Pendant Necklace

Matching a Pendant to Your Neckline

A pendant looks best when it echoes the shape of the neckline above it. Round shapes such as a flower or a solitaire sit sweetly under a crew neck or a scoop. Vertical shapes such as a bar or a Y drop belong with V-necks and open collars, where they continue the line downward. Under a buttoned shirt, choose a short chain so the pendant peeks out at the collar instead of hiding behind the first button.

• Crew or scoop. Round pendants and small solitaires.
• V-neck. Bars, Y drops and lariats.
• Shirt collar. A short chain that shows at the opening.

Fixed Pendants and Hanging Drops

Some pendants are attached to the chain on both sides, so they always face forward and never flip, which is how a flower or a station style piece behaves. Others hang from a single loop and move with you, catching light as they swing. A fixed pendant suits busy days and layered stacks; a hanging drop has more movement and sparkle but likes a moment to settle after you put it on.

How Big Should a Pendant Be?

Most everyday pendants sit between a quarter inch and an inch. A quarter inch solitaire or a 3mm stone reads as a quiet sparkle, a half inch shape is noticed in conversation, and a one inch circle or a bar over an inch long becomes the center of the outfit. For a first pendant, choose the smaller end and let the chain length do the work; for a statement, go long and let the drop carry it.

• Quarter inch. Quiet, everyday sparkle.
• Half inch. Seen across a table.
• An inch or more. The focal point of the outfit.

Pendant Metals and Stones

The metal sets the mood of a pendant before the shape does. Yellow 18K plating warms colored stones and suits cream, camel and denim. Gold tone steel gives a similar warm look on a harder metal that shrugs off daily wear, and rose gold tone softens the line with a pink cast that sits between yellow and silver jewelry. For stones, a clear CZ or zircon reads as sparkle, while garnet, amethyst, citrine and tourmaline read as color, so decide which of the two you want people to notice first, the flash or the hue.

Pendants With Meaning

A pendant is the classic piece to give, because one stone or shape can carry a message. A gemstone chosen by month turns it into a birthday piece, and the birthstone necklaces match stones to birthdays. For a quieter, everyday version, the dainty necklaces keep the pendant small and the chain fine.