Size guides
Chain & necklace size guide
Chain length is not a size — it is a position. The number tells you where the chain will land: 16 inches on the collarbone, 18 just below it, 22 at mid-sternum. Pick the place first, then read off the length.
Necklace length chart
| Length | Metric | Name | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14" | 35 cm | Collar | Tight around the base of the neck, above the collarbone. |
| 16" | 40 cm | Choker | At the base of the neck, resting on the collarbone. |
| 18" | 45 cm | Princess | Just below the collarbone. The most common length. |
| 20" | 50 cm | Matinee | A few centimetres below the collarbone, on the upper chest. |
| 22" | 55 cm | Matinee | Mid-sternum. The usual choice for men and for pendants. |
| 24" | 60 cm | Opera | Mid-chest, sits over a shirt or a knit. |
| 28" | 70 cm | Opera | Below the sternum. Reads as a long line over layers. |
| 30" | 75 cm | Rope | Low on the chest. Worn long or doubled. |
Positions assume a neck of 33 to 38 cm. A thicker neck consumes more of the chain, so the same length sits higher.
How to measure
- String method. Run a string around the neck and let it fall to where you want the chain to sit. Mark it, lay it flat on a ruler, read the length.
- Existing chain. Lay a chain that hangs the way you like flat and measure the full loop, clasp included. That number is your length.
- Neck first. Measure the neck itself. Above 40 cm, add two inches to the length you would otherwise choose.
Measure against bare skin. A collar adds length that the chain will not have when you wear it.
Men and women — where the ranges sit
Men
20 to 22 inches covers most men. 20 sits below the collarbone, 22 at mid-sternum and is the usual choice with a pendant. 24 inches is worn over clothing rather than on the skin.
Women
16 to 20 inches covers most. 16 rests on the collarbone, 18 just below it and is the default, 20 moves onto the upper chest and carries a pendant well.
Weight and width change the reading
Two chains of the same length do not sit the same way. A heavy link pulls down and reads longer; a fine chain follows the neck and reads shorter. A wide chain also takes up more of the visible space between collar and collarbone, so a length that looked balanced in fine gauge can crowd the neck in heavy gauge.
A pendant works the same way. The heavier it is, the further down the chain settles — a substantial piece on a 20 inch chain sits closer to where 22 inches would sit bare.
What the same length weighs
Length says where a chain lands. Weight says how it gets there. These are the pieces STRUGA currently makes in more than one length, with the weight of each: the same chain, the same clasp, only the length changed.
| Object | 40 cm | 45 cm | 50 cm | Per 5 cm added |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thorn Links Chain | 11 g | 12 g | 13 g | about 1 g |
| Signature Asymmetric Links Choker | 27 g | 30 g | 33 g | about 3 g |
| Small Beads with Heart Choker | 27 g | 30 g | 33 g | about 3 g |
| Blade Mini Links V.1 Choker | 80 g | 90 g | 110 g | about 15 g |
At 45 cm the range runs from 12 to 90 grams: the same number on the tag, seven times the mass on the neck. That is the part a length chart cannot show. One size up costs about a gram on a fine chain and about fifteen on a heavy one, which is also why a heavy piece ordered long sits lower than the number suggests.
Weights are taken from the current catalogue and are the same on both storefronts. The Thorn chain also runs at 75 cm, where it weighs 18 g.
Made to your length
STRUGA chains are made to order in 925 sterling silver, so length is set for you rather than picked from a stock run. The chart is a way to arrive at a number — send it to us, or send the length of a chain that already hangs the way you want.
Layering: the modern approach
Layering chains creates visual depth. The rule of three works best:
- Base: 14-16" choker or tight chain
- Middle: 18-20" with a small pendant
- Accent: 22-24" longer piece
Mix chain types: a flat link + a round chain + a cord with pendant. Varying texture prevents the "costume jewelry" look.
Choker-specific guidance
Chokers (14–16", 35–40 cm) need precise sizing. STRUGA chokers come in 40, 45 and 50 cm. Too tight is uncomfortable; too loose looks like a regular short necklace. Measure the neck circumference at the base of the neck (where the choker will sit) and add 1cm for comfortable fit.
- Tight choker: base measurement + 0.5–1cm. Sits snug.
- Standard choker: base measurement + 1–1.5cm. Sits at the base of the neck without pressing.
- Loose choker: base measurement + 2cm. Has slight slack; reads less as choker, more as short chain.
STRUGA chokers run in standard sizes S/M/L; custom sizing available for unusual neck circumferences.
Related reading
Length is settled here. What kind of piece to measure in the first place — chain, pendant, choker, collar.
Frequently asked questions
Didn’t find the answer — write to us, we reply personally.
Ask a question →01What length necklace should I get?+–
18 inches (45 cm) is the length that suits the most people — it lands just below the collarbone on an average neck. Go to 16 inches if you want the chain sitting on the collarbone, 20 to 22 inches if you want it lower on the chest or if you are hanging a pendant.
02Where does an 18 inch necklace sit?+–
Just below the collarbone on an average adult neck. It is the default length in most catalogues for exactly that reason: visible above a crew neck, clear of a collar, and long enough that a small pendant hangs free rather than sitting in the hollow of the throat.
03Where does a 20 inch chain sit?+–
A few centimetres below the collarbone, on the upper chest. On a man with a broader neck it reads closer to where 18 inches reads on a narrower one — which is why 20 inches is often the shortest length that looks right on men.
04What is the standard men's chain length?+–
20 to 22 inches (50 to 55 cm) covers most men. 20 inches sits below the collarbone, 22 inches at mid-sternum and is the usual choice when a pendant is involved. 24 inches is worn over clothing rather than against the skin.
05How do I measure my necklace length?+–
Run a piece of string around your neck and let it fall to the point where you want the chain to sit. Mark it, lay it flat against a ruler and read the length. Measure over bare skin, not over a collar — fabric adds length that the chain will not have.
06How do I measure a necklace I already own?+–
Lay it flat, fastened, and measure the full loop; or lay it open end to end including the clasp. Either gives the stated length. If it hangs the way you want, order the same number — your own piece is a more reliable reference than any chart.
07Does neck size change the length I need?+–
Yes. A chain has to go around the neck before it can hang, so a thicker neck consumes more of the length and the chain sits higher. If your neck measures above 40 cm, add two inches to the length you would otherwise pick.
08What length works for a pendant?+–
Longer than you would choose for a bare chain. A pendant should hang clear of the collarbone rather than sit on it, so 20 to 24 inches is the usual range. The heavier the pendant, the more the chain is pulled down — a substantial piece on a short chain sits lower than the number suggests.
09Can I wear two chains at different lengths?+–
That is the point of layering. Leave at least two inches between lengths so the chains read as separate lines instead of tangling — 18 and 22, or 20 and 24. Different link weights layer better than two identical chains.
