Culture & Style / Jewelry Trends
Add The Torque Necklace To Your Collection of Jewelry Armor
This powerful necklace is a symbol of strength and protection, fit for a warrior.
Updated August 22, 2025
Written by: Hannah Militano
What goes around always comes back around. A jewelry trend rooted in antiquity is back, and more stylish than ever. Once favored by warriors and pharaohs, the torque necklace is now showing up on the runways of fashion houses like Gucci.
Who doesn’t need a little extra protection these days? Jewelry designers are reviving the age-old concept of jewelry as armor with an avant-garde torque necklace, lending the wearer a newfound sense of strength. Brands like Belperron, Cartier, Jessica McCormack, Messika, Pomellato, Sauer, Tabayer, and Taffin, have all put their own spin on the torque.
Bold, sculptural, and statement-making jewelry has been on everyone’s wish list lately. Zoë Kravitz has been championing the trend, along with A-listers from Scarlett Johansson and Cynthia Erivo to Jenna Ortega and Dakota Johnson.
Adorn yourself like the warriors of the past with a natural diamond torque necklace from today’s leading jewelry designers.
Meet the Experts
Valérie Messika created the French luxury jewelry Maison, Messika, in 2005 when she was just 22 years old. Her diamond jewelry has been worn by the likes of Beyoncé, Gigi Hadid, Rihanna, Naomi Campbell, and more.
Stephanie Wenk has been the visionary force behind the aesthetic renewal of SAUER’s fine jewelry legacy as creative director since 2014. She has collaborated with names like Jason Wu, Marisa Berenson, the Francisco Brennand Institute, and more.
What is a Torque Necklace?
A rigid, structured metal disc collar or neck ring, the torque necklace sits just above the collarbone. Styled with or without a dazzling diamond pendant, this necklace silhouette brings something dramatic to the décolletage while remaining an effortless design to slip around your neck. While some are defined by their opening, others may have a simple hook fastening or hinge mechanism.
The Fierce History of the Torque Necklace
The torque necklace was worn throughout various historic cultures by men. The style has appeared in Ancient Egyptian culture, and it’s been worn by the Ancient Romans and even the Vikings. Its roots can be traced back to the ancient Celts, who lived throughout Western Europe during the Iron Age. Found in archaeological digs throughout Ireland and France, the torque necklace has been defined as one of the most important forms of jewelry in ancient Celtic culture.
Worn by both men and women, the torque was seen as a symbol of divinity, nobility, or high rank in addition to its talismanic protection purposes. Roman naturalist and philosopher Pliny the Elder wrote that torques were incorporated into Celtic battle dress, but excavations reveal many women and girls buried wearing the jewel. Celtic warriors would wear the neck rings as a sign of strength, while chieftains and kings would wear more luxurious and elaborate designs to signal their power and status. Legend has it that the Celtic Queen Boadicea, who fought the Romans in eastern Britain, wore a golden torque necklace in battle.
The name torque, also spelled torc, is derived from the Latin verb torquere, which means “to twist.” In the collar’s earliest stylings, the metal was typically twisted for strength to help it maintain its given shape. Created before humans began crafting chains, the torque’s rigid shape was formed from metals like bronze, iron, silver, and gold.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has a one-pound Celtic twisted gold necklace in its collection, showcasing the mastery and history of the piece. The most contemporary torque in the Met collection was crafted by master goldsmith Daniel Brush in 2014, featuring an engraved aluminum tube sprinkled with diamonds.
The silhouette saw a resurgence in the 1970s before it became the talk of the town once again in 2025.
Designers Taking on the Torque Necklace Today
Jewelry designers are churning out innovative torque necklaces, with some styles strung with natural diamond pendants and others in full pavé diamond iterations. Natural diamonds contour the hard metallic surfaces into the most modern versions of the age-old jewelry staple. High and fine jewelry brands are bringing their signature motifs to the classic torque design, making for the perfect future heirloom.
Here, dive into the latest and greatest natural diamond torque necklaces from some of our favorite designers.
Messika Gave the Torque Necklace its Diamond Touch
For her performance alongside Herbie Hancock at the 2025 Grammy Awards for the Quincy Jones tribute, Cynthia Erivo wore the Messika Divine Enigma oval-shaped diamond torque necklace with her classic black Ashi Studio gown.
Before that, Dakota Johnson attended the world premiere of Madame Web, wearing the same high jewelry piece from the avant-garde French luxury jewelry brand.
Founder and artistic director Valérie Messika tells Only Natural Diamonds, “For me, Divine Enigma represents modern high jewelry.” She says, “It’s light, simple, but above all, it’s easy to wear. I believe it’s important to be able to wear high jewelry daily, without it feeling too pretentious or extravagant. I’ve always tried to bring a contemporary touch to my creations.”
“Divine Enigma reminds me of when I was a child, playing with diamonds, placing them on my skin to look at their brilliance—it’s the simplicity of the stone sparkling on the skin. She continues, “It’s also the possibility of changing the pendant for a stone of a different size, shape, or color. I love that the stone is interchangeable.”
Messika explains, “I’ve been a fan of Cynthia for a long time, and even more so since discovering her in Wicked, so seeing her perform on stage wearing Divine Enigma was very special to me. Cynthia has a unique style, and I was proud to dress her—the necklace looked bold and rock-chic on her. With Dakota, who is always very elegant, Divine Enigma looked like a timeless piece. I love the fact that two iconic and very different talents can wear the same piece beautifully.”
Jessica McCormack is Putting Her Stamp on the Torque Necklace
Zoë Kravitz spoke at her father’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Star ceremony, wearing a 10.06-carat emerald-cut natural diamond pendant set in yellow gold with a white gold torque necklace by British jewelry designer Jessica McCormack.
Minimalistic in nature, McCormack’s torque necklaces are typically touched with a 10+ carat natural diamond for the ultimate impact.
For her high jewelry assortment, the designer crafted the one-of-a-kind Ellipse Diamond Torque Necklace, showcasing a 20.09-carat oval-cut Ellipse diamond, set in an 18K white gold Georgian cut-down setting.
In McCormack’s latest campaign, brand ambassador Zoë Kravitz wears yet another torque necklace. The Rush Hour ‘Til Late Diamond Torque Necklace is handcrafted in 18-karat white gold featuring an east-west set 8-carat oval diamond beneath the collarbone.
Sauer Put an 18-Carat Diamond on a Torque Necklace
Established in 1941, Brazilian jeweler Sauer has maintained a legacy of centering gemstones in its designs. Thanks to creative director Stephanie Wenk, its natural diamond-embellished chokers and collar necklaces are leading the resurgence of the torque necklace trend. The brand opened its first shop outside of Brazil on Madison Avenue near 67th Street in New York this November. For the opening, Sauer created the Suzanne necklace, featuring a chunky 18-karat gold swirling torque with an 18.84-carat oval diamond attached at the opening.
“The Suzanne Necklace is born from the observation of organic forms that repeat themselves in nature,” Wenk tells Only Natural Diamonds. “Its undulating silhouette evokes the eternal movement of ocean waves, a rhythm that never ceases, while an 18.84-carat oval brilliant-cut diamond, set as if suspended in motion, symbolizes a brilliant point of eternity within the flow of time.”
She continues, “Rather than pursuing classical symmetry, the design embraces freedom, shaped as though it were sculpted by nature itself. The Suzanne Necklace thus becomes a metaphor for the encounter between freedom and preciousness, between chance and artistry.”
Belperron’s Landmark Toggle Torque Necklace
Madame Suzanne Belperron created the beloved Toggle Torque Necklace in 1933. That year, Vogue Paris declared, “Let us rejoice, the year 1933 marks the revival in the art of jewelry.” The editorial spread featured images of avant-garde fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli modeling her very own suite of Belperron’s natural diamond and black lacquer jewels.
Crafted with a slim lacquer cord and wrapped around a pavé diamond button, the Toggle Torque Necklace marked a revolutionary chapter in the designer’s career. Over 90 years later, the design is still just as coveted as it was in 1933.
Most recently, Dakota Johnson wore a Belperron torque with a black lacquer cord looped around a 65-carat old mine cut diamond at its center to appear on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2024.
“The Belperron Toggle Torque Necklace has become a hallmark of the house for its bold simplicity and originality,” says a spokesperson for Belperron. “First designed in 1933 and adopted by the visionary couturiere Elsa Schiaparelli, it exemplifies Belperron’s genius for transforming functional design into timeless elegance.”
The Juste Un Clou Torque Necklace Transformed Cartier
Cartier’s Juste Un Clou collection began in 1971 with the inception of “the nail bracelet.” Emulating the appearance of a nail wrapped around the body, the collection showcased Cartier’s ability to creatively transform household objects into luxury jewelry.
Cartier designer Aldo Cipullo rejected traditional jewelry standards at the time by embracing minimalism before it was cool. After the bracelet saw renewed popularity in the early aughts, it was renamed Juste Un Clou, which translates to “just a nail” in French. Rings, brooches, and torque necklaces were then added to the assortment.
Last year, Meghan Markle visited Colombia with her husband, Prince Harry. For a stop at the Delia Zapata National Arts Center in Bogota, the Duchess wore a Johanna Ortiz dress with the Cartier Juste Un Clou Torque Necklace in gold, set with 57 natural diamonds at the nail’s tip, totaling 0.20 carats.
Pomellato Puts a Sleek Spin on the Torque Necklace
Jenna Ortega opted for a minimal natural diamond Pomellato torque necklace to compliment her golden Donna Karan gown at the 2025 Oscars Afterparty. The Pomellato Together Choker Necklace is crafted from 18-karat rose gold with 60 radiant white diamonds, totaling 0.8 carats.
Seeped in symbolism, the Pomellato Together collection encapsulates the connections that bring us together, celebrating love. The statement torque necklace features a flexible cane design, forming the perfect combination of refined comfort and glamour.
Taffin Knows Its Way Around the Torque Necklace
Since James de Givenchy founded his jewelry label Taffin in 1996, he has been met with rare success and acclaim. His 22.85 carat light brown marquise diamond torque necklace features a red ceramic and 18-karat rose gold wire that wraps around the neck and twists around itself.
When Scarlett Johansson attended The Phoenician Scheme red carpet, she adorned a burnt orange Saint Laurent strapless gown with another Taffin torque necklace. This one features two impressive pear-shaped diamonds attached to the ends of an asymmetrical gold wire.
Almasika Put a Fluid Diamond Twist on the Torque
Amanda Seyfried sported an extraordinary Almasika collar with a languid line of 14 carats of diamonds flowing from one side to the next at the Time 100 Gala in 2022. The piece was created specifically for Seyfried as a part of a project initiated by De Beers and the RAD Advocacy group to amplify the voices of talent on global red carpets. Founder and designer of the brand, Catherine Sarr, said at the time, “To see her in my design for the Time 100 awards was a beautiful moment for me and the ideal time for this collaboration to come to fruition.”
Shop Natural Diamond Torque Necklaces
Below, shop our favorite diamond torque necklace picks—from minimalist neck rings to statement-making diamond collars—each one offering a little protection, and a lot of sparkle.
Sauer Suzanne Necklace, Price Upon Request, sauer1941.com
David Webb Two Tone, Diamond Twisted Nail Collar, $32,400, davidwebb.com
Tiffany & Co. Tiffany Knot Double Row Necklace, $7,800, tiffany.com
Cartier Juste Un Clou Torque Necklace, $17,000, cartier.com
Rainbow K Necklace Horn, Price Upon Request, rainbowkjewelry.com
Tabayer Yellow Gold and Diamond Oera Edition 03 Choker, $38,700, harrods.com
Tiffany & Co. T1 Diamond Necklace, $88,000, tiffany.com
Cartier Juste Un Clou Torque Necklace, Extra-Large Model with Diamonds, Price Upon Request, cartier.com
Jessica McCormack Oval Diamond Torque Necklace, Price Upon Request, jessicamccormack.com
Belperron Toggle Torque Necklace, $160,000, belperron.com
Rainbow K Necklace Tube Diamonds, Price Upon Request, rainbowkjewelry.com
Jessica McCormack Rush Hour ‘Til Late Diamond Torque, Price Upon Request, jessicamccormack.com
Rainbow K Necklace Tube, Price Upon Request, rainbowkjewelry.com
Jessica McCormack Emerald Cut Diamond Torque Necklace, Price Upon Request, jessicamccormack.com
Pomellato Together Choker Necklace, $16,150, pomellato.com
