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How to Wear a Pendant

by Lucy Coleman
Last updated on June 22, 2023
Pregnancy Gifts

Pendant necklaces are tried and true– they are a simple yet stunning style of necklace that is a must-have in your jewelry box. There are quite a few different ways to style your pendant necklace, depending on the neckline of your top and your personal preferences with regards to elements like chain and color. If you’re curious about how to wear a pendant, then keep reading!

Wearing Necklaces with Different Necklines

model wearing diamond necklace

The neckline of your shirt or top matters a lot when choosing the right necklace to wear. You want your necklace to complement the neckline and enhance your outfit without looking out of place.

V Neckline

A V-neck top is super flattering and goes with many necklace styles. The V-neck is perfect for a pendant because it draws attention to the necklace.

You can either wear a diamond pendant necklace that lands a few inches above your neckline or go for something shorter. For plunging tops with deep V-necks, your necklace can create another V shape inside the neckline. Wearing a necklace that hangs below the neckline of your V-neck top is a big no-no because it could make your torso look shorter. You would also miss the chance to make your pendant stand out against your neck.

Statement chokers are also great with V-necks, as are simple strings of pearls.

Scoop Neckline

Larger pendants or a simple pendant necklace will complement a scoop neckline nicely. Scoop necks are very versatile because they are simple yet flattering on many people, so you can wear lots of different necklaces and look elegant and chic.

A bib necklace will also work well with a scoop or rounded neckline because the neckline provides a wide open space on the neck and upper chest to show off the necklace.

High Neckline

High-neckline tops and turtlenecks will cover up your neck, but you can still pair them with beautiful necklaces. Think longer rather than shorter for this neckline.

You don’t want the necklace to compete with the high collar on the top. A simple pendant would pair well if it hangs close to or below the collarbone. Layered necklaces also look great with this style of top, so you can layer your favorite pendant with a few other chains to create a sophisticated look.

Sweetheart Neckline

You want to find a mid-length necklace that hangs down to draw attention to the heart of the neckline. The pendant itself shouldn’t have harsh angles. Instead, go for something softer like a round diamond or heart shaped diamond.

Chokers can also work well with sweetheart necklines. If you choose a pendant necklace, a wider pendant will help balance out the neckline.

Square Neckline

A square neckline has angles and edges, so your pendant should, too. It may be best to choose a shape that combines angles with softer curves. A sunburst necklace or pear shaped diamond would be great for accentuating the edges of the square neckline.

Diamond tennis necklaces also complement a square neckline well because they are simple yet elegant.

Choosing Necklace Length

model wearing a necklace and stacked rings

The chain length of your necklace can affect its style and determine what clothing you can wear it with. Having a good idea of necklace length is important so you can look for necklaces that come in specific lengths when purchasing.

Long Chains

Longer chains around 24 inches will land above the breast bone. A 22-inch necklace falls a couple of inches below the collarbone. A long necklace is great for pendants and a V-neck to accentuate the neckline of your top.

Medium Chains

A 20-inch chain necklace is the most common length, and it will land around the collarbone. An 18-inch necklace falls around the base of the neck. A 16-inch necklace and anything shorter will be a choker.

If you have a smaller frame, necklaces will be longer on you and you may want to go for a shorter chain. If you have a larger frame, you might want a longer chain.

Wearing Other Accessories with a Pendant Necklace

model wearing a necklace, rings, and a bracelet

Since pendants are usually the star of the show, you don’t want your other accessories to overshadow your pendant necklace.

Keep the earrings smaller if you’re wearing a statement necklace. Layering necklaces can be great with a pendant, but you don’t want too many to crowd your neck.

If you want to wear statement earrings, we recommend choosing a smaller pendant so you don’t have too much going on. The same goes for wearing bracelets and other accessories– don’t overdo it on accessories if you want to show off your pendant!

What Is The Best Chain for a Pendant?

model wearing a single pendant necklace

There are several different types of chains for necklaces, including a snake chain or curb chain for a simple and elegant look. A small box chain is another great option.

You generally do not want a bulky chain for a pendant necklace because the pendant is the highlight, so you want a subtle necklace chain to make it stand out. If you want to go with a ball chain, make sure the chain is very thin and delicate instead of large and bulky.

Save yourself from making a rookie mistake by ensuring that the chain is heavier than the pendant. Otherwise the pendant may damage the chain or fall off! Make sure the chain is heavier than or the same weight as the pendant, and you won’t run into problems!

You can find delicate chains in yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, silver plated gold, and sterling silver.

How Thick Should the Chain Be?

Look for a pendant chain between 0.9 mm and 1.7 mm so you can let the pendant itself stand out. If your pendant is quite large, you may want a thicker chain to support it.

How to Layer Necklaces

model wearing multiple necklaces

If you want to wear multiple necklaces, you’d definitely be on trend. Layered necklaces are super popular now for a reason, but there are a mix of both good and bad necklace styling tips out there.

To layer necklaces properly, you want to have a collection of different styles and sizes of chains. A necklace with a pendant would pair well with one with a simple chain.

Choker necklaces can also add to the layered look if they match the style you have. Pick one or two necklaces to be bolder, and the other ones should be more minimalist, like simple gold chains. Many women love to wear necklaces that are different from each other, sometimes funky and sometimes elegant. Whatever combo you choose, we know you’ll rock it.

In addition, necklaces that are all the same color work well together in a layered necklace look, but you can mix and match colors as long as they complement each other.

Find Your Perfect Pendant Necklace

clean origin store

If you’re shopping for a diamond pendant necklace, Clean Origin has all the styles you need in your jewelry collection.

From simple pendants to extravagant statement gems, you can find something for any occasion and any outfit you want.