- 16" Choker length
- 17-18" at collarbone
- 20" A few inches below collarbone
- 22" At or above neckline
- 24" or longer extend below the neckline24-26" hangs at bust line
- 30" just below the bust line
- 36" hangs above the navel
Guide For Buying Necklaces
Balance is the key to selection and neck chain designs can tip the scales to add
versatility and function to your entire jewelry collection.
Neck chains come in a variety of sizes:
Although it’s best to choose neck chains at least one or even two inches longer than the size of your neck, necklace extenders add versatility to neck chain designs and allow a more comfortable fit for shorter styles. In addition, your jeweler or goldsmith also can add or remove links to provide you with a custom fit for neck chains fashioned from precious metals.
While neck chains are advertised by length, the width or diameter of a neck chain is important to the strength of the chain.
Widths are usually displayed in millimeters (mm). Part of the versatility of neck chains is the ability to add pendants to them, creating new necklaces for your jewelry collection. The safe way to add a pendant to a neck chain is to weigh both the pendant and the neck chain. As a general rule, a chain under 22” long should be at least three times the weight of the pendant it will support and a longer chain should be four or more times the weight of the pendant.
Styles of neck chains come in a variety of lengths and widths:
Box: each link is wide, square, and interconnects with the next.
Byzantine: An intricate neck chain design where two pairs of oval-shaped links are linked together and then parted by a third, larger, thicker link attached to each pair.
Cable: The typical chain, composed of round same-size rings, each linked to the next.
Curb: oval-shaped links twisted and often diamond-cut to lie flat.
Figaro: alternates rectangular and circular links, typically one long rectangle followed by three smaller round links.
Foxtail: sleek and elegant, an intricately woven chain fashioned with two rows of oval links facing each other at a 45-degree angle and connected by a center row of flat rings set flush with each other.
Herringbone: One of the most popular chain designs, the herringbone is a series of short, flat, slanted, parallel links in two or more rows, with the direction of the slant alternating row by row.
Mariner link: oval links with a bar dividing the middle of each link. The figogucci is a variant of the mariner where links are twisted and diamond-cut.
Omega: a flat chain made up of rectangular smooth rounded metal plates side by side and crimped along the ends onto a strip of metal mesh.
Rope: two thick strands woven together giving the appearance of a spiral.
Serpentine: A series of small, flat, s-shaped links set closely together and held in place by a twin set of links set below them.
Singapore: resembles a twisted herringbone wherein each link is composed of a series of flat, diamond-cut, interwoven loops.
Snake: a series of round wavy metal rings joined side by side and forming a smooth flexible tube.
Finally, satisfaction with the clasp on a neck chain is essential!
The clasp needs to be strong enough to support the weight of longer chains while shorter chains need a clasp that is easy to fasten, especially if you don’t have an extra pair of hands that can help! Fortunately, today neck chains are fashioned with a variety of clasps.
Barrel: A square wire fits into a barrel-shaped tube and locks into place. Some barrel clasps have an additional figure-eight safety clasp on the side. Some barrels screw together providing an even safer neck chain closure.
Lobster claw: One of the most popular clasps today. The lobster claw resembles its name. Although it hooks through a loop at the other end of the chain, it’s rectangular and flat to give you a better grip.
Spring ring: A round clasp that opens with a coil spring. On better neck chains, the spring ring is generally heavier and more durable than the round loops of old.
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