The Ultimate Guide to a Modern Fine Jewelry Collection Part 2 – NECKLACES

The Ultimate Guide to a Modern Fine Jewelry Collection Part 2 – NECKLACES

The most classic and essential category of a fine jewelry collection is the necklace. Human beings have been adorning the neck with jewelry since the dawn of civilization.  A sophisticated fine jewelry wardrobe needs certain types of necklaces to be considered complete. The classics may remain somewhat consistent over time, but the styles and the rules for how to wear them are continually changing. We began our ultimate guide to a modern fine jewelry collection with earrings. Now, we turn to the necklace. Here we will focus on which necklace types are essential to ensure you have the perfect accessory for almost every outfit.  

“I love the process of creation and truly enjoy making all types of jewelry. But the necklace is my favorite piece to design,” says Giuseppe Picchiotti, founder of the PICCHIOTTI heritage brand. “The necklace is a unique chance for a designer to bring attention, individuality, and sparkle to the face. Whether it be an everyday wear pendant necklace or a statement bib, I get the opportunity to celebrate the grandeur of nature’s superlative gems and at the very same time reflect brilliance and light up onto the facial features. For me, it is a double pleasure! I hope it is for the wearer, as well.” 

As we explore the various types of necklaces below, keep in mind that well designed jewelry is often gender-fluid. Necklaces can be worn equally by all genders in the contemporary fashion world.  

Chokers, Collars, Short Necklaces

Short necklaces have ruled many runways and red carpets in recent seasons with celebrities and couture designers focusing on the collar as the perfect place to add a little extra adornment. As modern fabrics become more intricate and embellished, the trend for high necklaces (chokers and collars) has grown stronger. Chokers are defined as short necklaces (typically 14 – 16” for women, 15 – 17” for men) worn high on the neck, not resting on the trapezius muscles between the neck and shoulders. Collar necklaces are slightly longer (usually roughly 16 – 18”), but still short, typically resting along the collar bones.  

The classic Rivière is essential for every fine jewelry collection. Sometimes also called a “tennis necklace,” the Rivière is a single row of continuous diamonds or gemstones worn high across the neck. These necklaces are often graduated, meaning that the stones get smaller as they go behind the neck. Popularized in Europe in the 1800s, this classic necklace is a wardrobe essential and often a go-to for adorning cocktail dresses, turtlenecks, and black-tie attire. PICCHIOTTI has a number of diamond tennis necklaces featuring different shapes of diamonds, such as round diamonds or baguettes and in different lengths, some graduated, some not.  

The standard pearl strand is another must for a fine jewelry wardrobe. No longer restricted to the neck, pearl strands are being worn in many new and exciting ways – draped in the hair, worn across the waist as a belt, hanging below a jacket (like a pocket watch chain), or traveling down the spine as a backlace. To stand out from the crowd, consider a short pearl necklace like PICCHIOTTI’s “Essentially Color” pearl necklace featuring diamonds and white (South Sea), black (Tahitian), and golden pearls.   

PICCHIOTTI also offers incredibly versatile short reversible necklaces with different designs on each side; for example, diamonds on one side and gold on the other. These offer more ways to wear and add two must-have necklaces to the wardrobe with only one purchase. PICCHIOTTI also creates high jewelry necklaces in diamonds and superlative gemstones.  The Swirl necklace, for example, is a timeless diamond design with a swirl motif that can be worn with a wide variety of fashions. It can be purchased with a similar style of earrings for a contemporary demi-parure.  Parures, once popular among the elite in the 19th and early 20th centuries, consist of suites of jewelry intended to be worn together. The matchy-matchy look is making a comeback (Veranda Oct 2024) in 2025, but with only a couple of matching pieces as opposed to an entire ensemble, hence the term demi-parure. 

Classic Chains  

Every fine jewelry wardrobe should have at least one classic gold chain. Be it yellow or white gold, with or without diamonds, the chain link necklace is evergreen – it never goes out of style and can be worn with everything from sweaters and jeans to business attire and dresses. Many people have various types of chains in their jewelry box.  The iconic open link chain makes a sophisticated statement for everyday wear. Station chains are necklaces with some type of recurring motif along the chain – a bead, a pearl, a design element. These tend to be longer and have an elegant, casual vibe, but some people also like short station chains.  

Choosing a length for your chain necklaces is the tricky part. Consider your wardrobe. What necklines do you regularly wear? If you are petite and tend to wear peter pan collars, button-up blouses, or V-necks, try on shorter chains between 16 – 19”. If you are taller or tend to wear turtlenecks and open necklines, choose longer chains (20” and longer) for a slenderizing effect. The longer styles can also add versatility as they can be double-wrapped around the neck or worn as a belt. Chain bracelets are also great for everyday wear.  

Consider adding more than one chain to your wardrobe for layering – maybe a shorter open link gold chain and longer diamond chain or vice versa, depending on the fashions your normally gravitate toward. Invest in the highest quality you can afford, knowing that precious metals will last and can be passed down to future generations. 

Pendant Necklaces and Y Chains  

Another essential type of necklace is the pendant necklace.  Pendant necklaces are great for personalization as you can choose the pendant based on your unique preferences. “At PICCHIOTTI, we love to showcase truly remarkable and singular gemstones in a pendant,” says Giuseppe. The extraordinary pink tourmaline pendant, shown on the model above, is a superlative gem. With deep pink hues and a distinctive saturation of color, the gem is a treasure for pink lovers. PICCHIOTTI’s craftsmen surrounded it with round diamonds and carré diamonds (step cut faceted square diamonds) in a classic design that will become an heirloom for family members to cherish for all time.  

Pendant necklaces are perfect for many necklines, as well as no neckline, such as blazers with no blouse or turtlenecks that cover the entirety of the decolletage. The extraordinary color of the blue Paraiba tourmaline in the Essentially color pendant necklace is a glorious expression of cool summer vibes, perfect for blue-eyed beauties and lovers of light blue. Some sizable pendant necklaces (seen abundantly on recent couture fashion runways) can create a bold statement, particularly on a longer length chain. PICCHIOTTI’s tanzanite pendant necklace makes a dramatic plunge on a 28” diamond station chain. 

Reversible pendants from PICCHIOTTI’s new Reversible collection are also a wise investment as they offer more ways to wear, featuring two designs in one. For instance, Turquoise and diamonds on one side and crisp clean white gem ceramic on the other with a gentle twist. Similarly, a gold pendant becomes a diamond pendant with an easy twist, whenever a little extra sparkle is needed. 

Statement Necklaces – Multi-Strand, Bibs

No fine jewelry collection would be complete without at least one statement necklace. Statement necklaces can come in all shapes and sizes, but they tend to be larger and fill the chest area. Bib necklaces, for example, are wider, bolder styles that fill the front and top of the decolletage. Bib necklaces are often graduated in size, forming a V or coming to a pinnacle in front. Or they can be rounded or square, like a baby’s bib, so long as they cover a large bit of space between the collar bone and the breastbone.  

Multi-strand necklaces also make quite a statement and create a layered look with only one piece of jewelry. PICCHIOTTI’s Sapphire, Emerald, and Diamond Masterpieces multi-strand is a classic example. The three stands of diamonds are beautifully crafted in varying lengths to lie perfectly on the chest. They drop from an Art Deco inspired geometric pyramid design of octagonal-cut emeralds and cushion-cut sapphires. This necklace is both classic and contemporary, an enduring design that can be passed on for generations.  Similarly, for flower lovers PICCHIOTTI’s multi-strand Flower necklace features dangling floral motifs suspended from various lengths of diamond chains. The flowers appear to dance amongst themselves, much like a field of flowers in the wind. 

Bib necklaces create a dramatic and memorable statement. PICCHIOTTI loves to feature superlative gemstones in such conversation starters. The Burma Super Star Ruby necklace features over 100 carats of sensational vivid red rubies of the highest quality and purest color tones. The alternating pear and heart shapes, mixed with pear and round diamonds, creates a tapestry of delight that can be treasured and worn for special occasions over a lifespan, before being handed down as a cherished heirloom.  The new Rhombus Diamond bib necklace is another PICCHIOTTI iconic style.   Round diamonds are fashioned into a rhombus shape, in a graduated series of sizes so that the bib forms a V and the brilliance sparkles up towards the face. This classic has more everyday appeal and its workmanship can be appreciated on a daily basis.  

PICCHIOTTI also believes that single strands can be statements, especially when exquisite high gemstones are featured, and when a bit of versatility is included. The PICCHIOTTI Classic Blue and Green necklace is a great example. First, this necklace consists of the very highest quality sapphires and emeralds, making it a true investment piece that will never lose its allure. The drop featuring the large sapphire is removable, giving you two ways to wear – as a collar or short necklace or as a dramatic Y statement necklace. Further, the large oval sapphire haloed in baguette diamonds can be removed and clipped into a ring setting for a stunning blue sapphire and diamond cocktail ring. With so many ways to wear, this necklace/ring is sure to be a favorite that will be worn and beloved by those to whom you bequeath it. 

At PICCHIOTTI, art and artistry are fused in a vital relationship with function, to produce necklaces of outstanding beauty that are very comfortable to wear and durable enough to last for a lifetime and beyond.  According to Giuseppe, “Every necklace design at PICCHIOTTI has its own story, which helps the wearer convey a little more of her unique narrative.”  So, choose your favorite colors, or match your eye color, or convey your passion for precision or geometry or classicism… Seek out necklaces as distinctive as you are and add them to your jewelry collection with confidence, knowing you can wear them forever to commemorate your milestones or to simply add a little extra sparkle to your favorite outfits. Shop with someone you trust and ask about the origin and quality of the stones to ensure you are getting the best value. You deserve it. 

As you work towards building the perfect fine jewelry collection, stay tuned for future posts about additional jewelry categories such as rings, and bracelets. See our previously published guide to earrings here. 

 

Feature image at top – clockwise from left – PICCHIOTTI Riviére necklace, PICCHIOTTI Easy Wear chain link necklace with diamonds, PICCHIOTTI Reversible pendant in turquoise and white ceramic, PICCHIOTTI Masterpiece emerald, sapphire, and diamond multi-strand necklace   

If you liked this, you might also like: 

The Ultimate Guide to a Modern Fine Jewelry Collection Part 1 – Essential Earrings 

Masterpieces Necklaces – Behind the Scenes Stories of One-of-a-Kind Jewels and Statement Styles 

Warming Trend – The Resurgence of Yellow Gold in Fashion 

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