I’m a firm believer in the power of a dainty necklace—a gold chain with a single floating diamond, a Baroque pearl pendant set in silver—to transform an outfit. And I'm not alone in thinking so: When I polled jewellery designers for their favourite everyday necklaces, many experts said that their favourite styles were of the light, minimalist variety.
What's behind the appeal? Dainty necklaces can come off stronger than they first appear—it's all in how you wear them. While a solo solitaire diamond or a slinky silver chain deserves a spotlight moment with a plunging neckline, each one is even better mixed with other necklaces. "I think one of the best things about dainty pieces is they lend perfectly to layering," Shelley Sanders, cofounder of The Last Line, tells BAZAAR.com. She advises playing with proportion or trying a necklace that combines several chains in one. "I also love to pair simple necklaces layered in graduation," she says.
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Whether you gravitate toward Catbird's braided chains or Mateo's diamond-encrusted pendants, your outfit will thank you for experimenting with different lengths and combinations. "I really do believe that jewelry should be a creative experience that can indulge your playful side," Marisa Hordern, CEO and creative director of Missoma, says. Her current go-to look, for example, mixes a letter choker with a snaky chain necklace and a longer pendant.
Below, shop 13 delicate styles made for layering daily.
Send a love letter or give one to yourself. This diamond initial necklace puts a personalized stamp on any outfit, whether layered with other necklaces or worn solo.
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Off-the-shoulder necklines and unbuttoned oxford shirts both call for this sterling silver pendant. The charm is small, but its folded design immediately draws the eyes in.
This necklace, a favourite of Sanders's designs, achieves a dainty layered look in a single piece. Each chain is braided differently for maximum contrast and shine. To make it truly personal, add an enamel or diamond charm to one chain—or all three. Or, you can add another level to the look with a floating diamond choker.
Lariat necklaces, or Y-necklaces, can still feel dainty with a thin chain and a charm-free drop detail. This minimalist style, in a chain with extra shimmer, is one of Catbird's best sellers.
A delicate necklace that raises the bar, from the glinting white gold to the floating pearl diamond.
Mateo crafts fine jewellery to wear now and pass down later. The cluster of pearls and diamonds on this chain necklace has a vintage feel we love.
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Dainty necklaces aren't all pavé diamonds and prim pearls. Alison Lou injects her smallest designs with the same sense of playfulness as her famous Jelly hoop earrings. This heart necklace has the same charm as the BFF pieces from our childhoods, but it's done up for adulthood in luxurious enamel and gold.
Floating diamonds can get lost in a tangle of other necklaces, so this stunner deserves front-and-centre placement.
Branch out from minimalist chokers with one fusing gold logo motifs and tiny cultured pearls. The mixed materials will give your necklace stack some welcome texture.
A delicate bar necklace punches above its weight with a glimmering emerald baguette at its centre.
Hordern calls this cheeky necklace her current favourite to draw the eye into her jewellery. Usually, she'll wear it over a base chain, like this asymmetric necklace, and add a pendant for length. Altogether, "this look is perfect for this time of year, paired with a lower neckline to really show off the jewellery," she says.
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Gigi Clozeau's jewellery is infused with the vibrant colours and relaxed sensibility of her upbringing in the South of France. Case in point: this choker mixing resin, emerald beads, and diamond accents to great effect.
This Baroque pearl pendant is the base of my daily necklace stack. I wear it under charm necklaces and beaded chokers, and on its own in equal measure. I'm mostly drawn to the chain's shine and the pearl's rough edges: Each freshwater pearl has slight variations, so each necklace is one of a kind.
A version of this story first appeared in Harper's BAZAAR US