Trying to find the right necklace, whether it’s for you or your SO, can be one of the most stressful decisions you’ll ever have to make. Jewellery, in general, is hard.
Even if you think you know yourself – or your SO! – trying to actually find something to match your height, size, outfits, stylings, and personality, is like trying to decipher the meaning of the universe itself. You can never quite pin it down.
That’s why we’re going to let you deal with most of all that and help you out instead with one area that is often overlooked. The length of the necklace.
Why Does Necklace Length Matter?
You might be wondering, well, why does necklace length matter so much? But the truth is that they do matter, especially if you are looking for a certain style, or for a pendant to land in the right place. People of different heights and sizes will need to vary their necklace styles depending on what they want to achieve. Sure, anyone can wear any kind of necklace, but if you want to evoke something specific, then this is an area that you will need to pay attention to.
How Do You Choose The Right Necklace Length?
There are a number of ways you can choose the right necklace length. The first thing you should do is think about what you are wearing the necklace for. For instance, millions of people around the world wear religious jewellery. Say you’re wearing a Star of David necklace with a beautiful handcrafted pendant – you will want that to be on show. In this way, you would need a 24-inch V-shaped necklace that stops just above your chest line, allowing the pendant itself to draw attention.
Necklace Lengths
If this sounds a little complicated, don’t fret too much, because we’ve got a guide. For anyone who is interested in what each necklace length will achieve, here’s a look at the standard lengths and how they might work for you:
- 14 Inches
14-inch necklaces are, ordinarily, the shortest you can get. These are often referred to as chokers, as they sit around the neck, rather than dropping down to the chest. They’re also one of the most trendy necklaces right now!
- 16 Inches
16-inchers are similar in type to choker necklaces, but they rest just above the collarbone. They’re not as bold as the choker, but they are still popular necklace types at the moment, and they can work if you are happy to draw attention to the shoulder area.
- 18 Inches
18 inches is the average necklace length, resting below the clavicle. If you have a small pendant, then this is probably the best and most traditional length to get.
- 20 Inches
For male jewellery, the 20-inch necklace is the most popular, mostly because of how well it pairs with v-neck sweaters and shirts with higher collars.
- 22 Inches
Many people, of course, will not want their pendant to sit on the skin, especially if it is being paired with a certain style of clothing. The 22-inch necklace sits between the clavicle and the sternum, meaning it is worn on top of the outfit – or for men, underneath the outfit.
- 24 Inches
As mentioned before, if you are wearing religious jewellery or sentimental pendants, then the 24-inch necklace will generally work the best, as it sits on the chest in a way that draws attention directly to the pendant. For anyone who wants to stack their necklaces, this is also a good choice of length.
- 30 Inches And Longer
Finishing off, anything 30 inches or longer will be a doubled-over necklace, meaning they will reach the stomach and move beyond it. While they pair well with choker necklaces, they are bolder fashion choices, so you will need to find a necklace that you think really works if you want to rock it!