A necklace is a simple way to add some personality to your everyday look. If you wear a lot of basics, you might consider a more unique necklace to create some intrigue through texture (like a chain) or a focal point (like a pendant). Alternatively, you can layer necklaces and combine different styles to assemble the perfect neck dressing.
Wearing the right necklace can make a world of difference in terms of how you look, feel, and how others perceive you. If you are wondering what types of necklaces are in style today, you're in luck. our jewelry experts at Lulu Only have created a necklaces buying guide so that you can make an informed decision. In this article, you will discover some vital information about necklace buying and a few tips that will help you chose that perfect jewelry piece!
Necklaces for women buying guide
When you’re looking for the perfect necklace to be your signature piece of jewelry, you can’t just settle for any other necklace. There are some important aspects to keep in mind that can help you find the best necklaces for women that are available today. Factors like high-quality materials and versatility in style are all crucial and can help you find the necklace that’s right for you and your lifestyle
So, let’s take a look at some of the things you’ll want to consider in your search for the best women’s necklaces.
- Quality Materials & Durability
We cannot overstate how important it is to find necklaces that are made of quality materials and will last for a long time. Your neck is a sensitive area, so you don’t want to wear necklaces made out of harsh metals or materials that will tarnish quickly and leave your skin irritated or discolored. Plus, you’ll want to find styles that are waterproof and can withstand your everyday activities without getting worn easily.
Look for necklaces that are made out of quality metals, as they will last the longest and keep your skin from getting itchy or bothered. So even though this may sound like an unnecessary step, it will keep you from feeling disappointed after finding what seems to be your new favorite necklace, but it breaks down quickly after just one wear.
- Comfortability Levels
Going along with the quality of the materials, you should also pay attention to comfort. Doing so can help you find necklaces that are enjoyable to wear and won’t get snagged or caught on your skin. And like we just mentioned, necklaces made out of poor quality materials may break down quickly while they’re being worn, which could irritate your skin and leave you with rashes. So, the best women’s necklaces are the ones you can wear all day long with comfort and don’t need to be re-adjusted constantly.
- Versatility
When you’re on the search for the best women’s necklaces, another important thing to keep in mind is how versatile the necklace is. Basically, this means that you can easily wear the necklace in both formal and casual settings, and still make a statement with your style.
It can get too complicated if you have one necklace you can sport to the beach, another you can wear on a night out with friends and a different one that you wear to work every day. So, look for styles that are versatile and can be worn anywhere, because once you find the best women’s necklace, you won’t want to take it off!
- Style
Every woman has her own sense of style, so we will all have our own ideas of what the best women’s necklaces look like. When you’re considering which is the best women’s necklaces, you’ll want to take a look at a variety of styles like beaded chokers, ones with delicate chains, and necklaces with charms so you can find the one that perfectly fits your individual style and you’ll be happy to sport each and every day.
- Affordability
Keeping up with the latest necklace trends and finding your favorite piece of signature jewelry doesn’t have to come at the highest price tags. There are quality necklaces that are versatile, waterproof, and fit any style no matter what your budget is. So, don’t think you have to break the bank in order to find the best women’s necklaces.
Different styles of necklaces for women
You will find many styles in a jewelry shop:
- A choker is a short necklace that wraps around your neck while a collar is usually metallic and even shorter than a choker.
- A chain necklace is metallic and it can be simple of feature a pendant.
- A beaded necklace can have varying lengths and contains beads of different precious materials like gemstones, pearls, glass, plastic, metal or even wood.
- A lariat is a long (sometimes delicate) necklace that looks great with deep V necklines.
- A statement necklace or chunky necklace grabs attention and usually features gemstone or large metal links.
- A layered necklace is comprised of two or more necklaces bound together.
- When you buy necklaces online you will also discover beaded necklaces with multiple strands of beads. This style is called multi-strand necklace.
Different metals for necklaces for women
Necklaces for women come with different metals and materials. The most popular one is the gold or gold plated necklace, but you can also buy necklaces online of silver, stainless steel, titanium, copper, brass, etc. There are also wood necklaces and even textile or plastic necklaces you will find in a jewelry shop.
- Gold
it’s really soft and malleable. Plus, it doesn’t tarnish on its own. Since it’s too delicate to be used in its undiluted form, gold is frequently combined with other metals such as zinc or copper.
here’s a quick overview of the different levels of gold concentration:
24 karat gold is 100% gold
22 karats is 92%
18 karats is 75%
14 karats 58%
10 karats is 41%, and the lowest concentration that can legally be called gold
The higher the concentration, the more lustrous it is, but also the more prone it is to scratches.
- Sterling Silver
Pure silver is weak and difficult to shape, Instead, sterling silver is commonly used as an affordable white metal for jewelry. It’s made of 92.5% pure silver, with the rest of its makeup being copper or zinc.
You can tell if a piece of jewelry is sterling silver, as opposed to just silver-plated, if it’s “stamped.” This means that somewhere on the piece, there’s a “925” or “sterling” hallmark.
- Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that’s extremely strong, thanks to its carbon content, and fully rust-proof, because of its added chromium.It can be polished to a high gloss or brushed to a textured finish. It’s scratch-resistant, tarnish-resistant, and affordable.
- Titanium
Titanium is super tough and doesn’t corrode or rust when exposed to the elements. It’s just as strong as stainless steel, but almost half as light, and also more expensive.
- Platinum
Platinum looks a lot like white gold, but is notably stronger. It’s also naturally hypoallergenic, unlike most white golds which are alloyed with nickel. Highly resistant to stress and temperature, platinum is a good pick for pieces with a diamond setting, like wedding and engagement rings.
- Tungsten
Tungsten is four times stronger than platinum, with a hardness rating second only to diamond. It boasts a similar look, it’s hypoallergenic, and it’s also much cheaper. It even has the same weighty and substantial feel as platinum.
- Palladium
With its brilliant white sheen and long-lasting durability, palladium’s popularity has seen a lot of growth in recent years. It’s also hypoallergenic and extremely lightweight.
It is important to know what you spend your money on when you buy necklaces online. Usually, solid gold necklaces are more expensive (at least a couple of hundreds of dollars). On the other hand, plated gold is much more affordable, and it can look just as good. It all depends on your budget and how much money you are willing to spend on a beautiful necklace, regardless if it’s a chain necklace, a strand of pearls or a choker.
Even though you may believe that clasps may not be important, they really are! Generally, necklaces for women have one of the following clasps: the Lobster Clasp or the Spring Ring. When you buy necklaces online, take a good look at the clasp type to see if it is crafted to your liking.
How to style necklaces for women?
Do you want the gold chain or silver chain necklace to come above your chest, at a collar length or to hang much lower? The necklaces for women come in various lengths and sizes. When you style your necklace with your clothes, it is very important to consider the necklace length.
Necklaces come in standard sizes of 14”, 16”, 18”, 20”, 22”, 24”, 30” and 36”. Though all necklaces are standardized in size, each length will rest differently on different body types.
- 14 Inch Necklaces
Generally the shorter length of necklaces for women on offer, 14 inch chains rest around the neck like a choker, making this length a trendy choice for those ready to make a statement. 14 inch necklaces also pair incredibly well with other chain lengths as they won’t get tangled at the base of your neck.
- 16 Inch Necklaces
These necklace lengths rest just above the collarbone and are the shortest necklaces not considered chokers. They also pair well with others and are not quite as bold as chokers –they’re trendy but still chic.
- 18 Inch Necklaces
This length is what’s considered the average necklace length. It’s certainly the most common and rests just below the clavicle – you’ll often see this length worn with a traditional pendant for a sweetheart look.
- 20 Inch Necklaces
More often than not, this is the shortest length on offer for men’s chains. For both men and women, this length falls an inch or two below the collarbone and can easily be worn beneath higher-cut shirts and sweaters.
- 22 Inch Necklaces
These necklaces rest about halfway between the clavicle and the sternum. For women, this length is often worn with a pendant over the clothes in a trend-forward outfit. For men, this length is often chosen for statement chains that can be worn on top of or underneath clothes.
- 24 Inch Necklaces
Reaching towards the top of the ribs, 24 inch necklaces are one of the longest necklaces you’ll see worn by both men and women that aren’t doubled over. They stack excellently with other chains for a glammed-up look. They’re also the most popular necklace length for both men and women in religious and sentimental items.
- 30 Inch Necklaces
Most often, these necklaces are doubled over. If worn as-is, they almost reach the stomach. The long length provides flexibility – in doubling it over you can have two necklaces of the same size or split the lengths so one strand is choker-length while the other dangles below.
- 36 Inch Necklaces
Also a popular necklace size to be worn doubled over, 36 inch necklaces are generally the longest on offer. These can reach past the belly button on both men and women.
If you are getting a chain necklace, it is important to decide what you combine it with. This is an important matter because it can change the type of necklace you need to purchase. If you want a necklace for a pendant or a charm keep in mind a simple rule: the gold chain has to withstand its weight. The best chains for hanging a piece of jewelry are the wheat chains and the box chains. They are strong, classy and can be worn as often as you want. A hand-made piece will truly add that unique and elegant feel to your desired chain.
Different necklace lengths work best with different outfits. For example, a super plunging blouse may want to wear a longer chain to fill the space. Long chains also look fabulous on top of more flowy blouses and many people choose to also add a large pendant for extra oomph. These days, stacks are all the rage: no matter what kind of shirt or neckline: stack, stack, stack. The most popular stack combination is wearing 16, 18, and 20 inch necklaces all together so that the pendants and chains rest closely together without touching. Other people choose to not only mix lengths but also mix metal. Wear a 16 inch silver necklace with a heavy 20 inch gold one for a bold, adventurous look.
How to care for necklaces for women
One of the worst types of necklaces is the herringbone chain. They may look very beautiful and were selling like hot cakes a couple of years ago. But this type of chain managed to get customers mad because it would always kink. Another type of chain that tends to kink is the snake chain. This necklace can look solid and round but it kinks easily. When you buy necklaces online you should consider the chain type because it may need extra care.
You probably had to untangle a chain from your hair in the past and remember that it hurt a lot. Most of the time small, thinner necklaces can get easily tangled causing your hair to knot. That is why you should stick with the chain necklaces crafted with a medium thickness if you have long hair. You can buy necklaces online and find the ideal thickness for you. In a necklace shop you will get all these details and information about how to care for your necklaces.
Last, Remove your jewelry when doing physical activity that may cause abrasions to the surface of your ring such as: gardening, housekeeping, and exercise. Avoiding contact with harsh chemicals such as chlorine, household cleaners, perfume, and makeup will also prolong the luster of your jewelry. Store your jewelry in a cloth bag or a softly lined jewelry box to avoid surface scratching.
If you want to find the best necklaces for women you can click this link to view our unique Necklaces collection. We work with the most talented designers to craft exquisite jewelry pieces that you will fall in love with. Visit Luluonly online shop to buy necklaces online and share this page with your friends.
