Necklace Sizes Guide

Choosing the right necklace size is crucial for your comfort and helps you make more stylish fashion statements with your jewelry. It ensures that your choker does not literally choke you, and dangling necklaces hang just right while dazzling admirers.

So, how do you select the right necklace size for you or your customers?

Read on as we explore the standard necklace sizes in the jewelry industry and offer tips on selecting suitable necklace lengths.

Understanding Standard Necklace Sizes

Necklaces vary in design, weight, dimensions, and many other factors. However, in the jewelry industry, the size of a necklace typically refers to its length.

The jewelry industry has established standard sizes for men’s and women’s necklaces. Most jewelry manufacturers adhere to these standard lengths as indicated in the following necklace length charts.

Standard Necklace Length Chart For Women

Standard necklace sizes for women often range between 14 and 30 inches. They may fit a bit differently depending on the design of the necklace and one’s physical features. Nevertheless, different necklace placements have earned unique fashion names, such as chokers and matinee necklaces, over time.

Standard Necklace Length Chart For Men

Standard necklace sizes for men range from 18 to 30 inches. Unlike women’s necklaces, they do not have established fashion names. Jewelry experts and consumers simply describe them either by actual size or as a ‘loose fit’ or ‘tight fit’.

Distinguishing Different Necklace Lengths

As we have seen in the necklace size charts, various necklace lengths offer distinct looks. Here is a more detailed look at their placements and fashion tips on how to style them.

14-16 Inch Necklace

14-inch necklaces sit along the base of the neck and have a fairly snug fit. They call attention to the neck and highlight its features beautifully. The placement of this type of necklace allows it to pair well with clothing necklines that sit at or below the collarbone.

Naturally, neck sizes differ. Therefore, while standard choker sizes begin at 14 inches, be sure to measure your neck to determine your ideal choker size.

18 Inch Necklace

The 18-inch necklace is a popular choice among jewelry lovers. It offers a little more flexibility compared to a choker because it rests along the collarbone. Its placement delivers an elegant look regardless of whether you pair it with a high or plunging neckline.

20-22 Inch Necklace

A 20-22-inch necklace is a suitable choice if you prefer necklaces that fall below the collarbone but above the bustline. It is quite flattering when paired with formal attire and stands out beautifully when accentuated with a pendant.

24 Inch Necklace

24-inch necklaces fall to the bustline area. They do not compete with the neckline and can thus work well with outfits that have a band collar. This type of necklace is also quite popular among men looking to achieve a casual look or chains to hold sentimental keepsakes like a cross or dog tags.

30-36 Inch Necklace

A 30-36-inch necklace hangs below the bustline. Its length draws attention to a wider area of an outfit and not just the neck area, as is often the case with shorter necklaces. Subsequently, it is a stylish way to add some flair to a minimalist outfit.

Custom Necklace Sizes

Custom necklaces are unique pieces crafted by jewelry manufacturers either as one-off designs or limited editions. Subsequently, they do not follow the standard necklace lengths but instead have specific necklace lengths tailor-made to fit individual customers.

These types of necklaces are often an ideal solution for shoppers who have a hard time finding necklaces that fit them well. They are also suitable for special events where the necklaces need to fit in a particular way to complement outfits.

How to Select the Right Chain Length

The first step to selecting the right necklace size is to measure your neck as follows:

• • Get a soft, flexible tape measure

• • Wrap it around the base of your neck

• • Note the length

This initial measurement will show you the right necklace length for your neck size. However, for a more detailed measurement, you can adjust the tape measure to mimic how you would like your necklace to fall. This will help you identify the right length on a chain size chart when shopping for different necklace types, such as a choker or a matinee necklace.

Alternatively, if you have an existing necklace that fits you to your preference, you can measure it to determine your ideal necklace length as below:

• • Unclasp the necklace and lay it straight on a flat surface

• • Measure the length of the necklace from one end to the other using a tape measure or ruler

Tips on Choosing the Perfect Necklace Length

A perfect necklace should be comfortable and fall in a way that complements your features and your outfit. That sounds like quite the balancing act, doesn’t it? Well, it does not have to be; here are some pro tips to help you get it right.

Consider Your Neck Frame

We move our necks around a lot in a day. So, even if you prefer a necklace with a snug fit, aim for a chain length that still gives you enough room to breathe and move around comfortably. A comfortable fit is also great for longevity because it reduces the odds of the chain or clasps snapping as you move or sleep.

Aim For Adjustability

Look out for necklaces with clasps that allow you to adjust the chain length. Admittedly, the length adjustment may be small, but it can go a long way in helping you achieve a better fit and comfort in different scenarios.

Factor in Your Outfits

Pairing the right type of necklace with the right outfit helps both pieces accentuate each other. The secret to nailing this part of an ensemble is choosing suitable necklace lengths for different outfit necklines.

For example, a V-neck or open collar top leaves the area around the collarbone exposed. Such tops, therefore, can pair well with a 14-inch choker with a pendant or an 18-inch princess necklace that falls just slightly below the collarbone.

In contrast, turtlenecks or tops that rise to the collarbone can pair well with necklaces measuring between 22 and 36 inches that fall distinctly below the collar area. The extra length allows the necklace to stand out and not be overshadowed by clothing.

Other types of neckline and necklace length pairing suggestions include:

• • Off-shoulder attire gives the neck and shoulders great exposure. They thus pair well with chokers (14 -16 inches) or princess necklaces (17-20 inches).

• • Crew necks are round and near the collarbone. You can, therefore, complement them with short necklaces like a choker or make a bolder statement with an opera necklace (24 -30 inches) with a pendant or a longer necklace of 30+ inches.

• • Boat necks are wide and highlight the collarbone beautifully. They work well with short 14-16 inch necklaces or matinee necklaces (20-22 inches), which fall just below the collarbone.

Explore the Art of Layering

Layering necklaces entails wearing necklaces of different lengths to create a unique, stylish ensemble. Aim for necklaces with gradually increasing lengths to create an enviable series of layers.

For instance, if you start with a 16-inch necklace, the next layer can be an 18-inch necklace, followed by a 20-inch necklace, and so forth. You can also work with wider gaps of 4 inches between necklaces, especially if the necklaces are made of sizable materials like pearls.

Consider Pendant Placements

The position of a pendant when you wear a necklace depends on the length of the chain and the size of the pendant. It is thus advisable to first decide how high or low you prefer the pendant to fall. You can measure your neck size and select a suitable chain length that can hold the pendant at that level.

Choose Assorted Sizes

Sourcing necklaces for retail can be a tricky affair because different customers have varying tastes and size requirements. You can, however, overcome this by working with a jewelry manufacturer that offers assorted necklace sizes and custom necklaces. This will enable you to cater to a broad customer base and fulfill orders for customers with unique needs.

In Conclusion

Most people tend to try on necklaces before buying them, and thus never learn their ideal necklace size. However, once you learn how to choose the right necklace length and pair it with the right attire, every piece you buy stands out like a masterpiece. It also makes commissioning custom jewelry and buying jewelry online much easier.

Fortunately, for you, we are a one-stop custom jewelry manufacturer. Our team is always at hand to help you find the perfect necklace sizes and the best designs. Contact us to place an order or make enquiries.