Chain Length Guide

Your perfect fit: finding your ideal chain length

At Hoskings Jewellers, we know that choosing the right chain length is everything! Too short and it’s uncomfortable. Too long and it gets in the way. That’s why we have created this chain length guide to help you find your perfect fit.

This guide to chain and necklace lengths will help you select the right size chain and answer some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about chains.

Difference between a necklace, necklet, chain and pendant

Before we discuss chain lengths, we’ll just clarify the difference between a necklace or necklet, chains and pendants. We’ve discussed these in depth in our blog post “Know about Necklaces and Chains”, so we’ll just do a quick explanation here:

• Necklace/Necklet: A necklace or necklet usually has a feature attached to the chain and often has embellishments like gemstones.
• Pendant: A pendant is the name given to a loose-hanging piece of jewellery that’s attached by a small loop to a chain.
• Chain: And a chain is a plain necklace made with links that can be made in a variety of styles and lengths.

Popular necklace and chain lengths

Hoskings Jewellers stocks many thoughtfully selected chains, necklaces and necklets as well as gorgeous pendants to make sure we have something to suit everyone, so whether you’re looking for something dainty and elegant, or a chunky statement chain, you’ll find it here.

35 cm chain or necklace

AKA a choker style necklace: A 35 cm chain is a short chain that is worn high up on the neck.  

40 cm chain or necklace

Fits similar to a choker: A 40 cm chain sits closely around the neck, making it an excellent choice for higher necklines or can be worn as a layering piece with longer chains.

45 cm chain or necklace

A classic chain length: The 45 cm length falls just below your throat where it rests elegantly on your collarbone. This versatile length is perfect for adding pendants and can be worn with both high and low necklines.

50 cm chain or necklace

Below the collarbone: A 50 cm chain sits just below the collarbone. This chain length is lovely for low, plunging necklines or can also be worn over turtleneck tops.

55 cm chain or necklace

Low neckline: This length of chain usually sits slightly above a low neckline giving a more relaxed fit. It’s very versatile and can be used as a layering piece with shorter and longer chains.

60 cm chain or necklace

Versatile and elegant: At 60 cm, the chain falls below the neckline of clothes but above the bust line. It's also a great length for layering with shorter chains or wearing as a statement piece.

80 cm chain or necklace

Drama-rama: An 80 cm chain sits on or slightly below the bust. This length creates a stunningly dramatic look, especially when layered with multiple shorter chains.

Adjustable chain lengths

Hoskings is all about providing quality, wearable and versatile jewellery, so we also stock chains that come with extensions. These extensions allow you to adjust the length of your chain or necklace for different looks. For example, a 40-45 cm adjustable chain can be worn as a choker one day and a collarbone-length necklace the next, to suit your mood and outfits.

Tips for choosing the right chain length

Choosing the right chain length can depend on your outfit of the day, the other accessories you would like to wear or just your mood!

The picture of chain lengths will give you a good idea of how each size should look on you, but of course, this will also depend on the size of your neck etc. If you’d like to test the sizes out at home, you could measure a piece of string, and use that to visualise how each size will look on you.

Or better still, pop into any Hoskings store and try the real deal on! Click here for a full list of Hoskings Jewellers store locations.

Chain length FAQ

+ What size of necklace chain is standard?

At Hoskings, we stock chains from 35 cm to 80 cm, but the most common chain lengths are 45 cm and 50 cm. These chain lengths offer plenty of versatility for everyday wear.

+ How do I clean my chain?

Keeping your chain clean means you’ll be able to enjoy it for many years to come, so it’s worth investing the time and energy! The blog post “Cleaning Gold Jewellery” will specifically help you maintain your gold necklace chains.  And the “How to Clean Silver Jewellery” article will teach you everything you need to know about cleaning your silver chain.

If you’re short on time and can’t read those articles today, then we suggest you clean your chain regularly with a soft cloth from our Connoisseurs jewellery cleaning range to prevent the build-up of oils and dirt. For a deeper clean, use a mild soap and warm water, then rinse and dry thoroughly.

+ How do I untangle a chain?

Dealing with a tangled necklace or chain is such a pain point, we’ve written an entire blog post about it called “How to Untangle a Necklace”.

But if you’re in this situation right now and want a quick tip to untangle a chain, then we suggest you gently work out the knots using a pin or needle – just slide the pin into the knot and gently jiggle it until the knot loosens. If you’re not the patient type, bring your tangled chain into your local Hoskings store and we’ll do the hard work for you!

+ What are the different chain types?

Chains come in many different styles with each offering a unique look to suit different occasions. Again, our blog post “Know about Necklaces and Chains” is a great resource to learn about all of the different chain types. But if you’re in a hurry, we’ll list some different chain types here, with links to the collections so you can go straight to finding your perfect chain (just click on the name):

• Ball chain - First came to popularity when worn as “dog tags” in the military, nowadays ball chains are usually elegant and dainty.
• Belcher chain - Aka a “Rolo chain”, this sturdy round chain is named after a bare-knuckle champion boxer called Jem Belcher.
• Box chain - AKA a ‘Cube’ chain, ‘Square Link’, ‘Briolette’ or ‘Venetian’ chain. Whatever you like to call the box chain, they won’t disappoint!
• Cable chain - Cable chains are durable, classic chains that work with every look.
• Curb chain - has links that lock together and lie flat.
• Figaro chain - The Figaro necklace chain has a lovely ornate pattern and is named after the Italian opera ‘The Marriage of Figaro’.
• Rope chain - These stunning chains are made with links woven together to form a chain that looks like a rope.
• Singapore chain - If a curb chain and a rope chain had a baby, it would look like a Singapore chain! Adorably twisty and sparkly!
• Snake chain - Snake chains are made with wavy plates that resemble a smooth movement.
• Wheat chain - The remarkable wheat chain has clever intricate figure-of-eight interlocking chains that look like wheat stalk tips.

If you have any questions or would like some help choosing the right size chain, please call the numbers below to chat with a Hoskings customer service representative, or pop instore where we’ll be delighted to help you in person!

VIC/ NSW/ QLD & TAS: 1800 819 796
NT/WA or SA: 08) 8981 8895

Written by Niamh Hislop