Necklaces for Women

Start with how often it will be worn. A pendant on a fine chain is the most wearable choice: one focal stone or motif, light enough for every day and easy to wear under a collar. A diamond tennis necklace sets diamonds all the way around, so it reads more formal and suits evenings, though it can be worn daily. An initial necklace is personal and low-key, and works well layered. A plain gold chain is the base of most jewelry wardrobes and can carry a pendant you already own. If you are buying a first fine necklace, a diamond or gemstone pendant in the metal you wear most is safest starting point.

Chain length is listed on each piece, so check it on the product page before you order. As a general guide, a chain of about 16 inches sits close to the base of the neck, near the collarbone, while 18 inches falls just below it and is a common length for pendants. Longer chains drop toward the neckline of a shirt or sweater. Neck size, build and the necklines you usually wear all change where a chain lands, so measure a necklace you already like with a soft tape. For layering, choose lengths a couple of inches apart so each piece sits on its own line instead of tangling with the next.

Yes. Every diamond and gemstone is a real stone, and each product page states whether it is natural or lab-grown. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, chemically and physically the same as mined diamonds, grown in a laboratory rather than formed in the earth. Natural diamonds are mined. Colored stones follow the same labeling, so you will know whether a sapphire, emerald or aquamarine is natural or lab-grown before you buy. Catalog necklaces are sold to a published specification and do not come with an individual grading report. For a question about a specific stone, email concierge@diamondandsapphire.com and we will confirm the details for that piece before you order.

Choose the metal that suits your skin tone and the rest of your jewelry. Yellow gold reads warm and classic, white gold and platinum look cool and make white diamonds appear brighter, and rose gold flatters warm tones and pairs well with pink and peach stones. This collection includes 10K, 14K and 18K yellow gold, 10K and 14K white and rose gold, and platinum, depending on the design. 10K contains less pure gold, which makes it a little harder and lowers the price. 14K balances color and durability. 18K yellow gold shows a deeper, richer color. Platinum is naturally white and dense, so a platinum pendant feels heavier for its size.

Yes, and fine chains are made for it. A simple formula is three pieces at different lengths: a short plain chain, a pendant in the middle, and a longer piece below. Keep the metals consistent for a clean look, or mix yellow and white gold if you already mix metals in your rings. Vary the textures, for example a figaro from our gold chains with the finer chain that carries your pendant. Add one focal piece at most, such as a diamond or an initial, so the layers do not compete. Space the lengths a couple of inches apart to reduce tangling, and fasten each clasp separately so one chain does not pull on the others.

With no ring size to guess, a necklace makes an easy gift, and chain length is listed on every piece. Initial necklaces make a personal gift for a birthday or a new mother. A birthstone necklace ties the gift to a specific month, such as a sapphire for September. A diamond pendant suits anniversaries and milestone birthdays. If you are unsure of her taste, a small pendant on a fine chain in the metal she wears most is a reliable choice. Unworn pieces in original condition can be returned within 30 days of delivery, which gives some room if the choice is not quite right. Engraved and custom pieces are final sale.

Necklaces start from $130, and every price shown is the complete, all-in price, including complimentary insured shipping. Plain gold chains and small pendants sit at the entry end of the range. Price then rises with stone size and count: a pendant with a single small diamond costs far less than a tennis necklace set with diamonds all the way around. Metal also matters, since 10K gold costs less than 14K, and 18K gold and platinum cost more for the same design. Natural and lab-grown diamonds are priced differently, so compare both versions of a style where they exist. Decide on your budget, then choose between a larger stone and a richer metal.

Most necklaces are made to order and ship in about 5-10 business days. Ready-to-ship pieces leave in 2-3 business days. Each product page shows its own timing, so check it before ordering if you are working toward a birthday or holiday. Every order ships by complimentary, fully insured UPS Express, and a signature is required at delivery, so send it to an address where someone can sign. If you need a piece by a specific date, email concierge@diamondandsapphire.com before you order and we will tell you whether that piece can arrive in time. Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery for unworn pieces in original condition.

Diamond (Mohs 10) and sapphire (9) are hard enough for daily wear, and natural sapphires are commonly heat-treated, a standard and stable practice. Aquamarine and emerald are beryl at 7.5 to 8; emerald is typically oil-treated, so keep it away from ultrasonic and steam cleaners. Amethyst (7) can fade with long exposure to strong sunlight. Take necklaces off before sleeping, swimming and exercise, since fine chains can catch and kink. Clean with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush, then dry fully. Store each necklace fastened and flat, or hanging, so chains do not knot. Our free lifetime warranty covers manufacturing defects, including clasps that fail under normal wear.