Happy Stories From our customers

There are many different types of chain necklaces but one major consideration before choosing type is the length. A necklace that fits too snugly around your neck can be plain uncomfortable. Conversely one that hangs too long might “lose” your pendant under necklines of clothes. Here’s a quick guide found in RedEnvelope.com.

16-Inch Choker Length

The 16-inch choker length chain necklace is designed to draw attention to the neck and collarbone and can be worn as a standalone chain or with a small pendant. These necklaces fit snugly against the skin and can be worn with a strapless dress or strapless top, or with a shirt or dress with a deep neckline.

18-Inch Princess Length

The 18-inch princess length chain is the most common length for necklaces, and hangs just at or below the collarbone. They are typically made with very skinny link designs so that they can accommodate a pendant. They usually serve more of a functional purpose than a visual one, and very delicate styles are almost invisible to the eye.

24-Inch Opera Length

The 24-inch opera length chain is among the most dramatic types of necklaces and is typically worn outside of the outfit with a large pendant, or as a set of chains to become the focal point of the ensemble. This type is designed in a variety of link styles, including the classic Figaro, cable, box, herringbone and serpentine.

30-Inch Below Bust Line Length

A necklace chain that is between 30 and 36 inches in length hangs just below the bust line and is typically worn over a shirt or blouse. Chain necklaces of this length can be made with a variety of lengths and widths, with link styles including the box, cable, curb, Figaro, foxtail and herringbone. Many chain necklaces of this length are designed with several chains to create a layered look.

36-Inch Navel Length

Chain necklaces that are 36 inches or longer are designed to be worn outside of the outfit and can complement a dress with a very deep plunging neckline, or a blouse or cardigan that is layered with a tank top underneath. These necklaces can be made with larger link designs such as ropes, serpentine, foxtail, snakes and Byzantine styles to serve as the focal point of the outfit.

You can always buy necklaces by the yard (or a specific length not listed above) at our store:

18″ Diamonds by the yard bezel set necklace in either 14kt white, yellow or rose gold in three different diamond total weights. The cable chain is approximately 1.2mm wide and has approximately 1 inch between diamonds. Price $695 – $1695

As many of us sleepily crawled to the end of the Oscar awards last Sunday night, we were greeted with an award ourselves: Michele Obama’s telecast appearance wearing a “wake up” glam gown and some killer vintage Harry Winston earrings.

This isn’t the best shot admittedly but at least we’re given a closer look at those chandelier earrings. Wow! Matched perfectly with Michele’s new bangs:

Sometimes these award shows are overwhelming for jewelry lovers. There is just so much eye candy, we don’t know where to begin. So we picked a few of our favorites from last night’s Oscars. Tell us whose jewelry really bowled you over!

Salma Hayek looks amazing in her Alexander McQueen Academy Awards gown. But what impressed us was the way in which her “statement necklace” seems to be part of her gown, making the ensemble that much more pulled together and sleek.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, looked drop-dead in a Zuhair Murad gown with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry. And while Schwartz jewelry can consistently be seen on the red carpet, we just couldn’t help but love the gown and jewelry pairing…just perfect together.

We automatically jump to “diamond” when we think of a rare gemstone when diamonds, in fact, fairly commonly found on our planet. But this beautifully illustrated article shows you the rarest of the gems, many of which you may not have heard of.

Let’s start with one of my favorite:

Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a genuinely incredible gemstone, owing to the fact that it can actually undergo dramatic shifts in color depending on what kind of light it’s in. To be clear: this color change is independent of your viewing angle; a gemstone that shifts colors when you rotate it in your hand, is said to be pleochroic, and while alexandrite is strongly pleochroic, it can also change colors independently of viewing angle when viewed under an artificial light source. (In natural sunlight, the gem appears greenish blue; in soft incandescent light, the gem appears reddish purple, instead.)

A variety of Chrysoberyl, alexandrite belongs to the same family of gemstones as emerald. It’s color-changing properties (and its scarcity relative to diamond) is due to an exceedingly rare combination of minerals that includes titanium, iron and chromium.