Layering necklaces: how to build a solid gold set that lies right

Lengths, spacing and three two-chain sets that lie right.

By the Ilene Joy Atelier3 min read

A woman in a white off-the-shoulder top wearing a long hammered gold circle chain necklace

Layer solid gold necklaces by choosing two or three chains at different lengths, at least 2 inches apart, in different link shapes and weights, with one charm as the focus. Lengths of 16, 20 and 24 inches work well. A Petite oval at 16 inches plus a Petite paperclip at 20 inches is $1,882 in 14K yellow gold.

A paperclip chain necklace in solid gold

The rules, in order

1. Two or three strands. Two is a clean start. Three is as many as most people want to manage. Beyond that, each strand has to earn its place. 2. Different lengths. At least 2 inches between strands, so they do not sit on top of each other. Our builder lengths, 16, 20 and 24 inches, are four inches apart, which keeps them separate when you lean forward. 3. Different shapes. Mix link shapes so strands do not blend. See our chain guide. 4. Different weights. Pair a Petite chain with a Standard one. The heavier chain anchors the set. 5. One focus. Put the charm on one strand and keep the others plain.

Length	Where it sits	Role in a set
16 inches	Close to the neck	The top strand, often plain
20 inches	Lower on the chest	The middle strand, a good place for a charm
24 inches	Longer still	The long strand, which can take a heavier chain

How a necklace sits varies with your neck and frame. Measure one you already wear.

Three two-chain sets, with prices

All are Petite chains in 14K yellow gold, read on 19 October 2026. Prices follow the daily gold rate.

Set	Chains	Total
A plain pair	Oval 16 inches $635 and paperclip 20 inches $1,247	$1,882
A step up	Oval 16 inches $635 and circle 20 inches $2,111	$2,746
A long pair	Paperclip 16 inches $998 and oval 24 inches $970	$1,968

Add a charm to any one strand. A third strand adds the price of that chain. A Petite oval at 24 inches is $970 and a Petite paperclip at 24 inches is $1,519.

Why solid gold lays better

Solid gold chains have weight. Weight helps a chain hang rather than float, and it helps strands settle at different depths. That is one reason we make our chains in solid 14K or 18K. For what that means against vermeil and plated, read solid gold vs vermeil vs gold-filled vs plated.

Mixing 14K and 18K

You can mix them. 18K is 75 percent pure gold and a deeper color. 14K is 58.3 percent and a little paler. Our guide to 14k or 18k shows the difference. If you mix, do it on purpose, and keep the same gold color (yellow, rose or white) across the set.

Where the charm goes

Put the charm on the middle strand if you have three, or on the shorter strand if you have two. Then the long strand frames it. For how to place more than one charm, read how many charms on a necklace or bracelet. For the art of the whole stack, see the art of the layered charm necklace.

How to put them on

Fasten the longest necklace first and the shortest last. Take them off in the opposite order. It saves tangles.

Build a set in the builder

In Design your own you build one necklace at a time. Make one necklace, save its link, then make the second beside it. Use the On model view to check how the two sit together. Pieces are typically ready in 2 to 4 weeks, with complimentary, fully insured US shipping. Custom pieces are final sale.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions

How do I layer gold necklaces?

Choose two or three chains at different lengths, with at least 2 inches between them, in different link shapes and weights. Give one strand a charm and keep the others plain.

What lengths work for layering?

Sixteen, 20 and 24 inches are a classic trio, and they are the three lengths in our builder. They are four inches apart, so strands stay separate.

Can I layer a charm necklace with a plain chain?

Yes. It is the easiest way to layer. The plain chain frames the charm and keeps the set calm.

How many necklaces can I wear at once?

Two or three suits most people. Beyond three, each addition has to earn its place.

Can I wear different chain styles together?

Yes, and it helps. Mixing a paperclip with an oval or a circle chain keeps the strands from blending.

How do I stop layered necklaces tangling?

Use different lengths with space between them, fasten the longest first and the shortest last, and remove them in the reverse order.

About Ilene Joy

Ilene founded Ilene Joy in 1996 and designed jewelry for the last three seasons of Sex and the City, as WWD reported in February 2019. She relaunched the label that year with her daughter, Rae Scheer, and Vogue covered the launch. Every design you build is made to order at our Los Angeles bench. As seen in WWD, National Jeweler, Grazia, Fashion Week Daily and Just Jared: read the coverage. More on who Ilene Joy is.