The staple of many jewelry collections – the classic pearl necklace. From young girls to punk rockers to older ladies, this versatile piece of jewelry is for everyone.
But one of the most common questions people have with pearl necklaces is – what’s the best pearl necklace length for me?
There’s no straight answer to this and you’d have to take a few different factors into consideration to make the choice.
I’m going to outline the different pearl necklace lengths and how to choose the right one for which occasion.
When Choosing Your Pearl Necklace Length, Consider…
Here are a few factors to take into account when considering the best length of the necklace:
- Occasion: Where are you going to wear the pearl necklace to? Red carpet event, workwear, casual day out?
- Personal taste: Do you like wearing a lot of jewelry? Are you into retro looks, modern avant garde styles or something in between? Maximalist or minimalist?
- Overall image you want to achieve: Do you want to look casual and relaxed or sophisticated and elegant? How do you want to be perceived?
- Comfort: How comfortable do you feel or want to feel with your pearl strand? While chokers and princess lengths are typically more comfortable to wear, longer lengths can get in the way or snag on stuff.
Having a think about these will help you get started on picking your perfect necklace. While in the past the rules for getting it right were stricter, in today’s world of fashion, there are no rules. A good example is the rope pearl strand (more on this below) which, in the past, was considered best for formal occasions. Today, the trend is to wear these with casual attire for a cutting-edge modern look.
See what we mean?
There really are no rules. But there are guidelines to help you hit the perfect note.
Popular Pearl Necklace Lengths
Pearl necklaces come in a range of lengths, from the choker to the endless rope. Here are the most popular:
1- Quintessential Style: 14- to 16-Inch Pearl Choker
Choker necklace length
Pearl chokers are the quintessential pearl necklace, that’s been popular for the last 60 to 70 years. They can range from 14 to 16 inches and typically should rest at the base of your neck, right below the little hollow at your throat.
The pearl choker complements almost any outfit and can transition easily from casual daywear to formal evening wear. It’s highly versatile and excellent for just about any occasion or jewelry style.
3- Most Popular: 18-Inch Princess Length
This length is highly popular and has a modern appeal. Although 18 inches is the typical length for this style, they can also come in 17- and 19-inch lengths to suit various body types. This is typically considered the most traditional necklace length for pearls.
The princess strand falls about two inches below you the hollow at your throat. It’s easy to style and goes with anything, from jeans and a t-shirt to a formal black dress. Its versatility is what makes this length so popular.
3- The In-between Style : 22-inch Matinee Length
Elegant vintage Givenchy matinee pearl necklace. See it here.
The matinee length is in-between the short and the long pearl strands, it’s neither here nor there and that’s where its charm lies. Matinee strands can vary in length from 20 to 24 inches but the most popular is the 22.
The beauty of the matinee length is that it tends to make the wearer look slim because it draws the eye down the length of the chest. It’s also a great length to layer with longer or shorter pearl necklaces for a modern look. You can also try layering with other types of necklaces, mixing it up with gemstones for color.
While the matinee necklace can be worn with casual outfits, it tends to look best with workwear or more formal attire for the evening. Hence the name matinee.
4- Total Elegance: 26- to 36-inch Opera Length
Opera length pearl strand. See it here.
The opera length necklace ranges from 26 to 36 inches and is highly versatile and stylish. This popular length can be worn in a variety of ways – as a single strand hanging elegantly down the front, doubled up into a two-layer strand of varying lengths or knotted for an effortlessly stylish look.
This length is also perfect for petite women as it can tend to elongate your figure and make you look slimmer and taller, if you’re going for that look.
Opera length is typically worn with formal or evening wear, which is where it gets its name from. Women would wear these beautiful pearl strands when attending events that called for a glamorous look.
However, a new trend is to wear them with everything – jeans and a t-shirt, summer dresses, turtleneck… you name it.
Who says opera length pearl strands are just for formal wear?
5- Endless Versatility: 36+ inch Rope/Endless Length
Coco Chanel, the eternal style icon, said it best when she stated that “A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls”. And she was right because this is one of the most versatile pieces of jewelry you’ll ever own. Chanel’s personal favorite was the 60-inch length, but you can pick the one that works for you.
Any pearl necklace over 36 inches is called a rope. These can go up to 100-inches or for the die-hard pearl lover, even longer. These ropes are also called endless, because of the endless pearls they hold and numerous ways to style them.
Effortlessly stylish with a knotted rope pearl strand
For the pearl lover, it can’t get better than the endless pearl necklace! It’s really a showstopper and one to pull out when you want all the attention!
Depending on the length you choose, you can loop them into 2, 3 or even 4 layers to form different looks. Knotting and twisting these strands are also stylish ways to wear them and easily elevates any outfit. You can also add in clips, brooches and ribbons for a different twist on the overall look.
Before You Buy
If you’re about to buy yourself a pearl necklace, congratulations because you’re just investing in a piece of jewelry that you’re going to wear over and over. We’re sure of it!
Here’s a couple of things to consider before you buy:
- When considering the length of the necklace, take into account the fact that the length includes the clasp as well. If you’re building your own necklace, try to find a short clasp as this gives you more pearl and less metal.
- There can be variations in the exact length of the pearl strand, which can add or take away a few millimeters to the final length. This is due to the natural variations in the pearls.
- Invest in quality as this will last you decades and even become an heirloom to hand down to the next generation.
