Two necklaces can look the same on the page and sit in completely different places on you. The chain length is the reason. An inch or two moves a pendant from the collarbone to the middle of the chest.
Here is a simple guide to the lengths we carry, where each one tends to land, and which neckline it suits.
Where each length sits
Every neck and every pair of shoulders is different, so treat these as starting points, not rules.
- Choker, about 14 inches and under: close around the base of the neck.
- 16 inches: at or just above the collarbone. The classic everyday length.
- 18 inches: just below the collarbone. The most common length for a pendant.
- 20 inches: a few inches lower, at the top of the chest.
- 22 inches: lower again, often just above a scoop or V neckline.
Find your length at home
You do not need to know your measurements. Take a piece of string or a soft tape and lay it around your neck the way a necklace would hang. Mark 16, 18 and 20 inches, look in a mirror, and see where each one falls on you.
Or use a necklace you already love. Lay it flat, measure it end to end, clasp included, and you have your number.
A length guide by neckline
- Crew neck or tee: 16 inches to sit just above the neckline, or 20 inches to sit on top of the fabric. Avoid a length that lands right on the seam.
- V-neck: 18 to 20 inches, with a pendant that points into the V.
- Scoop neck: 16 to 18 inches, so the necklace fills the open space without reaching the edge.
- Button-up shirt, open collar: 16 to 18 inches, sitting between the collar points.
- Off-shoulder or strapless: a choker or 16 inches. Short and clean, so the shoulders stay the focus.
- Turtleneck or high neck: 20 to 22 inches, worn over the knit.
Why adjustable chains help
Many of our necklaces have an extender or an adjustable chain. That means one necklace can cover two or three lengths. Wear it short with a scoop neck on Monday and longer over a sweater on Friday.
If you want to wear more than one, the spacing between lengths matters most. We explain it in How to layer dainty necklaces.
Our necklaces by length
Close to the neck
Riley Double-Strand Chevron Choker ($21.99): two short strands, a flat chevron chain and a fine cable chain, worn together. It sits close to the neck, with an extender to move it a little. Gold-tone or silver-tone.
16 inches, with a 2-inch extender
These sit at the collarbone and can drop to about 18 inches.
Three-Stone Zircon Necklace ($28.99): three round bezel-set zircons in gold-tone, the middle one a little larger. Lovely with a scoop neck.
Herringbone Bow Necklace ($29.99): a flat gold-tone herringbone chain with a small tied bow. It lies smooth, so it suits an open collar or an off-shoulder top.
Open Heart Paperclip Chain Necklace ($29.99): a smooth open heart on a dainty paperclip chain, in gold-tone. Easy with a crew neck.
16 to 18 inches, adjustable
Cushion Halo Necklace ($30.99): a cushion-cut 8 mm cubic zirconia framed with small crystal accents, on a box chain. Stainless steel. Good with a V or a scoop.
Dancing Crystal Necklace ($31.99): a round cubic zirconia held between two fine points, so it moves as you do. Box chain, stainless steel.
About 17.7 inches
Square Pendant Necklace ($12.99): a small square of colour in a gold-tone frame, in purple, aqua, deep blue or pale pink. It lands just below the collarbone, which makes it a natural first pendant.
16 to 22 inches, adjustable
Infinity Necklace ($23.99 to $25.99): a small infinity pendant on a cable chain. Stainless steel or gold-tone stainless steel. The widest range we carry, so it works with almost any neckline, from a scoop to a turtleneck.
18 to 22 inches, adjustable
Zodiac Sign Necklace ($27.99 to $32.99): a small zodiac symbol for each of the 12 signs. Stainless steel or gold-tone stainless steel. Wear it at 18 inches under a shirt collar, or let it out to 22 over a sweater.
Love Knot Necklace ($29.99 to $34.99): a small love knot set with cubic zirconia. Stainless steel or gold-tone stainless steel. Pretty with a V-neck.
A quick way to decide
Not sure? Choose 18 inches, or a chain that adjusts through 18. It sits below the collarbone on most people and works with most necklines. If you mostly wear crew necks and tees, 16 inches is the safer start.
Before you order
The Infinity, Zodiac, Love Knot, Cushion Halo and Dancing Crystal necklaces are made to order in 3 to 5 business days, arrive in about 2 to 5 days in the US, come in a gift box with a printed card, and always ship free. The choker, the Three-Stone, Herringbone Bow, Open Heart and Square Pendant ship from our US warehouse in about 6 days, after 1 to 3 days of processing. US shipping is $3.99, and free from $35.
See every length side by side in Necklaces.