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When you talk about jewelry, there is a special spot in everyone’s heart, for diamonds. And a diamond necklace is one of the most elegant and beautiful items you can buy.
Unfortunately, there are also thousands of different diamond necklaces out there, leaving it difficult to choose. We have spent hundreds of hours wearing different pieces, and aggregating online reviews, to find the best diamond necklace for you. Here are our top picks.
Our Top Pick
14k Gold (4.69ct) Halo Pear Shaped Diamond Pendant Necklace
This stunning pear shaped diamond pendant is made with 14-karat gold, and has 0.44ct of accent diamonds, surrounding the centerpiece diamond – which is 4.25ct. The gold and diamonds will catch everyone’s eyes, and the quality is flawless.
Other Great Picks
KATARINA 20 ct. Graduated Diamond Riviera Tennis Necklace in Gold/Platinum/Silver (Color GH, Clarity VS)
This diamond tennis necklace is breathtaking, and provides an elegance rarely seen. The diamonds are stunning, and it is available in gold, platinum, or silver. If you are looking for a statement – or a perfect gift – this is it.
Classic Sapphire and Diamond Necklace (8mm Blue Sapphire)
This beautiful sapphire and diamond necklace stands out in a crowd, and is the perfect elegant statement piece. Offering three stones, and with shimmering white diamonds, the blue sapphire adds the icing to the cake. Nothing says elegance like high quality, and simplicity. Wear this out for one night, and notice all the heads turning.
Classic Ruby and Diamond Necklace (8mm Ruby)
The gemstones almost float on the elegant necklace, in this classic design. With options include rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, and platinum – the choices are limitless. No matter which beautiful shade you choose, you will be the center of attention.
1.52 Carat GIA Certified Round Diamond Bezel Solitaire Pendant Necklace D Color IF Clarity w/ 16″ 14K Gold Chain
The 14-karat gold chain sets this elegant diamond necklace apart. With a shimmering center display of diamonds, and a luxurious chain – this is one of our favorite statement pieces. Wear it with a stunning dress, and your favorite pair of high heels, and be blown away by the response.
Sterling Silver and Diamond Double Heart Pendant Necklace (1/10 cttw, I-J Color, I2-I3 Clarity), 18″
This double heart pendant is a classic diamond necklace design, it is extremely affordable. Perfect for a gift for a young woman, or teenager, it can still be worn by adults, and appear to be much more expensive than it actually is.
Sterling Silver and 14k Yellow Gold Created Ruby Heart and Diamond-Accent Pendant Necklace, (.006 cttw, I-J Color, I2-I3 Clarity), 18″
This sterling silver and 14-karat yellow gold diamond necklace is truly breathtaking. But the best part? It is very affordable. A great starter piece for a woman’s lifetime of jewelry, pair it with a classic set of earrings, and your favorite dress.
PARIKHS Princess Cut Diamond Solitaire Pendant in Plus Quality in White, Yellow & Rose Gold-IGI Certified-0.70ct & Up
This elegant (yet but overpriced) diamond necklace gives you a classic look, but with a modern bend. We prefer the rose gold, but it is also available in white gold, as well as yellow gold, to provide maximum compatibility with your entire closet of looks and outfits.
AGS Certified 14k 18″ Bezel Set Solitaire Adjustable Pendant
This understated and affordable design works well in nearly any setting. The dazzling look will catch many eyes, but the affordability will allow anyone to purchase this great statement piece. Try pairing it with your favorite pair of earrings, and a simple black dress.
Near 1/2 Carat 4 Prong Solitaire Basket Diamond Pendant Necklace 14K White Gold (K, I2, 0.45 ctw)
Simple, classic, and very affordable – this is a great choice for those not looking to spend too much on a diamond necklace. The simple but sleek design is stunning, and the versatile look allows you to wear this in even less formal settings than usual.
Why A Diamond Necklace?
While a normal necklace is a fine gift – there is just something extra special about diamonds. A diamond necklace (sometimes referred to as a diamond pendant) has a central diamond, which will grab everyone’s attention.
A tiny loop attaches this diamond to a jewlelry chain, usually made from platinum or gold. A diamond necklace is also usually given as a gift to signify some form of love, often in romantic relationships.
Diamond Necklace Settings And Designs
There are numerous options to choose from, when it comes to the pendant and chain for your diamond necklace. Gold is a popular choice, with either 18K or 14K being great choices.
Gold comes in white, rose, or yellow, and the color is important to consider, especially depending on the individual receiving the gift. Platinum is another popular choice, but it does cost slightly more than gold.
Another aspect to consider is prongs, which are typically included on diamond necklaces. Prongs allow light to enter the diamond, and provide for a lot of its reflective ability.
Four prongs is the most popular choice, though there are also other settings entirely, like halo. You can also choose a bezel setting, though these are less popular.
Solitaire Diamond Pendant Necklaces
Solitaire diamond pendant necklaces have a classic, simple look. The simplicity of the necklace does not detract from the high-class look – in fact, it enhances it.
While lacking the additional flash and pizazz of more complex diamond necklaces, the solitaire has a certain understated appeal. Much like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany’s, the solitaire diamond necklace just exudes elegance.
Halo Diamond Pendant Necklaces
Hale diamond pendant necklaces are specified by a center stone, that has a loop of smaller stones around. These are usually diamonds too, though they don’t have to be.
This outer circle serves the purpose of both adding more diamonds to the necklace. It also typically makes the center diamond shine even more, resulting in more of a ‘popping’ visual appearance.
Unique Diamond Pendant Necklaces
There are other designs, which can be either entirely unique to you (also known as a custom design), or rarely used designs. These include a milgrain bezel with white gold, a sunburst pendant, or a marquise and pear shape diamond.
Diamond Cross Necklaces
Diamond cross necklaces are very beautiful, and provide a perfect way to express your religious beliefs. You can choose different options based on how many diamonds are on the necklace itself, and as is always the case with diamonds – the more diamonds, the higher the price will be.
Dancing Diamond Necklaces
This unique setting allows the center diamond to move as you walk, which allows for a flashier appearance. While not yet widespread in popularity, dancing diamond necklaces are a perfect way to stand out from the crowd.
How To Choose A Diamond
Choosing a diamond is not as hard as you might imagine. First, choose the right shape.
If you are unsure of the right shape, princess cut or a round diamond are popular choices. After this, you will want to choose the carat weight.
Next is choosing the diamond clarity. FL (flawless) is the highest level of clarity possible. After clarity is chosen, last comes the color.
D color diamonds will be absolutely colorless, which is the highest grade possible. Diamonds are completely transparent when they are pure, which makes the color grading scale a little bit unique.
Before you make a final choice, of course also consider your budget. The highest quality diamonds in the world are very expensive, so you may find a more budget-friendly choice to be more to your liking.
How Much Is A Diamond Necklace Worth?
Diamond necklaces range in value from $250 to upwards of $30,000. Ultimately, the price comes down to both the quantity and the quality of the diamonds present.
The more diamonds in the necklace, and the higher their quality – the higher the price of the necklace.
How Big Is A 1 Carat Diamond?
1 carat diamonds are typically 6.5mm. Of course, this is assuming that the stone is cut to the ideal size.
1/2 carat diamonds are not half the size of 1 carat diamonds, interestingly. They are instead about 5mm, even though one would think they would be half the size of a 1 carat diamond.
How Much Is A 1 Carat Diamond?
1 carat diamond range in price from $2,500 to over $16,000. The 4 C’s will largely determine the price – cut, clarity, color, and carat weight.
Of these different factors, cut is the biggest factor when determining the overall price of a diamond. As with all jewelry, the more you spend, the higher the quality of the diamond you will get.
It should be noted that most people will not notice the difference between a diamond on the lower end of the price range, and the higher end of the price range. Diamond experts, however, will certainly be able to notice.
Best Chain And Clasp For Diamond Necklaces
While there is no one “best” chain for a diamond necklace, we are partial to an 18K white gold chain. As far as clasp goes, we prefer the lobster clasp, since it opens and closes easily, but is still very secure.
How To Determine Diamond Necklace Chain Length
Diamond necklaces range in length from 15 inches to 25 inches. You can determine the ideal length of your diamond necklace by both the thickness of the wearer’s neck, as well as the style of the particular necklace you are choosing.
Famous Diamond Necklaces And Pendants
There are a number of extremely famous diamond necklaces and pendants. The most famous is probably the L’Incomparable diamond necklace, which is often cited as the most valuable diamond necklace in the world.
Other famous necklaces, like the Heart of the Ocean (most famously used in the movie Titanic) – are worth close to $20 million. While you certainly don’t need a diamond necklace like this to be happy – they are certainly nice to look at.
Choosing A Diamond Pendant
As with any diamond, you should refer to the 4 C’s – color, cut, clarity and carat weight. If you have to choose a lower color or clarity, most diamond experts recommend choosing a better cut, to help make up for the lower quality of the diamond.
Diamond Certification
A diamond certification comes from an uninvolved third party, certifying all aspects of the diamond are as advertised. This usually comes from a lab (like GIA), who specialize in certifying diamonds.
Think of it as proof and insurance that a diamond is real, and you aren’t being scammed.
Diamond Cut
A diamond’s cut is important when determining the price. Different than the shape, the cut of a diamond refers to the polish, symmetry, and proportioning.
For example, you could have a brilliant cut diamond. This would be be better than a dull diamond.
Diamond Color
Interestingly, while colored diamonds are popular (think blue, yellow, red, orange, and more) – they are actually imperfect. Pure diamonds are completely transparent, and they will also have no color.
These diamonds also cost the most, of course.
Diamond Clarity
Diamond clarity is one of the most important factors to consider, when it comes to choosing a diamond. As the name implies, the higher the clarity of the diamond, the fewer blemishes it has.
Clarity has a huge impact on the price of a diamond, as no one wants to see a smudged and blemished diamond necklace. Everyone seeks purity, clarity, and perfection.
Since diamonds are formed in the earth’s depths, they go through huge amounts of fiery conditions. Sometimes diamonds face temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
As such, only the rarest diamonds emerged unscathed. But even these diamonds have slight blemishes – they’re just impossible to spot without some sort of magnification.
Diamond Shape
Many refer to diamond shape and diamond cut as the same thing, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Diamond shape and diamond cut are two very distinct terms, and they mean completely different things.
The diamond shape refers to the distinct outer shape of the diamond itself – like pear shaped, round, heart shaped and cushion shaped. If you are just being general about the exterior of a diamond, you are likely referring to its shape.
The cut of a diamond is something entirely different. This will refer to the depth of the diamond, as well as if it is dull or brilliant.
For example, the finer the cut of the diamond the greater the level of fire and brilliance. You can have a dull, heart shaped diamond – which will be different in every way from a brilliant cut pear shaped diamond.
When choosing a diamond for a diamond necklace, start by choosing your desired shape. Next, determine what cut you would like.
When To Buy Diamond Necklaces And Pendants
Diamond necklaces and pendants make for perfect gifts. With classic styles and designs, and extreme popularity, it’s really hard to go wrong with diamonds.
Diamonds also signify big events or accomplishments, like engagements, weddings, graduations, anniversaries, and more. You can get a diamond necklace for just about any occasion, and the recipient should be happy.
The Best Diamond Necklace
There you have it – our picks for the best diamond necklace. Pairing a diamond necklace with some other statement pieces, or an understated dress – is a great way to design a classic outfit. Be sure and review our other selections in the fashion section, for even more outfit ideas.