All About Diamond Necklaces & Pendants

A diamond necklace is a must-have in every lady’s jewelry collection. This piece of fine jewelry exudes an inimitable regal air that never fails to bring out one’s inner princess. Let the royal in you shine with a stunning diamond necklace that fits your style and personality. To help you select the perfect diamond necklace, here is a must-read guide that will give you all the information you need to make a significant jewelry purchase you won’t regret.

How to Find the Right Diamond Necklace?

Such an important purchase needs a set budget. The purpose of your purchase can define your budget. Are you buying a diamond necklace for your wife as an anniversary or birthday gift? Are you getting your daughter her first diamond necklace as a gift for her graduation? Are you treating yourself to a new necklace?

Once you have set a budget, you can now decide on the style. You can first focus on the design’s practicality, followed by intricacy. By “practicality,” we mean taking into account the purpose and function of the necklace. Will it be suitable for everyday wear? Or are you intentionally getting something reserved for the most special of occasions? Once you’ve determined how the necklace will be worn, you can now decide on the metal type, type and length of the chain, and even the size and weight of the necklace.

By “intricacy,” we mean the fine details of the piece, including the artistic design, craftsmanship, diamond or gemstone embellishment, and all the other ornamental aspects that make up the overall physical appearance of the necklace.

Knowing the different types of diamond necklaces for women can help you decide which is the best one to get. Diamond necklaces vary significantly so we have further classified them by length, style, chain, and pendant style to ensure a clearer understanding and identification of the different variations.

• A. Diamond Necklaces by Length

  Necklaces vary in length and can be as short as 14 inches or as long as 36 inches.

  A collar diamond necklace measures 12 to 14 inches long and is designed to sit tightly around the neck. This type of necklace is ideal for clothing with open-neckline such as v-necks, off-the-shoulder tops, and strapless and scoop-neck tops.

  A diamond choker measures between 14 and 16 inches and is meant to rest at the base of the neck.

  A diamond princess necklace is a classic length featuring an 18-inch chain that hits just below the collarbone. This is the necklace length that quickly comes to mind when you hear the term “necklace.” Diamond necklaces in this length usually come with a single diamond or necklace .

  A matinee diamond necklace features a 20- to 25-inch chain that is ideal for layering. This necklace’s length falls between the collarbone and the bust. A matinee diamond necklace is the perfect accompaniment to a plunging evening dress.

  Any necklace longer than 36 inches has a rope length. This type of necklace can be worn layered, looped, or knotted. Diamond necklaces with rope length typically feature bezel-set diamonds set in even spacing throughout the chain.

  What is the ideal length for a diamond necklace?

  There is no ideal length for a diamond necklace as it depends on the wearer’s preference. However, the most popular length for diamond necklaces is between 16 and 18 inches.

• B. Diamond Necklaces by Style

  The necklace style is defined by the presence or absence of a pendant and the placement and setting of gemstone accents.

  A diamond solitaire necklace is a popular style. This features a plain chain that holds a single diamond as its pendant. The diamond pendant can be set in a bezel or secured by four or six prongs.

  The diamond tennis necklace is another favored style. This type of necklace features a long and continuous row of diamonds of the same cut, carat, and setting linked together by a precious metal base.

  A three-stone diamond necklace is basically what the name implies. The pendant will feature three diamonds sitting next to each other in a horizontal or vertical layout.

  The choice of minimalists is the floating diamond necklace. This style features a delicate, barely-there necklace chain and a single diamond as the pendant. The solitary diamond pendant has a clean prong setting and a small bail so that it appears as if it is “floating” on the neck (and not held by a necklace chain).

  The dancing diamond necklace is the more whimsical option. This features a diamond pendant suspended from two fine points so that the precious stone will move or respond to the wearer’s movements. The diamond will reflect shimmering light as it moves, creating a beautiful “dancing” effect.

  There is also the diamond heart necklace, regarded as a more intimate piece of jewelry. This is a famous anniversary or Valentine’s Day gift as it features a heart-shaped diamond pendant.

  Which metal is best for a diamond necklace?

  In general, platinum is the ideal choice for diamond settings because of its superior strength, durability, and inimitable white luster. But platinum can be costly. An alternative will be 18K or 14K gold which are as tough and dependable as platinum but not as expensive. Diamond will look great with all metal hues so it won’t matter much if you prefer white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold. Necklaces with tiny diamonds set on gold-plated sterling silver are gaining popularity because of affordability.

• C. Diamond Necklace Chain Variety

  The cable chain is the most popular necklace chain. Its simplicity allows for quick and easy dressing up or down. It features a series of tiny, interlocked round or oval links that are uniform in size, width, and thickness. Cable chains are the common choice for hanging diamond pendants on.

  The rolo chain is the cable chain’s sibling. This type features symmetrical links that are rounded on the outside and flat on the inside. Sometimes rolo chains feature links that are rounded on both the outside and inside.

  A box chain is another option. Also called the Venetian Chain, this necklace chain variety features delicate square or box-shaped links interconnected to form a long and sturdy chain. This highly durable chain is comfortable and offers a unique visual allure.

  The snake chain is a smooth and sleek chain type with a semi-rigid design. It can have a rounded or flat surface that features tightly woven plates. Although snake chains vary in width, the thinner and more delicate snake chains are still relatively heavier than the typical cable chains used for diamond solitaire necklaces.

  If you want more texture, go for a wheat chain. This chain variety features one-directional twisted oval links that mirror the look of wheat stalks. Wheat chains are semi-rigid and are the perfect sturdy chain for heavy and sculpted diamond-adorned pendants.

  Which chain is best for a diamond necklace?

  A sturdy chain is the best choice. You want to keep that precious stone safe so you would want a chain with solid construction, even if it has a delicate appearance.

• D. Diamond Necklace Pendant Variety

  The diamond pendant is what will give character to a necklace. It is what will makes the necklace more unique, symbolic, and valuable.

  There are many different styles of diamond pendants and the solitaire stud is the most popular. The solitaire pendant is also called a stud pendant. It features one stud or a single diamond mounted alone on a four-prong or six-prong setting, or a bezel. The princess cut is the most popular diamond shape for a solitaire pendant, followed by the round cut.

  A diamond halo pendant is another option. It features a central diamond haloed or surrounded by a circular frame of more diamonds. The halo of diamonds makes the central gem appear larger and more sparkly.

  There are also sculpted pendants shaped like a heart, flower, moon, cross, cloverleaf, and other popular icons and figures fully encrusted or creatively embellished with diamonds. You can find these types of diamond pendants in a range of designs - from classic and geometric ones to modern and whimsical designs like popular Disney icons or your favorite Disney character.