone, silver-tone with silver-tone – you can mix them, but that's a deliberate styling trick, not the default.

The easiest pieces for layering are fine chains, which you can buy one at a time and build up gradually.

Which material to choose

A necklace touches your skin almost all day, so the material matters more here than with other jewellery.

• Medical steel – doesn't oxidise, doesn't irritate the skin and copes with everyday wear. More in our article on medical steel.
• 18K gold plating – a gold tone at a fashion-jewellery price; how it's made and how long it lasts is explained in our article on medical gold.
• For sensitive skin – choose a hypoallergenic base; which metals cause irritation is covered in our article on nickel and allergies.

How to care for a necklace

A necklace's main enemy isn't scratches but cosmetics: perfume and creams speed up wear on the plating right where it touches your neck.

• Put your necklace on after perfume and moisturiser, once they've dried.
• Take it off before showering or swimming.
• Store it laid out flat rather than coiled up – that way the chain won't knot.

The rest of the care basics are gathered on our jewellery care page.

Frequently asked questions