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The Long Necklace Is Adding a Dramatic Diamond Flair to Summer Jewelry Trends
From the high fashion runways to the chicest street style and high jewelry collections, the long necklace is making the case for everyday diamonds.
Mellerio Diamond Comète Talisman Medallion, Price Upon Request, us.mellerio.fr
The pendulum of style always swings back, and the statement-making long necklace is swiftly swaying into the zeitgeist. Zoey Deutch added a pop of color to her all-black look with a red Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Bean necklace at the Tribeca Film Festival; Bella Hadid sported a vintage Chanel pendant that dropped down to her sternum while traipsing around Saint-Tropez; Rihanna added a David Webb diamond coin necklace to an otherwise simple look.
A seasoned Millennial favorite, the smash-hit jewelry trend of the early 2000s has gotten an update, scattered across the Spring / Summer 2026 runway presentations of Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, Dries Van Noten, and more. Jewelry houses like Chanel championed the long necklace in its latest Signes & Symboles High Jewelry collection, as did Van Cleef & Arpels in its hypnotizing Fascinating Egypt High Jewelry collection.
Meet the Experts
Marie Lichtenberg is a Parisian jewelry designer and a former fashion editor for French Elle magazine. She imbues playful humor and pop culture references through her eponymous jewelry line.
Jessica McCormack, too, has released stretched-out diamond Summer Medallions. Even jewelry designer extraordinaire Ana Khouri posted to Instagram, wearing a long tassel necklace with the caption, “Summer Necklace.” Here, take a deep dive into the diamond-studded charm of the long necklace.
The Unrivaled Versatility of the Long Necklace
Dangling diamond-riddled chains or high-impact diamond pendants reaching mid-torso equally cultivate the laissez-faire look for summer. From 38 to 52 inches, sautoirs, medallions, extended diamond bolo ties, lengthy cords, and more iterations of the long necklace emit a carefree, bohemian flair. Whether hovering at the waistline or below the belt, extra-long necklaces are made all the more versatile as a hero of low-key luxury with the added touch of natural diamonds.
A Long Necklace Comes with the Opportunity to Wear Your Diamonds in Reverse
Turning around a necklace and wearing your natural diamonds in reverse turns tradition on its head for a transitional, versatile, and transformative look. The perfect accessory to a backless gown, wearing a necklace in reverse is timeless, yet subversive and unexpected. But you can’t just turn any necklace backward. For maximum impact, the jewel must have an organic clasp for a seamless front-facing look to achieve the ideal “business in the front, party in the back” situation.
An infinite strand of consistent diamonds will do the trick, scooping or draping down the spine. A Y-shaped lariat long necklace will gracefully dangle between the shoulders, preferably with a natural diamond pendant dripping down the spine.
Designers Championing the Return of the Long Necklace
Marie Lichtenberg Eye Scapular Necklace, Price Upon Request, marielichtenberg.com
Marie Lichtenberg Eye Scapular Necklace, Price Upon Request, marielichtenberg.com
Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti® Diamonds by the Yard® Sprinkle Necklace in Platinum, $53,000, tiffany.com
Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti® Diamonds by the Yard® Sprinkle Necklace in Platinum, $53,000, tiffany.com
Messika Move 10th Anniversary White Gold and Diamond Long Necklace, Price Upon Request, messika.com
Mindi Mond Emerald & Diamond Gatsby Chain Necklace, $13,000, nordstrom.com
Mindi Mond Emerald & Diamond Gatsby Chain Necklace, $13,000, nordstrom.com
For her very first Tiffany & Co. design in 1974, Elsa Peretti placed 12 small diamonds, set in gold bezels at varying lengths, on a 36-inch chain. She was tasked with creating a simplified diamond jewel, accessible to women on a budget. When her longtime friend and frequent collaborator, fashion designer Halston, first set his eyes on the piece, he dubbed it “Diamonds by the Yard.” Since then, “Diamonds by the Yard” has become a Tiffany jewelry staple. Anya Taylor-Joy, Hailey Bieber, and Zoë Kravitz count themselves fans.
Jacquie Aiche, David Yurman, Anita Ko, and more continue to add sparkling options to the beauty of layering long necklaces. Rihanna has kept one prized long necklace in her jewelry rotation. Her diamond and gold Scapular necklace by Marie Lichtenberg stays true to her maximalist sensibilities. The Fenty mogul layers it with even more diamonds, often doubling up on different iterations of the style, an approach that has become a signature of her street style influence.
“Seeing Rihanna, the high priestess of cool, draped in my jewelry? It’s beyond fashion,” says Lichtenberg. “It’s exactly how the jewels were meant to live: in movement, in contradiction.”
Designer Marie Lichtenberg offers her two cents, “My pieces are not meant to wait in safes for ‘special occasions.’” She says, “They are the special occasion.” Natural diamonds are the hardest natural substance on Earth, highly resistant to scratches, chips, and abrasions, making them durable enough for your daily jewelry rotation. “That’s the whole point, isn’t it? To defy the rules we didn’t write,” says Lichtenberg.
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