Necklace Terminology

Choose your necklace based on your appearance, personality and style. For example, short necklaces are best with long necks; longer lengths tend to slenderize and elongate the body. Here is a brief guide to necklace terminology:

Choker 

   A necklace 14 inches to 15 inches in length that rests on the collarbone.

Princess 

   An 18-inch necklace strung with either graduated or uniform pearls.

Matinée 

   A slightly longer necklace, usually 20 to 24 inches in length.

Opera 

   A 30 to 36-inch necklace, this length should fall to the breastbone and can often be worn long or doubled.

Rope or sautoir 

   Any necklace longer than opera length. Ropes are often worn knotted, wrapped multiple times around the neck, or with a shortener for added versatility of style.

Dog collar 

   A multiple strand pearl necklace that fits closely around the neck. These are also referred to simply as "collars" or even as "chokers".

Bib 

   A single necklace with multiple strands of pearls of varying lengths that are worn nested together.

Torsade 

   A necklace in which several strands of pearls (usually freshwater) are twisted together and held with a special clasp.

Graduated 

   A necklace with pearls of gradually increasing size with the smallest at the back and the largest at the center.

Uniform 

   A necklace in which all pearls appear to be the same size, although there is usually a slight difference between the center and end pearls.