Necklace Length Guide

Collar (12-13 inches) The collar necklace encircles the middle of the neck. It works well with v-necks, boat necks, and shoulder-baring styles. A gemstone collar necklace calls extra attention to the neck.

Choker (14-16 inches) A choker lies just above the collarbones and emphasizes the neckline. A simple gemstone or pearl choker looks elegant with almost any style, except high or turtle-necks. Chokers are a beautiful choice for many wedding or bridesmaid dresses.

Princess (17-19 inches) This is the most common necklace length, hanging over the collarbones. The princess length necklace looks great with crew and high necklines. For evening, this length looks stunning with plunging necklines, when paired with an appropriate gemstone color and/or metal. Pendants, lockets or other embellishments are great ways to add to the allure of a handcrafted princess necklace.

Matinee (20-24 inches) The matinee necklace hangs between the princess and opera lengths. It falls to the top of the bust and looks wonderful with a variety of necklines. The matinee necklace compliments professional looks (think blazers and button-up blouses) and also flatters bigger busts.

Opera (28-34 inches) The opera's impressive length makes it possible to wear as a single, double, or sometimes even triple, strand. Like the matinee necklace, it works well with a variety of necklines and is versatile enough to transition from day to evening. Many chunky, layered, and dramatic gemstone necklaces are opera length.

Ultra-Long (45+ inches) The ultra-long rope necklace is a bold look that will easily dress up any outfit. It can be wrapped, taking it from one long strand to multiple shorter strands, or worn at its full, stunning length. When choosing an ultra long style, keep in mind that larger gemstone necklaces will often look too heavy unless they are wrapped. Some rope necklaces include extra clasps, making it easy to transform their length.

Lariat (46+ inches) The lariat is a romantic wraparound style. Instead of closing with a clasp, the ends loop through one another. Lariats look best with low necklines and off the shoulder styles.