Necklaces

Narrowing down the range

Decide what the pendant should hold before you compare designs. A photo keeps a face close — choose a photo locket if you want the picture visible on opening, or a projection necklace if you want it invisible until light passes through the stone. A name or date suits engraved hearts and bar pendants, while birthstones tell a family story at a glance, with a colour for every birth month.

Why sterling silver is the base metal

Most necklaces here use 925 sterling silver — durable enough for daily wear and the right base for the gold and rose-gold plated finishes offered on selected designs. Engravings are cut by laser rather than stamped, so script names and fine dates stay crisp for years.

Chain length and how the pendant sits

Most pendants in this collection look their best at the collarbone, where the design can actually be seen above a crew neck or in an open collar. Buying for someone else? Borrow a necklace they wear often and measure it flat from end to end — matching a length they already love is far more reliable than guessing from photographs.

The necklaces people gift most

Two-heart birthstone pendants for mums, interlocking Russian ring necklaces engraved with family names, and heart projection pieces for partners lead this collection. If a name necklace is on your shortlist, our guide to the best personalised necklaces for women compares the styles by recipient.

Keeping silver bright

Sterling silver is tarnish-resistant rather than tarnish-proof. Wipe your necklace with a soft cloth after wear, store it clasped in a dry pouch, and put it on after perfume and hairspray rather than before — three small habits that keep both the metal and the engraving looking new.