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From a thin gold thread to an armour of hanging stones around the neck or a cascade of pearls, “necklace” is just one lazy word doing the work of a myriad moods.
A necklace is a piece of jewellery worn around the neck. Because it sits close to the face, it naturally draws attention and often becomes an important part of personal adornment.
Across cultures and throughout history, necklaces have been used to express beauty, identity, tradition and, at times, spiritual meaning. Their forms have evolved with materials, craftsmanship, clothing and changing ideas of adornment.
Necklaces exist in an extraordinary range of forms. Some sit closely around the neck, while others fall across the chest. Some are fine and barely noticeable; others are broad enough to become the centre of the entire composition. They may be made from chains, beads, pearls, gemstones, metal elements or combinations of several materials.
But a necklace is also worn in relation to the person and the clothing around it. It occupies the space created by an open or closed neckline, works alongside the earrings, and can influence how the proportions of the face and upper body are perceived. A necklace therefore serves not only as an ornament, but as an important part of the entire jewellery composition.
Modern jewellery has expanded these possibilities further. Designers combine different textures, materials, forms and techniques within a single necklace, making the boundaries between traditional categories increasingly fluid.
Yet these differences are not random. Necklaces can be understood by looking at how they are constructed, where they sit on the body, what gives them their visual character, and how they are designed to be worn.
This guide looks at the major types of necklaces, what distinguishes one type from another, and how these different forms behave when worn.
Part of the Totapari Necklace Series
This article is part of our complete necklace knowledge series, exploring necklaces from their basic forms and construction to length, materials, styling, composition and care. This one deals with the forms themselves.
- Types of Necklaces: A Complete Guide to Necklace Styles (You are here)
- Best Necklaces for Different Face Shapes
- Necklace Length Guide: How to Choose the Right Necklace Length
- Pendant Necklaces: Meaning, Design and Everyday Elegance
- Gemstone Necklaces: Understanding Semi-Precious Stone Jewellery
- The Styling Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Pearl Jewellery
- Sterling Silver Necklaces: Why 925 Silver Jewellery Remains Timeless
- The 2026 Evolution of the Silver Necklace
- Statement Necklaces: Bold Jewellery That Defines an Outfit (to be published soon)
- How to Match Necklaces with Every Neckline: The Complete Guide
- Facial Geometry and Face Shape Assessment
- How to Care for Necklaces: Cleaning, Storage and Longevity (to be published soon)
- Adorning the Anahata: The Symbolic and Spiritual Significance of Necklaces (to be published soon)
- The Art of Layering Necklaces: A Complete Guide to Creating Meaningful Jewellery Compositions
- The Soul of the Maker (to be published soon)
- How Necklines, Necklaces, Earrings, Face Shape and Fabric Work Together
The Collarbone: Where a Necklace Rests
The collarbones, or clavicles, are the two bones that extend from the breastbone at the centre of the chest towards the shoulders. They form the visible structural line across the base of the neck and upper chest and provide an important resting area for many necklaces.
The collarbone is an important resting and supporting area for a necklace. Its visible line forms part of the surface over which the necklace spreads before longer forms continue down the chest.
The three surface appearances — straight, gently curved and sharply angled — together with how the collarbones are read and what they decide, are set out in our How to Match Necklaces with Every Neckline: The Complete Guide.
Necklace Length: Position Matters More Than the Name
Necklace length determines where the necklace rests on the body. The same design can behave very differently depending on whether it sits high on the neck, around the collarbone or lower on the chest.
Standard categories such as collar, choker, princess, matinee and opera provide a useful framework, but they are not absolute positions. The same measured length can fall differently depending on the wearer's neck structure, shoulder width, height and torso proportions, while the necklace design, pendant weight and neckline can further affect where the piece should ideally sit.
Choose necklace length by the position you want the necklace to occupy on your own body, not by the category name alone.
We have explored how to measure that position and choose the appropriate length in our Necklace Length Guide: How to Choose the Right Necklace Length.
Major Types of Necklaces
Necklaces can be classified in several ways. Since necklace lengths such as collar, choker, princess, matinee, opera and rope are covered separately in our Necklace Length Guide, this section concentrates mainly on necklaces distinguished by their construction, material, form or visual character.
Choker Necklaces
Chokers are short necklaces that sit high on the neck. Because they follow the neckline closely, they highlight the neck and collarbone. Chokers may be delicate chains, pearl strands, or rigid metal torques. Best suited for open necklines where the neck and collarbone are visible.
Pendant Necklaces
Pendant necklaces feature a central element that hangs from a chain or strand. The pendant may be a gemstone, charm, locket, or symbolic motif. These necklaces are popular because the pendant naturally becomes the visual focal point.
Chain Necklaces
Chain necklaces consist primarily of linked metal loops without large decorative elements. Common chain structures include cable chains with simple uniform links, curb chains with flattened interlocking links, and box chains formed by square links. Modern variations such as the paperclip chain have also become popular for their open, elongated link design.
Chain necklaces are often chosen for everyday wear because they are versatile and can be worn alone or paired with pendants.
Beaded Necklaces
Beaded necklaces are formed by stringing beads into a continuous strand. The beads may be made from gemstones, pearls, glass, wood, or metal. Gemstone bead strands often highlight the natural colours and textures of stones and go well with different dresses.
Beaded necklaces are often used for adding colour and texture to an outfit and can range from casual to semi-formal styling.
Pearl Necklaces
Pearl necklaces are among the most classic forms of jewellery. They may appear as uniform pearl strands or as graduated strands, where pearl size gradually decreases from the centre toward the clasp.
Typically associated with formal or classic styling, though modern designs adapt them for everyday wear.
Gemstone Necklaces
Gemstone necklaces feature stones as the primary decorative element. These may appear as bead strands, pendants, or continuous designs such as the rivière, which consists of one or more strings of linked gemstones. Chosen both for their visual appeal and for the symbolic meanings often associated with different stones.
Layered Necklaces
Layered necklaces involve wearing several necklaces together at different lengths. This creates visual depth and allows different chains, pendants, and textures to interact. Maintaining some spacing between layers helps prevent tangling.
Statement Necklaces
Statement necklaces are bold, visually dominant necklaces designed to become a focal point of the jewellery composition. At Totapari we call them Impact Necklaces, because that is what they are for. What makes a necklace a statement piece is not one particular construction, length or material, but its visual presence — it may gain that presence through size, width, colour, volume, ornamentation or an unusual form.
A bib necklace is one form of statement necklace. It spreads broadly below the neck, often covering a substantial area of the upper chest with beads, gemstones, metal elements or several connected components.
A torque or hasli creates presence differently. Rather than spreading over the chest, it forms a rigid or semi-rigid structure around the base of the neck, creating a strong, defined line. It may be plain and sculptural or heavily ornamented.
So, bib, torque and hasli describe forms of necklace; “statement” describes the visual role a necklace plays. A bib is usually a statement necklace because of its scale, while a torque or hasli can range from restrained to strongly statement-making.
Statement necklaces are usually worn as the primary piece, with the remaining jewellery playing a quieter role.
Traditional Necklace Forms in Indian Jewellery
Indian jewellery contains a vast number of regional necklace forms. The following are a few important examples that illustrate how construction, cultural purpose and regional tradition can also define a necklace type.
Hasli
The hasli is a rigid, collar-shaped necklace traditionally worn in Rajasthan and parts of western India, particularly among pastoral and nomadic communities such as the Banjaras. The name is derived from “hansuli,” a word associated with the collarbone, reflecting the way the ornament rests along this part of the body.
The Hasli and torque belong to the same broad structural family of rigid neck ornaments, but the terms are not interchangeable. The torque or torc is historically associated particularly with ancient European jewellery traditions, while the Hasli or Hansli belongs to Indian jewellery traditions and appears in several regional forms. The distinction is therefore cultural and historical as well as visual.
Satlada
The satlada is a multi-strand necklace associated with the jewellery traditions of the Deccan, especially the Nizams of Hyderabad. The name literally means “seven strands,” and it is typically composed of pearls or gemstones connected by decorative side elements. Variations include the panchlada, which consists of five strands.
Mangalsutra
The mangalsutra is a sacred necklace worn in many Hindu traditions as a symbol of marriage. While its meaning is shared across regions, the design varies widely. North Indian versions often feature black bead strands with gold pendants, while South Indian traditions use forms known as thali or thirumangalyam, sometimes tied on yellow thread or gold chains.
Taweej Necklaces
A taweej necklace contains a small amulet case that may hold prayers or protective symbols, worn for spiritual protection. It combines ornamentation with belief, serving both aesthetic and spiritual purposes.
Matching Necklaces with Necklines
A necklace is not seen independently of the clothing beneath it. The neckline creates the immediate space in which the necklace is worn, while the fabric provides its background. An open neckline exposes skin for the necklace to occupy, while a closed neckline may require the necklace to work partly or entirely over the clothing.
The relationship is therefore not as simple as assigning one necklace type to each neckline. The depth and shape of the neckline, the position and scale of the necklace, the fabric, and the rest of the jewellery all contribute to the final composition.
We have explored these relationships in detail in our How to Match Necklaces with Every Neckline: The Complete Guide.
Materials Used in Necklace Design
Necklaces can be made from almost any material that can be shaped, linked, strung, set or suspended. The material may form the necklace itself, provide its structure, or appear as beads, stones, pendants and other decorative elements.
Precious Metals
Gold, silver and platinum are the principal precious metals used in necklace making. They may form chains, settings, links, rigid neckpieces or complete necklaces and are particularly important in fine jewellery.
Base Metals and Fashion Jewellery
A very large proportion of fashion jewellery is made from base metals and alloys such as brass, copper, zinc alloys and stainless steel. These may be used in their natural form or plated with gold, silver, rhodium or other finishes to produce different colours and surface effects.
Fashion necklaces also make extensive use of glass, crystals, imitation pearls, synthetic or imitation stones, resin, acrylic, plastic, fabric, cord and other manufactured materials. This enormous material freedom is one reason fashion jewellery can range from very simple everyday necklaces to elaborate statement pieces.
Gemstones
Natural and lab-grown gemstones can be incorporated as beads, cabochons, faceted stones, pendants or stones set into metal. Diamonds and coloured gemstones may therefore form anything from a small decorative accent to the principal material of a necklace.
Organic Materials
Pearls, coral, amber, shell, wood, bone and other naturally derived materials have long been used in necklaces. They introduce colours, surfaces and textures quite different from those of metals and mineral gemstones.
Glass and Enamel
Glass can be formed into beads, stones and decorative components. Enamel is a material used with a technique: powdered glass is fused to a metal surface to introduce colour and pattern. Meenakari is an important Indian tradition of enamel decoration.
Other Contemporary Materials
Modern necklace design also uses ceramic, leather, textile, rubber, silicone and many experimental materials. Designers may combine several of these with metal, gemstones or organic materials in a single necklace.
A necklace type tells us what kind of necklace it is; its material tells us what it is made from. Material is another way of describing a necklace, but it does not necessarily define its form. A pearl necklace tells us primarily what it is made from; a choker tells us where it sits; a pendant necklace tells us about its construction; and a statement necklace tells us about its visual role. The same necklace can therefore belong to several categories at once.
The Necklace Follows the Composition
A necklace is worn around one of the most visible areas of the body, immediately below the face. It can add ornament, colour, texture, direction or a focal point to this area, but that does not mean every outfit requires one.
The decision begins with the wearer and what she has chosen to wear. The clothing already establishes a neckline and a fabric. Together, these create the space and background within which a necklace must work.
An open neckline may provide a generous area of exposed skin, while a closed neckline may require the necklace to work partly or entirely over fabric. Neither automatically demands or rejects a necklace. The fabric matters just as much: plain fabric may provide a quiet background for an elaborate necklace, while embroidery, print, texture or other ornament may already give the upper body considerable visual presence.
If a necklace is needed, then its position, scale and form can be decided. Length determines where it rests; construction determines how it occupies the space; material, colour and ornament determine its presence. The face and earrings then become part of the larger jewellery composition, with one element leading and the others supporting it.
The occasion adds the practical test. A necklace chosen for everyday wear, work, an evening event or a wedding must not only look appropriate but also have suitable weight, durability and comfort for the time and conditions in which it will be worn.
The necklace follows the wearer and the clothing. The neckline determines the space available to it, the fabric provides its background, and the rest of the composition determines whether a necklace is needed at all. If it improves that composition, wear it; if the composition is already complete, leave the space alone.
Common Questions
Eleven short answers to the questions we are asked most often about necklace types.
How many types of necklaces are there?
There is no fixed number of necklace types because necklaces can be classified in several different ways. A necklace may be described by its length and placement, construction or form, material, cultural tradition, or by the visual role it plays. For example, choker describes where a necklace sits; pendant necklace describes its construction; pearl necklace describes its principal material; Hasli identifies a traditional form; and statement necklace describes its visual presence. These categories can overlap — a pearl necklace can also be a choker and a statement necklace at the same time.
What is the basis for dividing necklaces into different types?
There is no single basis. Necklaces can be classified by length and placement, construction or form, principal material, cultural or traditional form, and visual role. Collar, choker, princess, matinee and opera refer primarily to length and placement; chain, pendant, beaded and bib describe construction or form; pearl and gemstone describe material; Hasli, Satlada and Mangalsutra identify traditional forms; while statement describes visual presence. Layered necklaces describe a composition created by wearing necklaces together at different lengths. Choker, pearl necklace and statement necklace are therefore not equivalent classifications; each tells us something different about the necklace.
What is the most common necklace length?
The Princess length, usually around 17–19 inches, is one of the most commonly worn necklace lengths. It generally rests around the collarbone or just below it, at the upper part of the chest. However, the same measurement does not fall at exactly the same position on every person. Neck circumference, body proportions and the construction and weight of the necklace can affect where it finally rests. The important principle is to think of necklace length as a position on your own body, not simply as a number or category name.
What metals are commonly used to make necklaces?
Fine necklaces are commonly made from precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum. Fashion jewellery also makes extensive use of brass, copper, stainless steel, zinc-based alloys and other base metals, often with gold-, silver- or rhodium-coloured plating. The metal may form the entire necklace, as in a chain or rigid collar, or provide the links, settings and framework that hold pearls, beads, gemstones and other decorative elements.
What is a beaded necklace?
A beaded necklace is made by stringing or linking a series of beads. The word beaded describes the construction rather than the material. The beads may be made from gemstones, pearls, glass, ceramic, wood, metal, resin or other materials. A gemstone necklace or pearl necklace can therefore also be a beaded necklace if it is constructed from a series of beads.
What is the difference between a pearl necklace and a gemstone necklace?
The distinction is primarily one of material. Pearls are organic gems formed within certain molluscs, whereas most gemstones used in jewellery are minerals or other gem materials that are cut, polished or shaped for use. A pearl necklace uses pearls as its principal material. A gemstone necklace uses stones such as amethyst, garnet, turquoise, sapphire or other gem materials. Both can appear as strands, pendants, set necklaces or more elaborate compositions.
What is the difference between a chain necklace and a pendant necklace?
A chain necklace is defined primarily by its linked-metal construction. Cable, curb, box and paperclip chains are examples of different chain structures. A pendant necklace has a decorative element suspended from the necklace. The supporting necklace may itself be a chain, cord or beaded strand. A necklace can therefore be both a chain necklace and a pendant necklace: one term describes its construction, while the other describes the hanging element.
What is the difference between a necklace and a pendant?
A necklace is the complete piece of jewellery worn around the neck, while a pendant is a decorative element suspended from it. A necklace does not require a pendant. When the pendant becomes the principal decorative feature of the complete piece, it is commonly described as a pendant necklace.
What is a statement necklace?
Statement describes visual presence rather than one particular construction. A necklace becomes a statement piece when its size, width, colour, volume, ornamentation, material or unusual form gives it enough presence to become a focal point. At Totapari we call them Impact Necklaces. A bib necklace may function as a statement necklace because of its scale, but a large gemstone necklace, an elaborate Hasli or an unusually bold chain can also become a statement piece.
What is the difference between a Hasli and a torque?
Both are rigid or semi-rigid neck ornaments, so structurally they can appear similar. A torque or torc is historically associated particularly with ancient European jewellery traditions and is often formed from a rigid or twisted metal bar. A Hasli or Hansli belongs to Indian jewellery traditions and appears in several regional forms. The distinction should therefore not be reduced simply to open versus closed. They share a broad structural idea but belong to different historical and cultural jewellery traditions.
Does necklace length define the type of necklace?
Sometimes. Terms such as collar, choker, princess, matinee and opera classify necklaces according to approximate length and where they fall on the body. But length is only one classification system. A 17–19 inch necklace might simultaneously be a Princess-length necklace, a pearl strand and a statement piece. At Totapari, necklace length is treated primarily as the position the necklace occupies on the wearer’s body, rather than relying on the category name alone.
Totapari Knowledge Series · Necklaces: what a piece is, where it sits, and what it is made from. Browse the Totapari necklace collection.
