Choosing Necklace Length

It is important to determine the right necklace size which is best for you. Bear in mind that chain length is not always the same with the necklace length.

When choosing a chain length for a necklace, chains for bars, suspended discs necklaces and pendants are going to be slightly different.

So you might be wondering, which lengths and style of necklaces with pendant or chain necklaces will suit you and your neckline best?

In the handy women's necklace length chart above, you can see the different sizes with inches and cm.

How to measure for a necklace, chain or pendant

The simplest way is to measure an existing necklace (including a chain necklace or a pendant necklace) which suits you or the outfit you're planning to wear. A tape measure will work fine.

If you don't have an existing necklace to measure from, you can use some string, ribbon or a measuring tape to figure out what will work for you. Stand in front of a mirror while doing this to take better and more precise measurement.

When measuring for a pendant necklace, you’re only measuring the actual chain, as the pendant hangs in a V shape, below the chain itself. Others like bar necklaces and suspended disc necklaces are a little different and have a softer curve. For this reason, when ordering a necklace, depending on the type, maybe you’ll want to account for the entire length of the necklace—bar length/disc diameter, jump rings, chain, clasp, and all.

Given as an example, let’s say you’re ordering a 18" / 45cm long bar necklace, and that the bar measures 4’’ / 10cm long. This really means that the chain is 14’’ / 35.5cm long, with the bar occupying the remaining 4’’. If you want your disc or bar to rest a bit lower on your neck, you may want to consider choosing a slightly longer chain or ordering an extender. Don't forget that, you should always consider what works best for you personally when it comes to jewellery: your own sense of style, colouring, etc..