Two necklaces of the same design can look completely different on two people, and the deciding factor is usually the length rather than the pendant. Here is how the common lengths behave and how to find yours without guessing.
The common lengths
- 40 to 42 cm: sits at the base of the neck. Frames open necklines and works best with a small pendant.
- 45 cm: the most versatile length. Falls just below the collarbone and suits almost every neckline.
- 50 to 55 cm: sits on the sternum. Good for layering and for pendants that need room.
- 60 cm and longer: falls over knitwear and dresses and can be worn doubled.
Measure instead of guessing
Take a piece of string, lay it around your neck where you want the chain to sit, mark the spot and measure it flat with a ruler. That number is your chain length. Pendants add roughly one to three centimetres below it, so subtract that if you want a pendant to land exactly on a certain point.
Necklines matter more than rules
- Crew neck: either shorter than the collar or clearly longer — the same length as the neckline competes with it.
- V-neck: a pendant that ends slightly above the point of the V follows the line.
- Shirt collar: a 40 to 45 cm chain worn inside the open collar.
- Turtleneck: 55 cm and up, so the necklace sits on the fabric.
Two more things
An extension chain of five centimetres is the cheapest way to make one necklace work for several outfits. And if you are buying a gift and cannot measure: 45 cm is the safest choice for adults.
