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Chains and necklaces are among the most attractive pieces of jewelry which are popular to many, that is why creativity in producing this accessory has resulted in producing various types of popular chains. One the other hand the longer the necklace, the more attractive it looks. In this EG article, we will discuss the most important points on necklace length.
Necklace Length
Necklace length is among the interesting features of this accessory that can be adjusted based on how the necklace is going to be used. Although different types of necklace chain are usually found in certain sizes, we use plain chains together with pendants. The necklaces we find on the market usually come in a medium size, while in many case people are looking for different lengths of necklace.
Although we had no standard or criteria for the necklace length back in a few years ago, there are different types of necklaces in different sizes now. As a result, necklace length is just limited to a restricted number of necklaces. These necklaces are usually classified based on the length on inch scale and are available in lengths of 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and finally 30 inches. In the following, we will discuss some standard length for necklaces.
14-Inches-long Necklaces
These necklaces are recently seen in trend accessories’ category. These necklaces are usually 35 centimeters long and stand in the lowest part of the neck. Chokers are usually popular with teenagers and usually match all collar designs except the turtleneck style.
16-Inches-long Necklaces
These necklaces shape a group of the shortest necklaces with a length of approximately 40 centimeters. Depending on the people’s size, the necklace may sit at the base of the neck or in its middle like a chockers. It is usually recommended to wear such necklaces with V-neck dresses, boat necks or button-down blouses. These necklaces usually look flat and thick.
18-Inches-long Necklaces
These necklaces are only a little longer than chockers and stand a little lower than the clavicle and can be worn with different types of pendants. Necklaces of this size that are also titled princess necklaces, can be worn with different types of clothes. These chains are usually 45 centimeters long and are categorized among the most useful ones.
20-to-24-Inches-long Necklaces
Necklace length of 20 to 22 inches are usually between 50 to 60 centimeters which is longer than the necklaces that have been introduced so far. These necklaces are also known as «Matinee» and stand below the collarbone and extend to sternum.
28-to-36-Inches-long Necklaces
These necklaces have a length of 70 to 85 centimeters and are categorized as 28-to-36-inch long necklaces. These chains stand on the bottom of the sternum and are titled as «Opera» necklaces. These necklaces can be used as a short chain in multiple layers, or a long chain in a single layer.
Necklaces Longer than 36 Inches
Necklaces with a length of more than 36 inches or 90 centimeters, usually have 2 or 3 layers. Such chains can be worn with different styles and are known as «Rope» chains.
Choosing an Appropriate Necklace
We have already discussed different types of necklace length. However, there are other criteria for choosing necklaces that make the necklace look more and more beautiful. To choose the best necklace, general physical features such as height, neck length, shape of the face, and the general style of the body should be taken into account. In the following we will discuss each of these features in details, and will provide you with the guide to choosing the best necklace.
Neck Length
Before choosing a necklace, we advise you measure the length of your neck so that you make a better choice of necklaces and chokers. To do so, we suggest you measure around your neck using a tape measure, or put a long tape around your neck and mark where the two ends meet. Then measure the distance between the tip of the tape and the mark. Finally, you can use the number for buying chokers but you need to add 2 centimeters to the final number for buying other types of necklaces. You also need to add 4 more centimeters to the final number if you plan to buy a choker with a pendant.
Necklace Length for Men and Women
With regard to the fact that the necklace size varies for men and women, it looks different each of them. In the following, we have also drawn a table which helps you choose the best necklace for men and women based on where the necklace stands when being worn.
| Necklace Length | Necklace Resting on the Neckline for Women | Necklace Resting on the Neckline for Men |
| 14 Inches | Just like chokers, it sits in the middle of the neck and is right around it. | |
| 16 Inches | Rests at the base of the neck For middle-height to short ladies, these necklaces may extend down to the clavicle, but for tall women it may look like a choker. | |
| 18 Inches | This length is popular with many women, and looks great for different styles. | For men with short necks, necklaces with such length usually rest at the base of the neck. |
| 20 Inches | This necklace size, rests below the clavicle bone. | This size is the most conventional for all men. |
| 22 Inches | It rests on the sternum bone or a little above it. | These necklaces rest a little below the sternum bone. |
| 24 Inches | This length of necklace usually rests above the sternum bone. |
People’s Height
With regard to the fact that the longer a necklace looks, the short the one wearing it looks, for those shorter than 165 centimeters or 5.4 feet tall, 16 to 20 inches necklaces look appropriate. But for those taller than 170 centimeters, any necklace length is appropriate.
Body Shape
We should also keep in mind that the one looking at you, follows your necklace from beginning to the end. As a result, for those who look fat, a necklace with a length of 18 to 22 inches looks good, because this way, the necklace rests well on the neck.
Shape of the Face
Necklaces are among the only accessories that besides being beautiful, help you look more beautiful as well. Many experts in fashion industry suggest people use necklaces because they highlight their positive facial features.
Experts in style suggest those who have round faces, don’t use short necklaces or chokers because these necklaces make their faces look even rounder. Instead, for those with oval faces, using any necklace with any style looks alright.
However, for those with long face shapes, we suggest short necklaces to cover the length of their face. As a result, different types of choker, Princess style necklaces with a length of 14 to 18 inches will fit these people. Finally, for those with heart-shaped faces, chokers or any other type of necklaces that create a kind of balance between the upper part of their face and their thin chins looks appropriate.
Skin Color
One of the important points that one should take into account when choosing necklace length is its color. With regard to the skin tone, you should choose the color that matches your skin the best.
For more information about skin tone and the gold color that matches your skin, we suggest you study our article titled “The gold color appropriate for your skin“
A Guide to Choosing the Best Necklace
With regard to what was said so far, choosing the necklace size is different from person to person. There are, however, important points in case of every necklace, regardless of its type or size. What follows is a brief list of these points:
1- Pay attention to the necklace lock. Necklace lock is a critical part and any carelessness in this regard can result in losing the necklace.
2- Upon making a purchase, touch the chain carefully for any sharp edges. Any uneven surface can hurt your skin gradually.
3- Be careful with the necklace strength. Strong necklaces are made with filled chains. sometimes hollow chains are damaged easily and may be torn.
To buy gold chains, visit reliable sales people who make the gold alloy with metals other than nickel. Gold allergy is one of the problems that may happen if the gold alloy components are substandard.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed different necklace lengths and after introducing necklace sizes, we described how each item rests on the neck. With regard to the fact that several factors contribute to how a necklace looks, we need to take several points into account such as the shape of the face, height, length of the neck and finally sex.
Chokers or 14-inch necklaces rest right around the neck for women, but they are not usually suggested for those with a short stature, or those with a round face. It was also mentioned that the appropriate necklace length for men is more than that of women. To buy the best necklaces on the market, we suggest you visit EG up to date products.
