Can I see a custom necklace on before I buy? Three ways

Three ways to see a custom necklace worn before it is made.

By the Ilene Joy Atelier3 min read

A woman in a champagne silk camisole wearing the Libertine Multi Medallion Necklace in gold

Yes. In the Ilene Joy builder, switch to On model to see your chain and charms worn, with the price updating as you choose. You can also see the piece laid flat, save the design as a link, and talk it through with the atelier by appointment or Zoom before you order.

An oval chain bracelet in solid gold

Three ways to see it first

Way	What it shows	Good for
On model	Your chosen chain and charms shown worn on a neck or wrist	Judging length, balance and proportion
Flat view	The piece laid out, with every charm placed	Checking spacing and detail
A person	Ilene or the atelier, by appointment or Zoom	Big decisions and gifts

All three are in Design your own. Our FAQ says you can preview your design as a flatlay and on a model before you check out.

How to read the on-model view

Look at four things.

1. Where the chain falls. Does it sit where you would wear it? 2. How big the charm looks. Compare Small, Medium and Large. The size is the most common thing people change. 3. The balance. If you have two charms, do they crowd or sit apart? 4. The gold color. Yellow, rose and white all read differently against skin. Choose the one that suits what you wear most.

Then drag a charm and look again. Moving it half an inch changes how the piece hangs.

Check the length at home

The builder offers necklaces in 16, 20 and 24 inches. You do not need to guess.

1. Take a necklace you already wear and measure it. 2. Or lay a piece of string around your neck at the length you imagine, then measure the string. 3. Match it to 16, 20 or 24 inches.

Roughly, 16 inches sits close to the neck, and 20 and 24 inches hang lower. It varies with your neck and frame. For wrists, bracelets come in four sizes: Small (6 to 6.5 inches), Medium (6.5 to 7), Large (7 to 7.5) and X-Large (7.5 to 8). Not sure of your size? The atelier can help.

What a preview cannot do

A picture shows proportion and placement. It cannot show you the weight of gold on your neck. Light, skin and a camera change how color reads. This is why we confirm every detail with you after you order.

It also matters because custom pieces are final sale. A custom order can be canceled within 24 hours of being placed. After that the piece is made for you. Our piece on whether custom fine jewelry is worth it weighs that honestly.

To feel the weight of a Petite or a Standard chain, visit a stockist and hold a finished piece. See fine jewelry in Santa Monica and Brentwood or in New York.

Talk to a person

Ilene offers private appointments in Los Angeles, and Zoom consultations worldwide. In the builder you can also leave a note for the goldsmith, for example about where a charm should sit. Write to atelier@ilenejoy.com. We typically reply within one business day.

Your design is kept in the page link. Send the link to a friend or to Ilene, and they see the same piece you do. For more on the design choices, read custom charm necklace: how to design one you will wear for decades.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions

Can I see a custom necklace on before I buy?

Yes. In the Ilene Joy builder, the On model view shows the chain and charms you chose, worn on a neck or wrist. It is a close visual guide rather than an exact representation, so we confirm every detail with you after you order. You can also see the piece laid flat and save the design as a link.

Is there a virtual try-on for jewelry?

Our builder has an on-model preview. It shows the necklace or bracelet worn, with the price updating as you choose. It is a preview of proportion, not a mirror of you.

How do I know what a charm will look like at real size?

Charms come in Small, Medium and Large. Change the size on the piece and watch the picture. For a real feel, hold a finished charm at a stockist or ask the atelier.

How do I know what length a necklace will sit at on me?

Measure a necklace you already wear, and match it to 16, 20 or 24 inches. A string around your neck works too.

Can I talk to a designer before I order?

Yes. Ilene offers private appointments in Los Angeles and Zoom consultations worldwide. Write to atelier@ilenejoy.com.

What if I do not like it when it arrives?

Custom pieces are final sale, which is why we confirm every detail first. A custom order may be canceled within 24 hours of being placed. In-stock pieces have separate return terms.

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.