It’s the worst — coming home after a long day at work or a night out with your girls, ready to tumble into bed, only to discover your necklaces have twisted into a tiny, shining mess. There you are, huffing and puffing, picking at them with your nails, maybe a pair of tweezers, or, if you’re really desperate, someone else’s teeth. Eventually you give up and crawl under the covers still wearing them, only to wake up to an even worse tangle.
No more of that.
Styling necklaces is deeply personal — it’s your private language, your mood ring, your wearable diary. But there are a few necklace layering tips worth knowing so your pieces don’t choke each other (or you).
Here’s our favorite how-to for creating a layered necklace look that’s harmonious, expressive, and entirely yours.
START BY TELLING YOUR STORY
Learning how to layer necklaces is an art. It’s building a narrative across your collarbones — a story made metal. It isn’t about piling on as many chains as possible. It’s about intention, contrast, and flow.
Often, your story starts with a pendant. A good medium-length necklace (around 45-50 cm) settles just above your décolletage and anchors everything else. Think of it like the main character in your cast.
The 18K Birth of Venus pendant is a beautiful place to begin, deeply human and mythic all at once. Even Rihanna knew it; she’s been spotted (multiple times) layering the 18K Birth of Venus with the 18K Botticelli’s Three Graces — a stack that’s part art history, part personal legend.
Or you may feel called to play with a zodiac pendant from our 18K SIGNS collection — your celestial DNA, worn close to the heart.
ADD DIMENSION (WITHOUT STRANGLING YOURSELF)
No necklace stack is complete without something higher up on your neck. It doesn’t have to be a choker in the traditional sense if that's not your fancy, but a shorter piece near the collarbone gives shape to the whole look.
The 18K Pave Choker is a standout — set with pavé brown diamonds and yellow sapphires, it’s basically the exclamation mark of our Stages collection.
Want something with the same silhouette but a little softer? The LP Ensemble Choker, with its lilypad motifs in silver or 22K gold vermeil, is more like a whisper.
If chokers aren’t your thing, the 18K Sleeping Venus Slider naturally sits higher without hugging too tight.
PLAY WITH MULTI-PENDANT MAGIC
Sometimes, you want a layered effect without the commitment (or the risk of a morning knot). That’s where multi-pendant necklaces come in. The 18K Shaker Necklace and 18K Shower Necklace are both designed exactly for this — they create dimension and intrigue all on their own. Tiny pendants scattered along a single chain move as you move, catching light and sparking curiosity, with zero chance of tangling into three separate pieces.
DON'T FORGET THE LONG ONES - THEY INVITE TOUCH
Long necklaces are the unsung heroes of necklace layering. The pieces that fall lower, near your ribs, do more than visually anchor a stack — they invite touch and play. They practically beg to be twisted between your fingers.
The 18K Woman of Willendorf is perfect for this. She spins gently in her 18K solid gold water droplet home, a reminder of ancient femininity and sensuality. Adding a longer piece like this stretches your stack, creates space, and draws the eye down, elongating your silhouette.
CONTRAST IS EVERYTHING
One of the best necklace layering tips is to mix weights and textures. Try pairing fine cable chains with chunkier links, polished surfaces with hand-carved textures, quiet matte gold with stones that demand attention.
Introduce a bolder chain — like the Chasm Link 3mm Necklace 22'' from our men’s collection. Sure, it’s technically “his,” but jewelry styling knows no bounds. It’s strong, engineered, textured, and acts as a beautiful foil to more delicate 18K pendants. You’d even be mixing metals, you rebel.
KEEP YOUR SPACING SMART
To avoid tangles (and to actually see each piece shine), aim for at least a 5 cm difference in length between layers. That keeps necklaces from stacking right on top of each other or getting twisted into a single indistinguishable line.
For example:
- Around 35 cm for a choker or high slider
- 45 cm for your main pendant
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50-55 cm for a supporting piece
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And then anything beyond 60 cm for the long statement that invites touch.
A FEW CLEVER ANTI-TANGLE HACKS
Even the most thoughtfully styled stack can become a bird’s nest if you’re not careful. Try:
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A layered clasp: It connects multiple necklaces at the back with perfect spacing so they don’t swirl around each other.
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Asymmetry: Deliberately offsetting chains helps them move around each other rather than into each other.
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Three to four layers max: Sure, in theory you could layer ten. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. It’s not all or nothing. It’s a you thing. Start with three. Let each piece breathe.
CARE FOR YOUR STORY
More layers mean more friction, more contact with skin oils, perfumes, sweat — all the things that may dull your 18K gold. A quick wipe with a soft cloth before you put them away is all it takes to keep them luminous.
If you can, hang them separately. It saves you from next morning’s untangling ritual.
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
At the end of the day, styling necklaces isn’t about rigid rules — it’s about what feels most like you. Maybe that’s layering the 18K Shaker with the Birth of Venus and a bold Chasm Link. Maybe it’s wearing just the Woman of Willendorf on her own, swinging low and catching curious glances.
Experiment. Try weird combinations. Let your mood or your outfit or your day’s story decide. Because jewelry is never just jewelry. It’s memory, feeling, expression. It’s play.
READY TO LAYER?
Explore our collections to find the perfect 18K gold necklaces, multi-pendant beauties, chokers, bold chains, and long tactile statements that will let you create a fine jewelry layered necklace look that’s all your own.