Some people confuse pendants with chains and necklaces. While they're all jewelry and people use the words interchangeably, the differences could save you from buying a stone with nothing to wear it with.
Simply put, a pendant necklace is a chain with a decorative piece hanging from it. That dangling part is the pendant, while the chain is what sits around your neck with a clasp to close. Together, they create the whole piece.
People love pendant necklaces because they often represent something personal. With LINK Necklaces' interchangeable system, you can match charms to chains to suit your mood, outfit, or occasion.
This blog further highlights the qualities of a good pendant necklace, helping you separate it from other types of chains and highlighting some of our best options.
What Is a Pendant Necklace?
A pendant necklace is jewelry that you wear around the neck, with a decorative element such as a religious symbol or initial charm hanging from a chain. The decorative element is the pendant, and it can sit at the center of the chest or near the collarbone. It can also hang lower depending on the chain length.
So, if you’re wearing a gold chain necklace with a charm hanging from it, you’re really wearing a pendant necklace.
Why are Pendant Necklaces Special?
Lots of people treasure their pendant necklaces because they can say so much about you, a memory, a loved one, or something special in your life. An initial might represent the name of a grandchild or someone you love, while a birthstone can mark a birthday.
Also, because the pendant typically sits at the center of your chest, it captures the eye easily, so you can make it say whatever you desire. Want people to see you as elegant and sophisticated? A minimalist pendant necklace can do that. Or if you're leaning into a bohemian style of dressing, layer different chain lengths and styles with your pendant necklace.
LINK's options even offer the flexibility to personalize. People who love to create different looks with their accessories can link chain pendants to different necklaces and then switch them up with other charms from our collection.
Pendant vs Necklace vs Chain: What’s the Difference?
Chain
A chain is the cord that goes around your neck and holds the pendant as the base of the necklace. Chains come in various styles, including cable, paperclip, snake, and link. Some are thin, and others are chunky.
Pendant
Pendants are the stones or charms that hang from the chain. People usually attach them through a bail (a small opening that lets the pendant slide onto the chain), a loop, or a clasp.
Not every pendant goes with every necklace/chain. For example, a thin satellite necklace may not support a heavy pendant, while a thick chain would look weird with a tiny pendant. Always consider style and size when choosing a pendant.
Necklace
A necklace is the complete piece of jewelry worn around your neck. It could be a plain chain with no decorations, or a beaded design, a pearl strand, or a pendant necklace. The best way to remember is: every pendant necklace is a necklace, but not every necklace has a pendant. This table also offers a quick breakdown:
| Jewelry Term | What It Means |
| Chain | The rope/cord base that goes around your neck |
| Pendant | The decorative piece that hangs from the chain |
| Necklace | The complete piece of jewelry designed to be worn around the neck |
| Pendant Necklace | A complete piece made from a chain and a pendant |
Common Types of Pendant Necklaces
Pendant necklaces come in lots of beautiful styles, which is part of the fun. Some feel classy for dressy occasions, while others are colorful and full of personality. The most common types of pendant necklaces today are:
1. Initial and Letter Pendant Necklaces
A letter or initial pendant is the simplest way to get personalized jewelry. The letter can represent your grandchild's name, or pretty much anything else you want. Initial pendant necklaces are also thoughtful gifts because they feel personal and less generic than a random chain.
Initial Pendants
Tell your story, one letter at a time.
Shop Now2. Birthstone/Gemstone Necklaces
Birthstone pendants or gemstones are one of the oldest and most popular ways to add a splash of color to your necklace. When gemstones represent a birth month, people often refer to them as birthstone necklaces. But when the stone represents something else, then it's a gemstone necklace.
Some people choose the stone based on its meaning, while others choose the color that makes them smile. Here's a quick table on different gemstone pendants, birth months, and what else they represent:
| Stone | Birth Month | Color & Meaning |
| Garnet | January | Deep red. Symbolizes protection, safe travel, and devotion. |
| Amethyst | February | Vibrant purple. Represents peace, clarity, and inner strength. |
| Aquamarine | March | Icy blue. Evokes the calming, soothing energy of the ocean. |
| Diamond | April | Brilliant white/clear. Symbolizes eternal love, strength, and invincibility. |
| Emerald | May | Rich green. Signifies rebirth, fertility, and wisdom. |
| Pearl / Alexandrite | June | Classic white iridescent or color-changing. Represents purity and luck. |
| Ruby | July | Fiery red. The ultimate symbol of passion, courage, and vitality. |
| Peridot | August | Lime green. Known as the "gem of the sun," for cheerful energy. |
| Sapphire | September | Deep royal blue. Represents loyalty, truth, and nobility. |
| Opal / Tourmaline | October | Shimmering rainbow or pink. Symbolizes creativity and hope. |
| Citrine / Topaz | November | Warm yellow/amber. Brings joy, prosperity, and bright energy. |
| Turquoise / Tanzanite | December | Vivid blue / violet. Ancient stones of good fortune and communication. |
3. Symbol and Hobby Pendants
Symbol and hobby pendant necklaces can represent all sorts of things, including faith and pets. Some people even choose them because the shape looks nice; think hearts, stars, crosses, and lucky signs.
Symbol and hobby pendant necklaces can be super expressive, representing your passions, or just decorative, complementing your skin tone or outfit.
LINK’s interchangeable system makes it especially fun to choose symbol and hobby pendants, because you can shop for as many pieces as you want and then mix and match them with different chains to create a unique pendant necklace.
4. Lockets and Heirloom PendantsÂ
A locket is a type of pendant that opens. Traditionally, people would put romantic notes or pictures of their loved ones inside lockets. Some would even include small keepsakes such as a tiny piece of lace from a wedding dress, or cloth from a soldier's uniform before they went off to war.
Not much has changed about lockets today; people still love keeping their tiny souvenirs and notes inside them. They're personal and hold great emotional value.
Heirloom pendant necklaces feature a charm passed down through generations within a family. Yes, you can walk into a store and buy a stunning new pendant, but it only becomes an heirloom once someone else inherits it or when you pass it down to a family member. Heirloom pendant necklaces are deeply sentimental, often honoring family and friendship.
Tips for Choosing the Right Pendant Necklace
Choosing the right necklace is all about finding a piece that looks good and works with your personal style. The following tips may come in handy:
Pick a Chain You're Comfortable Wearing
It's always good to start with the chain length and metal tone.
A shorter chain usually sits near the collarbone and is best for a sophisticated style and layering, while a medium chain reaches the center of the chest, which is perfect for high-neckline outfits like turtlenecks.
Long chains are the drama queens of jewelry boxes, dropping lower than the center of the chest. Because they extend, long chains are great for making a visual statement and dressing up casual outfits.
Next, consider your chain style. Some are thin, like the satellite chain, which looks better with small pendants. Thin chains are also great for work outfits and balancing your ensemble if you're wearing a pair of statement earrings or a very eye-catching outfit.
Paperclip necklaces are versatile pieces you can wear with almost anything, really. Depending on the size, they go perfectly with medium-sized or large pendants for a casual Friday look, or you can dress it up with a high neckline.
As for metal color, always pick the one that complements your skin tone as follows:
- Gold: It's best for warm undertones. People with a subtle golden, peachy, or olive hue beneath the surface, with veins that look greenish in natural daylight, will look great in gold. Also, if you tan easily, gold is definitely your color.
- Silver: This cool tone is great for skin with hints of pink, red, or soft blue undertones. And if your veins look purple or bluish in natural light, silver is the color for you.
Match Pendant Size to the Chain
A tiny charm usually looks best on a small or medium chain. Large pendants need chains with enough structure to support them because if they're too thin, the pendant may hang awkwardly or feel uncomfortable at the back of your neck after some time.
Use this simple guideline:
| Pendant Style | Best Chain Match |
| Small Charm | Small to medium chain |
| Medium-Sized | Medium chain |
| Large Pendant | Thick chain |
| Multiple Pendants | Link chain |
Think About Your Neckline
Your neckline can help you choose the best pendant necklace:
- V-Neck: Go for V-shaped or long pendants on short-to-medium chains so that they fill the open space and make your neck look longer and more attractive.
- Crew Neck or T-Shirt: The best match is medium-to-long chains (18" to 24") with round or chunky pendants. This will drape over the top of the fabric for a chic look.
- Turtleneck: Long or opera-length chains (24" to 32") with large, statement pendants really bring turtlenecks to life. The long chain goes vertically down your torso to create an elongating, slimming effect, while the pendant is your statement piece against the blankness of the fabric.
- Scoop Neck: This neckline looks stunning with short, delicate chains (16" to 18") with a soft, rounded pendant. A scoop neck leaves a large, curved space of bare skin, which the shorter, rounded pendant fills beautifully, sitting above the fabric line.
- Button-Down Shirt / Collar: Short- to medium-length chains (16" to 18") with a small, sleek pendant look good with this neckline. Just leave the top one or two buttons open to create that beautiful narrow frame for the pendant.
- Strapless or Off-the-Shoulder: Get chokers or short collar-length pendant necklaces (14" to 16"). It works because bare shoulders leave a lot of open space, and the short pendant draws the attention upward to your collarbones while framing your face.
LINK Necklaces: Pendant Necklaces Made Your Way
We take the pendant necklace and make it more personal and playful with an interchangeable system. Instead of buying one fixed necklace that always looks the same, you can choose your chain, select your length, color, and add the pendants that feel most like you.
Your necklace can change with your outfit, mood, or occasion. Keep it simple with one charm for a sophisticated office look, then switch it up with an initial charm or a meaningful symbol when you want something more personal and fun. Just push the clasp and link!
Best of all, if you already have an heirloom or keepsake, our link necklaces are the perfect way to incorporate it into your everyday ensemble. Pair it with a casual paperclip necklace or go for a bold flat snake chain to make it the centerpiece of your outfit. It's fun and super stylish.
Browse LINK’s pendant necklaces or purchase the pieces separately to form something that's just as unique as you, at a great price.
FAQs
What Is the Difference Between a Pendant and a Necklace?
A pendant is the decorative element that hangs from a chain, while a necklace is the complete piece you wear around the neck. Every necklace has a chain, but not every chain has a pendant hanging from it.
Are Pendant Necklaces Still in Style?
Yes. In fact, these necklaces may never go out of style because they come in different designs and colors to suit all sorts of tastes. We at LINK have a pendant necklace for every jewelry box. Plus, with our interchangeable system, you can create looks that go with the current trends or something that's just you.
Are Pendant Necklaces Good Gifts?
Absolutely. Our pendant necklaces make lovely gifts because you can add a little customization. For example, you can get your friend or family member an initial pendant necklace for their name or a birthstone pendant. Better yet, buy them a paperclip chain and pendant gift card so they have full creative control to choose their favorite charms or pendants from our store.
When Is the Best Time to Wear a Pendant Necklace?
All the time. You can wear a pendant necklace to almost every occasion or situation with the right styling guide. Going to work? Wear a small or medium-sized pendant necklace. Brunch with your kids? Pick a long, elegant chain with a large pendant to dress up a casual outfit.
Conclusion
A pendant necklace must always have a decorative piece hanging from a chain. It's a valuable accessory because it can express love or represent something important to you. Always pick pendants with sentimental value, then pair them with chains that complement your outfit or skin tone.
LINK gives you control over pendant necklaces. Shop chains and pendants separately, then link them to create stylish looks; your style, your way.