40 cm or 45 cm Necklace: How to Choose the Right Length

What Changes Between 40 cm and 45 cm?

On the same person, with otherwise comparable construction, the longer necklace generally has more room to sit lower. The exact drop depends on the shape it forms around the neck and upper chest. A stiff or stone-set design will not necessarily hang like a very fine chain of the same nominal length.

For reference, 40 cm is approximately 15.7 inches and 45 cm is approximately 17.7 inches. Labels such as “16 inch” and “18 inch” are close comparisons, but they are not exact equivalents: 16 inches is 40.64 cm and 18 inches is 45.72 cm. Use the retailer’s actual stated measurement when small differences matter.

A 40 cm necklace may feel comfortably close on one person and too short on another. A 45 cm necklace may create the desired space for a pendant, or it may fall against the edge of a particular neckline. Neither is the automatically correct choice.

How to Compare the Two Lengths at Home

Start with a Necklace You Already Like

Unfasten a suitable existing necklace and lay it straight on a flat surface without stretching it. Measure from end to end, noting whether you have included the clasp and which extender link you usually use. Keep the measuring method consistent with the product listing; ask the retailer if its method is unclear.

For a pendant necklace, record the chain length and the pendant drop separately. A familiar 45 cm chain with a small pendant may not give the same overall effect as a 45 cm chain carrying a longer centrepiece.

Make a Loose Length Comparison

Use a soft, non-stretch strip or tape marked at 40 cm and 45 cm. Hold it gently around the route where a necklace would lie, without tying it or pulling it tight. Compare the two lengths in a mirror and note where each feels comfortable. Treat this as an approximation: it will not reproduce the drape of every chain or stone-set design.

Repeat the comparison wearing the top or dress you have in mind. Look forwards, turn your head and sit down. If a length feels restrictive, choose a longer option or a different design rather than treating its appearance as more important than comfort.

Chain Length, Pendant Drop and Extension Are Different Measurements

Chain length describes the length of the chain under the seller’s measuring method. Pendant drop describes the centrepiece hanging from it. Extension length describes the additional adjustable section. Read all three where they apply.

A listing marked “45 cm + 5 cm extension” generally describes adjustment from the main 45 cm length towards 50 cm, depending on the available links and construction. It does not provide a 40 cm setting. If you need both 40 cm and 45 cm, look for a stated adjustment range that actually includes those lengths.

Do not assume that a necklace can accept an extender. The clasp, end fittings, weight and design need to be compatible, and the maker may have specific advice.

Use Product Measurements, Not Product Names

Our Gold Cushion Cut Cubic Zirconia Tennis Necklace is listed at 40 cm. The collection also includes a gold-tone tennis necklace listed at 45 cm. Open each description to compare its construction and fastening as well as its length.

The necklace in the White Pearl Cubic Zirconia Jewellery Set is described as 45 cm with a 5 cm extension. It illustrates why the full specification matters more than seeing “45 cm” in isolation.

These are separate products, rather than photographs of one necklace adjusted between two lengths. Use the images to understand their designs and your own measurements to decide whether the stated fit is suitable.

Then Check How It Sits with Your Clothes

Once you have a comfortable length, see whether the chain or pendant clears the edge of your top. A pendant repeatedly resting on a neckline can be distracting, whilst a length that sits cleanly above or below it may look more deliberate.

A necklace worn over knitwear needs room for the fabric and may sit differently from the same piece against the skin. If you want one necklace for several outfits, a suitable adjustment range can help, provided the construction allows it.

For advice organised by clothing shape, continue with our necklace for neckline guide. The measurement check here comes first; styling follows once the necklace fits comfortably.

Frequently Asked Questions