Necklaces and pendants are more than just a piece of jewellery or a simple accessory, particularly when one buys a gold or diamond necklace and pendant. These are a reflection of one’s affluence, their personal style, and more. With their rising popularity in everyday wear and with the evolving styles and designs, buying one of these pieces can be quite a confusing experience. However, Sunshine Diamond’s comprehensive guide for buying the perfect necklace in 2024 will simplify things, helping you assess the right choice for your preference.
When buying diamond or gold necklaces in 2024, knowing what you want means being aware of all the important factors about the jewellery rather than merely ‘how it looks’. This is critical because these pieces are quite expensive and precious. In this guide, we will explore everything from the different types of chains and pendants available on the market to the 4C’s of diamond purchasing, identifying the perfect shape, design, length, style, and much more. So let’s get started.
The market is flooded with a broad range of necklace and pendant types to choose from. Every one of these unique styles appeals to a different fashion choice and is suitable for varied occasions. The most prominent types of necklaces and pendants include the following:
- Pearl Strands: Pearl strands are a timeless classic piece of necklace, suitable for every kind of occasion, whether formal or informal. Available in a wide variety based on pearl size and necklace length, these are perfect for a sophisticated look.
- Gold and Diamond Chains: Gold and diamond chains are ideal for everyday wear and special occasions. Based on your preference, you can choose how simple or elaborate you want the necklace to be.
- Link Necklaces: Known for the unique look of the interlinked chains, the link necklaces have quickly become a modern favourite for the versatility, playfulness, and stylish look they offer.
- Collar Necklaces: Collar necklaces are very popular for the bold yet simplistic look that they offer. These necklaces sit on the neck, just above the collarbone, offering an edgy look.
- Choker Necklaces: Choker necklaces are those that sit just below the collar bone, snugly hugging the neck in a beautiful and bold look.
- Tennis Necklaces: Tennis necklaces feature a continuous row of diamonds and/or gemstones, which look understated yet flawless and perfectly elegant.
- Riviera Necklace: The Riviera necklace is one which features big diamonds or gemstones in the front and smaller ones following it, in a gradient design, giving a luxurious look.
- Bar Necklace: The bar necklace is a minimalistic design option which often features a simple design or something very minimal, like an initial.
The different chain types include the following:
- Cable Chain: This is the simplest chain option out there, perfect for regular wear or minimalist looks.
- Wheat Chain: These are very intricately and meticulously designed chains, which are visually very appealing and strong.
- Box Chain: The box chain features square-shaped links to which a pendant may or may not be added.
- Omega Chain: Another popular option, the omega chain, is one which sits flat around one’s neck and looks stunning with pendants.
- Snake Chain: This one features plates or bands which are strongly linked together and offer a very smooth look.
- Flat Link Chain: As the name suggests, these have links that are flat, giving the chain a more substantial look.
- Ball Chain: A ball chain features several tiny balls linked with each other, giving the chain a distinctive texture.
Diamonds are always set in a base material, which can be either silver, platinum, or a variety of gold. At Sunshine Diamonds, you can get diamond necklaces in a variety of material choices to suit your unique preferences.
a) Material Types: There are several material options available to choose from, each offering its own unique features and looks to match distinctive style preferences.
1) Gold: Gold is perhaps the most preferred and commonly available option of material for a diamond necklace. This is available in diverse options in terms of karat range and colour, with rose gold, white gold, and yellow gold offering highly distinctive looks.
2) Silver: Silver is yet another very popular option of material for a diamond necklace because not only does it offer a unique look, but is also much more affordable than gold and platinum.
3) Platinum: Platinum is the most expensive material option as this offers the utmost durability and strength among all. The fact that it is much rarer than other options further enhances its value.
b) Gemstones Used in Necklaces and Pendants: There are a variety of gemstones used in necklaces and pendants. The most common types include emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and pearls. Every one of these offers a distinctive look and enhances the necklace’s look manifold.
c) Material Durability and Care: Understanding the level of durability each of the above-mentioned materials offers is critical when making a choice between them all. In addition to this, it is also essential to know how much care and maintenance they demand.
d) Familiar Hallmarks of Gold Used: Making sure your jewellery is authentic is essential. As such, familiar hallmarks of gold, such as 916 markings, 14K, 18K, BIS, and other pertinent markings, must be checked.
Whenever making such an expensive and precious purchase, it is essential to be aware of the various quality grades across the board when it comes to diamonds.
a) 4Cs of Diamond
The 4Cs of a diamond represent the 4 key elements you need to assess in terms of quality before choosing which necklace you should buy. These 4Cs are the cut, colour, clarity, and carats.
Cut: The cut of a diamond refers to how well the diamond would allow the light to pass through. This determines how sparkly and shiny the diamond will be.
Colour: The colour of the diamond is yet another key consideration when it comes to determining its quality. When it comes to colour, diamonds are graded on a comprehensive scale, which ranges from D to Z, D representing the highest grade of colourless and Z representing light yellow colour. The closer a diamond is to D, the more expensive it is.
Clarity: Diamonds can have some flaws in them, both external and internal. The clarity parameter helps identify how clear or flawless the diamond is. The higher the clarity, the more expensive the diamond will be.
Carat: The carat value of the diamond refers to the weight of the diamond in the piece. The greater the value of carats, the higher the value of the piece, as it represents a larger diamond.
The style and the setting of the diamonds on the necklace are also key points of consideration when choosing or buying a diamond necklace. As such, it is critical to carefully assess the various options to choose the right one.
a) Various Styles
Necklaces are available in a variety of styles, from which you can choose the best option for your preference. The most common styles include:
1. Solitaire Pendants: A solitaire is a very popular choice of necklace style in 2024. These are minimalist jewels featuring one significant diamond. These are ideal for everyday wear, including everyday formal wear.
2. Halo Pendants: Halo pendants are those that have one major diamond or another type of gemstone, which is surrounded by a bunch of smaller diamonds, highlighting the elegance of the bigger gemstone further for a stunning aesthetic.
3. Cluster Pendants: Cluster pendants are those with a cluster of small diamonds set close to each other to form a pattern. These cluster pendants come in various designs — floral, geometric, heart, etc., offering a minimal and stylish look.
4. Drop Pendant: Drop pendants are those with a drop attached to the main setting and dangle from the chain, offering movement to the piece. The diamonds are set in the design of the drop shape and are sophisticated and elegant.
b) Popular Settings
The setting of the diamonds in the necklace can define how the necklace looks and, more importantly, how secure or how prone to damage the necklace is. The more secure the setting, the more ease you will experience while wearing the necklace.
1. Bezel Setting: The bezel setting is one of the most popular and best-liked diamond setting options in 2024. This setting features the diamond(s) surrounded by a rim made of metal, which holds the stone in place firmly while offering a contemporary and modern look.
2. Channel Setting: The channel setting is one in which the diamonds (and other gemstones) are arranged in a single line or multiple uniform lines or channels. These are perfect for an elevated and elegant look, whether for everyday wear or for occasional adornment.
3. Prong Setting: The prong setting is one of the popular diamond setting options for necklaces. In this setting, metal prongs are utilised to hold the diamonds securely in place. This setting is considered the most secure diamond setting, which makes it so popular, along with its ability to cover a minimal amount of the diamond, thereby increasing the sparkle.
Necklaces are available in a diverse range of lengths, each of which suits a distinct style. Here’s a breakdown of all the popular options to browse:
a) Collar Length: The collar length necklace is one which, when worn, sits comfortably around the neck, giving a snug fit due to its 12-13 inch length. These are perfect for formal wear.
b) Choker Length: This type of necklace is 14 to 16 inches in length, just slightly bigger than the collar necklace, and is also a good option for formal wear. However, the choker is more versatile and goes equally well with casual and semi-formal occasions and dresses.
c) Rope Length: The rope length necklace is the longest option available on the market. These necklaces are typically between 36 inches and 42 inches in length and are better for a layered or doubled styled.
d) Matinee Length: The matinee style necklace is typically between 20 to 24 inches and is a versatile option. Based on the occasion and type of dress, these can be a great choice if you are targeting plunging or very deep necklines or going for a dramatic look.
e) Princess Length: The princess length necklaces (that go between the lengths of 17 inches to 19 inches) are another highly versatile piece which suits various occasions and dress types, falling just below the collar bone for a chic and elegant look.
f) Opera Length: Another dramatic necklace option is the opera length necklace, which is typically between 30 inches and 36 inches. These are perfect for formal occasions, where you wish to layer or double up the necklace.
Now that you know what the different lengths of necklaces are and how they vary from each other, another factor you must take into account when buying them is the neckline of your dress. For instance, if you are planning a purchase for off-shoulder or boat-type necklines, the collar style necklaces (12-13 inch length) are the ideal option. Similarly, princess style necklaces (17-19 inches) are the best for v neck or sweetheart necklines, whereas matinee style (20-24 inches) is the perfect choice for high neck clothing options, and opera style (30-36 inches) is best suited for evening gowns and formal dresses.
What’s the difference between a necklace and a pendant?
A necklace typically refers to a chain which is worn around the neck. These can include simple chains or elaborate neck pieces of various kinds that are all built together into one cohesive piece. A pendant, on the other hand, is an ornamental piece which goes into the chain to enhance its look. Pendants are typically sold separately as individual pieces that can be put in or removed from a chain.
Necklaces & Pendants As Gifts
Necklaces and pendants make the perfect gift option for anyone who is special to you. These are perfect for occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and even graduation and make every occasion even more special. If you are searching for diamond or gold necklaces for someone special to you, check out Sunshine Diamonds and explore their elaborate range of options.
Should I get a 16 or 18-inch necklace?
The pendant length that you choose will depend upon the kind of dress you are planning to wear or the type of neckline you typically wear. A 16-inch necklace is a short one which will typically sit just above your collarbone. On the other hand, an 18-inch one will fall just below the collarbone. Because of this, the 18 inch is a more versatile option.
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