Types of Necklaces: A Complete Guide to Styles, Lengths, and Chains

Shopping for a necklace shouldn't feel like a pop quiz. Once you see how style, length, and chain work together, the whole thing clicks.

The main necklace styles are the pendant, tennis (Riviera), station, choker, lariat, bar, halo, pearl, gemstone, and cross necklace. They're usually sorted by length, running from a 14-inch choker all the way up to a 36-inch rope. Learn those categories, and you can pick a piece that flatters your neckline, fits the occasion, and still looks right in ten years.

At Miro Jewelers, we've helped Denver-area clients find the right necklace for more than fifty years. Below, we'll walk through the styles we carry most, cover how length changes the look, and break down the chains we craft in our own workshop. By the end, you'll know exactly what to look for.

Necklaces are some of the oldest jewelry on earth. Ancient Egyptians wore wide gold collars to signal status. Victorian women kept lockets holding a portrait or a lock of hair. Metals changed, designs changed, but the reason we wear them hasn't budged.

A necklace marks a moment. It tells a story. It finishes a look. That's why the right one feels so personal.

Before you fall for a style, get familiar with length. It's the fastest way to narrow things down, because length decides where a piece actually sits on you.

Here's the short version:

• Choker: 14 to 16 inches, sitting snug at the base of the neck

• Princess: 17 to 19 inches, resting right at the collarbone

• Matinee: 20 to 24 inches, landing mid-chest

• Opera: 28 to 36 inches, long enough to knot or double up

• Rope or lariat: 37 inches and up

The 18-inch princess length wins for most women. It plays nicely with almost any outfit and shows off a pendant beautifully. If you want one necklace that goes from the office to dinner, start there.

Want the full breakdown with measuring tips and sizing mistakes to avoid? Our necklace length chart covers it in detail.

Measuring at home is easy. Wrap a soft tape or a piece of string around your neck, add a few inches for the drape you want, and write that number down. Bring it in, and we'll match it exactly.

Now for the fun part. These are the necklaces we sell most, along with what makes each one worth owning. Every style here is something you can actually try on at our showroom, crafted in 14K or 18K gold or platinum with natural or lab-grown diamonds, gemstones, and pearls.

A pendant necklace is a chain with one charm or stone hanging at the center. It's the most versatile thing you can own and the easiest to throw on before work.

Our pendant collection is one of the biggest we offer. You'll find everything from a plain diamond solitaire to keys, hearts, bows, marquise drops, and open circles. Since the pendant sits front and center, it's the best way to show off a stone you love or a symbol that means something to you.

Not sure what suits your wardrobe? Our guide to matching pendants with different necklines makes it simple.

Faith-inspired pieces are some of our most requested designs. We make diamond cross necklaces in pavé, channel-set, milgrain, baguette, and rope-textured finishes, plus Star of David pendants and medallions.

A cross necklace is a great gift for a baptism, a confirmation, or a milestone birthday. Pair it with a delicate cable or box chain, and you're set.

The four-leaf clover turned into a modern good-luck staple, and it isn't slowing down. We offer clover pendants set with diamonds, emeralds, malachite, and turquoise, plus butterflies, arrows, and hearts.

These layers really well, which is half the appeal.

A tennis necklace, sometimes called a riviera, is an unbroken line of matched stones running the whole way around. It's pure sparkle. No other style competes with it for drama.

Our tennis necklaces include classic prong-set white diamonds along with sapphire, emerald, and mixed-color versions in platinum and gold. Reach for one when you want something that catches light from every direction. It also pairs perfectly with a tennis bracelet if you're building a set.

A station necklace spaces stones evenly along a fine chain, so small diamonds seem to float against your skin. You get a steady shimmer without any bulk.

It's one of the most comfortable styles for daily wear, and it layers beautifully under a pendant.

A bar necklace uses a slim horizontal or curved bar, often set with diamonds or a birthstone. Clean, modern, and easy to wear Monday through Sunday.

We carry bezel-set and baguette-accented designs that stay subtle without being boring.

A halo pendant rings the center stone with small diamonds, which makes the middle gem read larger and brighter than it is. It's a nice trick.

We offer halo designs with sapphire, peridot, pearl, and fancy brown diamond centers. If you like extra sparkle, this one never goes out of style.

Nothing feels quite as timeless as pearls. We carry South Sea, Freshwater, and Akoya cultured pearls as single-pearl pendants and as full strands.

Pearls work for bridal, for the office, and for black-tie events, which is rare for any one piece. For a more current take, try a pearl pendant on a gold chain instead of a traditional strand.

Color tells a story. Our gemstone necklaces feature sapphire, emerald, ruby, blue topaz, aquamarine, garnet, and peridot, usually with diamond accents.

A birthstone pendant makes a gift people actually keep. And a deep sapphire or emerald adds serious richness to an evening look. If you're deciding between stones, our guides on types of sapphires, what rubies are worth, and aquamarine versus blue topaz are a good place to start.

The choker sits snug at the base of the neck, usually 14 to 16 inches. It's one of the most requested styles right now, and for good reason.

We make diamond pavé chokers and delicate gold bar chokers that flatter open necklines and sit well above a longer layer.

A lariat is long, open-ended, and has no clasp. You drape it or loop it for a soft drop at the center.

Lariats and layered styles let you mix lengths and textures until the look is yours. Just watch the tangling. Our tips on layering necklaces without tangling will save you some frustration.

The chain matters as much as the pendant. It carries the weight, shapes the drape, and decides whether your necklace survives a decade of daily wear.

Here's what we craft and carry most, in yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and platinum.

• Cable chain: The classic. Round or oval links in a simple, even pattern. Strong, easy to repair, and ideal for a pendant. It's our go-to for everyday pieces.

• Box chain: Square links form a smooth, sturdy line that sits flat. Holds pendants well and resists kinking, so it's a reliable daily driver.

• Rope chain: Twisted links catch light like a spiral, giving it more shine than most. Strong, dressy, and great on its own.

• Franco chain: A tight, woven pattern of V-shaped links makes this one flexible and seriously hard-wearing. It lies flat and smooth, which is why both men and women keep asking for it.

• Cuban link (curb) chain: Interlocking flattened links give it that bold, substantial look. One of the strongest chains we make, and the right pick if you want presence.
  
  

One more thing worth asking: is the chain solid or hollow? Solid gold is heavier, stronger, and holds up best to daily wear. Hollow chains weigh less and cost less. Both can look great, and our jewelers will walk you through the trade-offs.

So which chain is toughest? Box, Franco, and Cuban link lead the pack for everyday wear. Rope and cable give you classic shine and pair easily with pendants. Buying a chain for a heavier pendant? Go slightly thicker so it drapes right and doesn't stress the links. We can size any chain in-house.

With this many options, a few questions get you to the answer fast.

1. Start with your neckline: A pendant on an 18-inch chain flatters nearly any top. Chokers and collars shine with open or strapless necklines. Opera and rope lengths balance high necklines and add drama to a plain dress.
   
   

2. Think about the occasion: For everyday, a station necklace or a simple pendant is comfortable and low-maintenance. For a wedding, gala, or anniversary, go for a tennis necklace or a pearl strand.
   
   

3. Flatter your face and frame: Shorter pieces ending near the collarbone pull the eye up and suit longer faces. Longer drops create a vertical line that balances a rounder face or fuller frame. A pendant that ends in a point, like a teardrop or marquise, lengthens gently and looks good on just about everyone.
   
   

4. Match the metal to your wardrobe: Yellow gold reads warm and traditional. White gold and platinum look crisp and modern. Rose gold adds a soft glow. We carry all of them, so pick whichever feels like you.
   
   

5. Try layering: Plenty of our clients wear two or three necklaces at different lengths, like a choker, a princess pendant, and a longer station chain. Mixing lengths adds depth and lets you wear more than one favorite at a time.

Still stuck? That's what we're here for. Come in, and we'll put the options side by side until something clicks.

A good necklace deserves a little upkeep. Store each piece separately so chains don't tangle, and keep them away from lotion and perfume, which dull the shine fast. If a chain does knot up, here's how to untangle a necklace without damaging it.

Bring your piece in any time for a free cleaning and inspection. We handle chain resizing and repairs right in our own workshop, and every piece we sell is backed by our lifetime warranty.

Can't find the exact necklace in your head? We'll build it. Custom design is what we do best, and our in-house team takes you from sketch to finished piece. If you can dream it, we can design it.

The most common types are pendant necklaces, tennis (riviera) necklaces, station necklaces, chokers, and pearl strands. The 18-inch pendant is the single most-worn style, because it flatters almost every neckline and outfit.

It depends on the look you're after. A pendant or a station necklace is ideal for everyday. A choker suits a modern, fashion-forward style. A tennis necklace or pearl strand is right for formal events. Layering different lengths is a popular way to make it your own.

Eighteen inches is the most versatile length and works for most people and outfits. Go 14 to 16 inches for a choker fit, 20 to 24 inches to wear over sweaters and dresses, and 28 inches or longer for a dramatic layered look.

Box, Franco, and Cuban link chains are the most durable for daily wear. Cable and rope chains are strong too, and they're excellent for holding pendants.

A pendant necklace has one charm or stone at the center. A station necklace spaces several small stones evenly along the chain. Both are easy to wear daily, and they layer well together.

A pendant, hands down. It suits every style and can be personalized with a birthstone, an initial, or a symbol that means something. Pearl necklaces and diamond station necklaces are also favorites for anniversaries, graduations, and holidays.

From simple pendants to full tennis necklaces, the options can feel endless. But the right piece is just the one that fits your neckline, your occasion, and your story.

You know the styles now. You know the lengths. You know which chains hold up. Time to pick one.

Browse our necklace collection online, or book an appointment at our Denver-area showroom in Centennial and try them on in person. Our family has been making and caring for fine jewelry for over fifty years, and we'd love to help you find something you'll keep for life.