How to Choose the Perfect Chain Necklace For Your Personality Type

While similar in appearance to a snake chain, the herringbone chain is constructed of flat, short, and parallel links in a v-pattern. Their name comes from the similarities to the skeleton of a herring (a type of fish).

They lie flat against the skin and vary in width greatly. While they might be worn with a small charm, they look best unadorned and never paired with a pendant of any size.

Cable chains are plain but quite popular. Their simple design lends well to their use for both understated looks and fancier affairs. They are made of connecting identical oval links. Most likely, they are watching you think of first when imagining a chain necklace.

They are a smaller version of a standard iron cable chain that you might see used for construction or heavy-duty use. These are the most popular style for holding a pendant or may be layered with more visually interesting chains for a fun look.

Curb chains are like the simple cable chain but with an important difference. The links have been flattened and twisted slightly so they lay flat against the skin. Each link is identical in shape and size, much like the cable chain. They vary in width from a few millimeters to an inch or more if one is wearing a statement necklace.

Figaro chains are a variation on the cable chain. Instead of uniform links, the Figaro chain is created from flattened links in various sizes. They often are formed in repeating patterns.

For example, there may be 3-4 shorter links and then one longer one. This creates a visually interesting pattern on the chain. They are a simple Italian-style chain that is very popular to pair with pendants and easy to repair.

A wheat chain is formed of very long, thin teardrop-shaped links that all point in the same direction. The join of each link is like a tiny hinge, meaning this style is not as flexible or liquid-like as some others. Wheat chains look more complex than others which gives them a unique and intricate appearance.

Sterling silver is both durable and light. It is stronger than gold and more cost-effective. Jewelers love this metal because it is malleable and easy to mold into intricate designs.

Repairing silver necklaces is usually less complicated and expensive than fixing gold pieces. If you want more information about sterling silver, we recommend reading our guide - Finding the Perfect Silver Necklace.

While gold is the most popular type of plating, you can also find high-quality silver plating (typically on stainless steel) or black ruthenium plating. You can find black plating on many types of chains, including this Black Premium Box Chain. The diamond cut on the metal makes sure you still get a beautiful sparkle even with darker plating.

If you choose a solid gold chain necklace, you'll want to decide whether you'd like a style that is solid gold throughout or one that is hollow. Like solid gold chains, hollow chains are made of gold, but the inside of chain links are hollowed out. While they look identical, the hollow chain necklaces are lighter and less expensive. They are also more delicate and may break more easily than their solid counterparts.

For most men, you will want to look at a chain length between 18-24 inches long. This depends on both the width of the neck and the desired fit. For most, a 20-inch chain will hit right around the collarbone and be visible even under many low-neck shirts. If you choose a longer fit, around 22 inches will place the chain beneath the collarbone and make it more prominent. If you want to add a pendant to the necklace, the added length is preferable.

If you want a layered chain look, you may want to start with an even longer chain length. With one up to 30 inches long, it typically drapes down to your chest. You can pair these with shorter chains. We wouldn't recommend going above 34-36 inches unless you are particularly tall.

There is a lot of variety in women's necklaces. For example, a choker can be anywhere from 14-16 inches long, while a long statement necklace can be as long as 36 inches. For most styles, however, you'll find that the average length ranges from 16 to 24 inches long. The most common length for a woman's chain necklace is 18 inches. This length is perfect for a chain paired with a pendant. If the chain is thicker, It can also make a stylish statement necklace. However, we do recommend a slightly longer length (and wider links) for statement chains so they will visually stand out against an outfit.

Here's a good size chart for chain lengths:

14" - 16".  Choker style that fits around the neck or above the collarbone.

18".  Princess style that fits at the collarbone and great to wear with a pendant.

20" - 24". Matinee stye that fits below the collarabone and above the bust.

26" - 36".  Opera style that fits at the bust or below and great for layering.

If you want a more unisex look, you may want to consider a chain somewhere between 18-20 inches in length. This way the person can wear it on its own or pair it with a pendant.

One of the most important things to consider when you're choosing necklace length is what clothing you are accessorizing. While some necklaces work for varied clothing styles, you will find that certain lengths look best when paired with certain clothing.

For high neck attire, you may want to consider a longer necklace. That style drapes well and makes your torso look longer and more proportional. (This can be important if you have a short waist, are more rectangular, or just boxy in general).

For men, you will want to consider whether you are wearing a shirt with a collar or not. If you are wearing a collared shirt, a shorter length chain will look nicer than a longer one, especially if you are wearing a shirt with one or two buttons undone.

Different outfits look better with different metals. Are there any metallic accents in your attire? What belt are you wearing? What colors are prominent in your look? You may want to match any other metals or either compliment or contrast with the colors of your clothing.

You may also want to think about how formal the occasion is – but more on that a little later.

What metal looks best on you? Colors that compliment you best are often dependent on your skin tone. Skin tone in this context doesn’t mean how dark or light your skin is. It’s more about your skin’s undertones – warm, cool, or neutral. Certain metals look best on certain skin tones.

• Warm Tones. Complimentary metals for warm skin tones are yellow gold, warm gold, brass, or copper. Gemstones in yellow, green, or peach are probably going to look amazing on you!
• Cool Tones. If you have a cool skin tone, you typically look best in light or white metals. We recommend looking at silver, white gold, or platinum for jewelry. We’d also recommend gemstones like sapphire, carnelian, and amethyst.
• Neutral Tones. If you are one of the lucky people with a neutral skin tone – congratulations! Most metal (and colors) look great on you.

If you don’t know what your skin’s undertone is, here’s a great article on how to find yours! However, at the end of the day, you should wear the metal that you like best.

Are you going to wear the necklace under your collar or over it? If you want to wear your shirt over your necklace, you probably want to hit that typical length of 18-24 inches, as that will let you keep the necklace discrete without drawing a lot of attention to it.

Sometimes, you want to pick up a versatile piece of jewelry that you can wear for a lot of occasions. Adjustable chains can accomplish this well for you! You can style it with multiple types of clothing from casual to more formal. This eliminates the need for multiple chains to wear with your favorite pendant.

When choosing a chain necklace, it’s really important to consider how it’s going to look on you. Our bodies are all different. What works on one person may not look as flattering on another. As you’re choosing a chain necklace for yourself, you should think about where it’s going to lay on your body and what sort of look you want to accomplish.

Knowing the width and length of your neck helps too. If you have a shorter neck, you may find that short necklaces make your neck seem shorter (and possibly wider) than longer necklaces. It’s also true that those of us with wide necks may need additional length to allow the necklace to rest at the desired spot.

Styling matters. What works for a casual event doesn’t always look great for a formal occasion. Most of the time, you will want to wear silver or gold to formal occasions. Stainless steel doesn’t always work with formal attire, especially when many of those styles are casual comparatively.

On the other hand, you can wear just about any metal as a casual look. Many people prefer stainless steel for everyday wear, especially if they work a job with a physical component. You will want to choose a finish that matches your occasion and the style you are wearing for it.

What works as a stand-alone statement chain doesn't necessarily look great as a chain holding a pendant. Apart from the issues, you might have with the length – you probably don't want your pendant hanging near your belly button – you should also look at the width.

Many pendants come with chains. Many of our pendants, like our Silver Select Monogram Necklace, are paired with a chain that fits perfectly with the pendant’s bail.

When you’re choosing a chain necklace, you want to think about how you’re wearing it. If you want to layer your necklace, you will want to consider where you want each layer to rest on your body. If you are wearing a necklace as a statement piece on its own, then you’ll consider a different length than if you are purchasing multiple pieces to wear other. For layering necklaces, you likely want about two inches between the lengths of each layer.

On the other hand, you can wear just about any metal as a casual look. Many people prefer stainless steel for everyday wear, especially if they work a job with a physical component. You will want to choose a finish that matches your occasion and the style you are wearing for it.