Birthstone Necklace for Mom

A birthstone necklace for mom works when it carries her children's stones, not her own. Bars, marquise settings and name-and-stone combinations, up to five stones on one chain — 18K gold vermeil at 3 microns over solid sterling silver, or gold plated. Gold, silver and rose gold, 14 to 20 inches, from $49.

Birthstone Necklace for Mom Questions

Should it have her birthstone or her children's?

Her children's, almost always. That's the whole appeal of the piece and it's the version that gets worn daily rather than kept in a box. Her own stone is a nice piece of jewelry; her children's stones are the one she'll put on without thinking.

How many stones should it have?

One per child, up to five. Three is where most orders land. If she has more than five, a bar with initials rather than stones handles it better — past five stones the pendant reads as a chart rather than a necklace.

Can you add names as well as stones?

Most of this collection does both — a name in the font you choose with the stone set beside it, or several names each with their own. If she already owns a plain name necklace, the stone version is the upgrade that doesn't duplicate what she has.

What if a child is born after you buy it?

Ask before assuming. Some settings can take an additional stone later, most can't — a bar sized for three doesn't become a bar for four. If more children are likely, buy the style with spacing to grow into, or accept it as a snapshot of now.

What length is best?

18 inches for a multi-stone bar. Wider pendants need the drop or they sit awkwardly at the throat. 16 works for a single stone or a marquise setting. If she layers necklaces, 18 sits well under a shorter chain.

Is it suitable for daily wear?

Keep it to a bar or marquise setting if that's the goal — clustered multi-stone pendants read as occasion jewelry. Softer stones like opal, moonstone and turquoise mark more easily than garnet or ruby, which matters more on a piece worn every day.

See also birthstone necklaces, birthstone jewelry, name necklaces and gifts for her.