How to Layer Necklaces

I keep a small tray by my bed where the day’s jewellery waits. Sometimes it is a messy pile of chains and clasps; sometimes it is the makings of a good stack. Layering necklaces should be a calm, considered step in dressing, not a struggle with clasps. After years of styling shoots, fitting clients and living in my own stacks, I have a handful of habits that make layering simple, personal and reliably wearable.

Begin by spacing each chain so they read separately rather than sitting on top of one another, mix finishes and chain types so every layer has its own texture and way of attracting light, and add a single dominant element, such as a pendant, bead or chunky relic stone, to act as the composition’s anchor.

If you want pieces to try as you read, browse our necklaces collection, or dip into chains and Demi-Fine necklaces.

Layering works because the eye prefers contrast. Identical lengths collapse into one confused line. Short, medium and long create a readable rhythm. Link type, finish and weight change how each chain sits beside the next, so even small differences in texture make the stack feel considered rather than accidental.

A reliable three-piece stack uses these ranges:

35 to 40 cm for a short, close-to-neck piece.

45 to 50 cm for a collarbone-length chain.

The Handmade Snake Chain, 46.5cm, is a go-to because it sits neatly at the mid length and you can clip a small pendant to the hand clasp for a custom touch. I like clipping on a relic piece such as the Lupine Pendant in 18k Solid Gold for contrast.

60 to 70 cm for a longer pendant or bead strand that adds movement.

If you are layering two necklaces, keep at least 10 cm between them. That gap is enough for the eye and for the chains to avoid tangling under normal wear.

Different finishes catch the light differently and help your eye separate each layer. A snake chain beside a round cable chain looks deliberate. If you are wondering how to layer chunky necklaces, let the chunkier piece function as the anchor and keep surrounding chains finer so the set remains balanced.

At Cleopatra’s Bling we love statement beads, both in metal and in stones. The Laconia Necklace is a great example of a bold, yet everyday piece. Different styles of necklaces and chains are playful to layer and sit beautifully against contrasting textures. There is no strict rule about how big each necklace should be, but from years of fittings we find clients prefer one clear statement piece while the rest of the layers stay refined and minimal in scale.

If a pendant is ornate, treat the other chains as punctuation. If a pendant is small or delicate, you can introduce a chunkier chain elsewhere. The Alembic Necklace in Zircon sits high on the collarbone and makes an excellent top layer to pair with longer, softer chains for contrast.

Put on the shortest piece first. It frames the face and sets the scale for everything else.

Attach the mid-length next, then the longest chain. Adjust until the spacing between layers looks intentional.

For heavier or chunkier pieces, place them in the centre or the lowest layer so they read as an anchor. Keep adjacent layers lighter so nothing competes visually.

Pairing metals is modern and personal. If you are unsure how to layer gold and silver necklaces, make one metal the visual anchor and use the other as an accent. For example, a Sterling Silver necklace such as the Anahita Necklace in Sterling Silver with a warm gold pendant reads curated rather than accidental. Our Dine and Demi-Fine ranges play well together across metal finishes.

Different finishes add depth. Polished against matte, smooth against hammered, bright against brushed. Repeating a small detail such as a tiny charm or similar clasp pulls the set together without making it obvious.

Decide whether you want a single focal pendant or a few small charms. One strong pendant reads refined; several small charms look collected and personal.

Tangles are the practical fear.

These habits help:

Fasten the longest chain first and the shortest last.

Use a clasp separator or slide a small bead on the shortest chain near the clasp.

Store chains flat with tissue between them or use individual pouches when travelling.

Consider a multi-chain clasp converter for a neat everyday stack

High collars suit shorter layers. V-necks and scoop necks welcome longer pendants. If you are layering necklaces that are the same length, separate them with texture or a pendant so they do not read as one mass.

Avoid pairing one very heavy chain with many flimsy ones that will twist. If the middle layer is dense, choose lighter pieces above and below to keep the composition steady.

A dependable set I return to: a collar piece, the Handmade Snake Chain at 46.5 cm and a 60 cm long pendant chain. It moves well, suits most necklines and translates from day to evening.

Day: three soft layers with mixed metals.

Night: two delicate chains and one statement pendant.

Chunky: let the chunkier piece anchor the set and keep other chains minimal.

Start with three pieces you already own. Test them for a morning and an afternoon. If they feel natural after a few hours, keep them. If not, swap one element and try again. It is an iterative practice; the point is comfort and confidence.

And finally, here are some stacking combinations that we are loving currently at Cleopatra’s Bling:

Pieces

• Handmade Snake Chain, 46.5 cm, with the Umbra Pendant worn on the clasp

• Cipresso Necklace

Pieces

• Nazari Necklace in Sterling Silver

• Anahita Necklace in Sterling Silver, with the Angelus Pendant worn on the clasp

Pieces

• Alembic Necklace, 18k Gold-Plated

• Peristera Pendant in 18k Solid Gold with diamond, worn on one of our Solid Gold chains