How to layer necklaces without tangling

Understand how necklace length is measured

A necklace's length is the full length of the chain from end to end, including the clasp, not how far it hangs down your chest. Pearl Paradise, a pearl retailer, points out that roughly half of that length goes around the back of your neck. That is why a 20 inch chain does not fall anywhere near 20 inches; on most people it rests a few inches below the collarbone.

Common layering lengths are 16, 18, 20 and 22 inches, about 41, 46, 51 and 56 cm. Jewelers give them traditional names, though the boundaries vary by source. Blue Nile describes a choker as roughly 14 to 16 inches, sitting at the base of the neck; a princess length of about 18 inches, resting at or just below the collarbone; a matinee length of about 20 to 24 inches, falling toward the upper bust; and opera and rope lengths beyond that. Your neck and frame change where each one lands. On a fuller neck or broader shoulders, every length sits a little higher than a chart suggests, so measuring with a piece of string at home is more reliable than any chart.

Space layered necklaces about 2 inches apart

The most useful rule for layering necklaces is the gap. Blue Nile and most layering guides suggest about 2 inches between each chain, for example 16, 18 and 20 inches. At that spacing, each chain has its own band on your neck and the shorter one cannot drop into the longer one. Chains only 1 inch apart tend to sit on top of each other and twist.

Pendants change the math. A pendant adds weight and drop to the chain it hangs on, so a pendant on an 18 inch chain may sit almost where a plain 20 inch chain does. If your second and third necklaces overlap, move the plain chain to a longer length or the pendant to a shorter one. Adjustable chains with an extender, which many layered necklace sets include, make it easy to fine tune the spacing once everything is on.

How to layer necklaces in the right order

Lay the necklaces out on a flat surface first, shortest at the top, so you can see the arrangement and untangle anything before it goes on. Then work in front of a mirror, in the top you plan to wear.

1. 01

   Start with the shortest chain

   Fasten the shortest, finest chain first. It sits closest to your neck and is the one you will line the others up against.

   CheckCheck that it lies flat without twisting.

2. 02

   Add the middle layer

   Put on the next length, usually the one with a small pendant. Look at the gap between the two: you should see a clear band of skin or fabric between them, about 2 inches at the front.

3. 03

   Finish with the longest or heaviest

   Add the longest chain last. Blue Nile suggests keeping it slightly bolder, since a heavier piece at the bottom anchors the set and helps the lighter chains above hang straight.

4. 04

   Turn the clasps to the back

   Rotate each necklace so its clasp sits at the back of your neck. Clasps that drift forward pull the chains toward each other and are often where twisting starts. Move your head and shoulders, then check the spacing once more.

Mix weight and texture, and decide on gold, silver or both

A layered set looks deliberate when the chains are clearly different from each other. A common arrangement is a fine chain at the top, a pendant in the middle and a slightly bolder chain or longer pendant at the bottom. One focal pendant is usually enough; two large pendants on neighboring chains compete and tangle. Varying the texture, such as a smooth snake chain next to a cable or paperclip chain, adds interest while keeping the metal consistent.

Layering necklaces in gold only or silver only is the simplest approach, and Blue Nile recommends keeping metal tones consistent for a polished look. Mixing metals is a matter of taste rather than a rule. It tends to look intentional when the mix repeats somewhere else, such as in a watch or rings, or when one piece already combines both metals. Silver tarnishes over time, and one darkened chain next to two bright ones makes the whole set look uneven. Our guide on cleaning silver jewelry covers the safe methods.

Match the layers to your neckline

The neckline sets how much room the necklaces have, and our overview of necklines shows the common shapes. With a crew neck or other high neckline, Pearl Paradise suggests longer lengths, matinee or beyond, so the chains lie over the fabric instead of disappearing into the collar. With an open neckline, a V neck or a scoop, shorter layers sit within the opening and frame it. An open collar shirt with a button or two undone works well with short layers that stay inside the collar.

Think about the occasion too. Fine gold or silver layers are easy to wear to work, and our guide to business casual for women covers what most offices expect. For an evening event, one striking layer may say more than four fine ones; our guide to cocktail attire for women covers the rest of the outfit. Turtlenecks take the neckline rule furthest: only long chains worn over the knit show at all.

Stop layered necklaces from tangling

Spacing and weight solve most tangling, but hardware helps with the rest. A necklace layering clasp, also sold as a detangler or necklace spacer, is a small bar or tube with two or three rings. You attach each necklace's clasp to its own ring, shortest at the top, and the set then opens and closes as one piece. Oh My Clumsy Heart, a jewelry maker that sells these clasps, notes they need at least a 2 inch difference between chains to work. A side benefit is that the small clasps on each chain are no longer opened and closed every day. Without a special clasp, some people connect the necklaces to each other instead, hooking the clasp of the shortest chain through the end ring of the next. It holds the backs together in a pinch, but it also pulls the chains toward one another, so the spacing at the front needs checking afterward.

Among the common necklace clasp types, lobster clasps are generally the most secure for everyday layering, spring rings are small and common on fine chains, toggles are easy to fasten but can slip around to the front, and magnetic clasps are easy to open but can separate under a snag. To store a layered set (our guide to storing jewelry covers the options), hang the chains separately or lay them flat, and fasten each clasp so the ends cannot thread through each other. A tangled pile in a drawer is much harder to fix than one knot on your neck.