Necklaces

Necklaces are where most of this store lives — 199 of them. Engraved names and initials, birthstones, crosses, evil eyes, hearts, stars and clovers, on box, satellite, paperclip and herringbone chains. All 18K gold vermeil at 3 microns over solid sterling silver, or gold plated, in gold, silver and rose gold, 14 to 20 inches, from $37.

Necklace Questions

What necklace length should I buy?

16 inches sits at the base of the throat. 18 lands just below the collarbone and is the one most people want. 20 sits on the chest, over a crewneck. 14 inch is the shortest we make — measure your neck for those rather than guessing. If you're buying a gift and can't ask, 18.

How are necklaces measured?

End to end including the clasp, not counting the pendant. So an 18 inch necklace with a 1 inch pendant hangs about 19 inches at its lowest point. That's why wide or tall pendants often want an extra two inches — the stated length isn't where the bottom of the piece sits.

Can a necklace be shortened?

Chain necklaces, easily — links come out or an extender goes in, and any bench jeweller does it in minutes. Herringbone is the exception: it kinks permanently if bent wrong, so alterations are riskier. Buy shorter and extend rather than the reverse if you're unsure.

How do you layer necklaces without tangling?

Two inches apart, and different link patterns. Two chains of the same gauge at similar lengths braid themselves within an hour. A box chain at 16 and a paperclip at 20 stays separate. Only one pendant should be doing the talking — a name plus a small birthstone works, two wide pendants don't.

Can necklaces cause a rash or bumps on the neck?

Usually nickel in a base alloy, which is why cheap chains cause it and sterling silver mostly doesn't. Sometimes it's sweat and product trapped under the chain rather than the metal at all — a chain worn through the gym and not rinsed will irritate skin that's fine with the same piece otherwise.

Will a gold necklace tarnish or turn my skin green?

Not in vermeil — it is gold over solid sterling silver, with no copper to reach skin. The gold is 3.0 microns against an industry standard of 0.2 and 0.5 on typical gold plating. Perfume and hairspray dull plating faster than time does, so put necklaces on last.

By type: name necklaces, initial necklaces, birthstone necklaces, cross necklaces and chain necklaces.