--- title: "What Are the Standard Pearl Necklace Lengths?" description: "The standard pearl necklace lengths, from collar and choker to princess, matinee, opera and rope, with CIBJO's measurements in centimeters and inches." canonical_url: "https://learnaboutpearls.com/buying/necklace-lengths/" last_updated: "2026-11-04" last_reviewed: "2026-10-26" reviewed_by: "Simon" publisher: "Unique Pearl" publisher_disclosure: "Learn About Pearls is published by Unique Pearl, a pearl jeweler." --- # What Are the Standard Pearl Necklace Lengths? **Short answer:** CIBJO's standards name seven necklace lengths: collar, 25 to 33 cm (10 to 13 inches); choker, 35 to 40 cm (14 to 16 inches); princess, 43 to 48 cm (17 to 19 inches); matinee, 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 inches); opera, 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 inches); sautoir, longer than opera at about 90 cm (36 inches); and rope, about 115 cm (45 inches) or longer. **Key facts:** - A collar is a strand 25 to 33 cm (10 to 13 inches) long. [1] - A choker is a strand of uniform-sized pearls 35 to 40 cm (14 to 16 inches) long. [1] - A princess strand measures 43 to 48 cm (17 to 19 inches). [1] - A matinee strand measures 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 inches). [1] - An opera strand measures 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 inches). [1] - A sautoir is longer than opera length, about 90 cm (36 inches), and a rope is about 115 cm (45 inches) or longer. [1] - SSEF's reports give the total length of each strand including the clasp, measured to about the nearest 0.5 cm. [2] Pearl necklaces come in standard lengths with names of their own. CIBJO, the international jewelry confederation, defines seven of them, from the short collar to the long rope, and each definition applies to strands of [natural pearls](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#natural-pearl), [cultured pearls](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#cultured-pearl) or [imitation pearls](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#imitation-pearl) alike. [1] ## The standard lengths | Name | Length | Note | | -------- | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------- | | Collar | 25–33 cm (10–13 in) [1] | | | Choker | 35–40 cm (14–16 in) [1] | The pearls are uniform in size | | Princess | 43–48 cm (17–19 in) [1] | | | Matinee | 50–60 cm (20–24 in) [1] | | | Opera | 70–90 cm (28–35 in) [1] | | | Sautoir | About 90 cm (36 in) [1] | Any necklace longer than opera length | | Rope | About 115 cm (45 in) and longer [1] | | The seven standard necklace lengths on one scale, from CIBJO's definitions. Drawn for Learn About Pearls. **Text version of this diagram** A chart with one row for each length on a scale in centimeters: collar from 25 to 33 cm, choker from 35 to 40 cm, princess from 43 to 48 cm, matinee from 50 to 60 cm and opera from 70 to 90 cm, then a single mark for sautoir at about 90 cm and a bar for rope that starts at about 115 cm and runs off the end of the scale. [1] The ranges leave small gaps between them. ## How the lengths compare The ranges don’t quite meet. CIBJO’s definitions leave gaps between them, for example between a collar’s 33 cm and a [choker](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#choker)’s 35 cm, and between a matinee’s 60 cm and an opera’s 70 cm. [1] The choker is the only length that CIBJO also defines by its pearls: a strand of uniform-sized pearls. [1] The two longest lengths are the least exact. A [sautoir](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#sautoir) is any necklace longer than [opera length](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#opera-length), at about 90 cm, and a rope is a strand of about 115 cm and longer. [1] ## How a necklace is measured On a report from SSEF, the Swiss gemological laboratory, the total length of each strand includes the clasp and is measured to about the nearest 0.5 cm. [2] CIBJO’s length definitions don’t say whether the clasp is included. [1] For a necklace of several strands, SSEF gives the measurements of each strand and usually calls the longest, outermost strand A. [2] ## Choosing a length Since each name comes with a set length, the simplest way to choose is to measure a necklace you already like, end to end, and find its name in the table or in the [necklace length guide](https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/necklace-length-guide/). The size of the pearls matters too: the page [pearl size guide](https://learnaboutpearls.com/buying/pearl-size-guide/) explains how pearls are measured, and how a strand of pearls of about the same size differs from a graduated one. The page [styling pearls](https://learnaboutpearls.com/wearing/how-to-style-pearls/) covers ways to wear them. To see strands of different lengths, you can look through [cultured pearl necklaces and pendants](https://www.uniquepearl.com/collections/pearl-necklaces?utm_source=learnaboutpearls\&utm_medium=referral\&utm_campaign=buying\&utm_content=necklace-lengths) at Unique Pearl, the pearl jeweler behind this site. ## What to look for in any strand Whatever the length, the pearls on most strands should match in all the quality factors, though designers sometimes mix colors, shapes and sizes on purpose. [3] GIA also says experts recommend a knot between each pearl. The knots stop the pearls from rubbing against each other, and keep you from losing them all if the string breaks. [4] The page [restringing pearls](https://learnaboutpearls.com/care/restringing-pearls/) explains when a strand needs [new string](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#restringing). ## Questions people ask ### How long is a princess-length pearl necklace? In CIBJO's definition, a princess strand is 43 to 48 cm, or 17 to 19 inches, long. [1] ### What is the difference between a collar and a choker? Mainly length. CIBJO defines a collar as 25 to 33 cm (10 to 13 inches) long and a choker as 35 to 40 cm (14 to 16 inches), and it specifies that a choker's pearls are uniform in size. [1] ### What is the difference between a sautoir and a rope? CIBJO defines a sautoir as any necklace longer than opera length, at about 90 cm (36 inches), and a rope as a strand of about 115 cm (45 inches) and longer. [1] ### Does the clasp count in a necklace's length? On SSEF's reports it does. The laboratory gives each strand's total length including the clasp, measured to about the nearest 0.5 cm. CIBJO's length definitions don't say either way. [1, 2] ## References 1. CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, Pearl Commission (2026). The CIBJO Pearl Book (Pearl Blue Book) 2026. [Source](https://cibjo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Pearl-Blue-Book-2026-.pdf) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261025235254/https://cibjo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Pearl-Blue-Book-2026-.pdf) 2. Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF. Pearls (SSEF reports). [Source](https://www.ssef.ch/reports/pearls/) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20260611191437/https://www.ssef.ch/reports/pearls/) 3. Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Gem Encyclopedia. Pearl Quality Factors. [Source](https://www.gia.edu/pearl-quality-factor) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261016075647/https://www.gia.edu/pearl-quality-factor) 4. Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Gem Encyclopedia. Pearl Buyer's Guide. [Source](https://www.gia.edu/pearl/buyers-guide) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20260613185853/https://www.gia.edu/pearl/buyers-guide) **Written by:** Learn About Pearls editors **Fact-checked:** Learn About Pearls editors, October 26, 2026 **Reviewed by:** Simon, October 26, 2026 **First published:** November 4, 2026 **Publisher:** [Unique Pearl](https://learnaboutpearls.com/about/), a pearl jeweler **Revision history** 1. November 4, 2026: First published. First published **How to cite this page** **APA:** Learn About Pearls editors. (2026). _What Are the Standard Pearl Necklace Lengths?_ Learn About Pearls. https://learnaboutpearls.com/buying/necklace-lengths/ **MLA:** “What Are the Standard Pearl Necklace Lengths?” _Learn About Pearls_, Unique Pearl, November 4, 2026, learnaboutpearls.com/buying/necklace-lengths/. **Chicago:** Learn About Pearls editors. “What Are the Standard Pearl Necklace Lengths?” Learn About Pearls. Unique Pearl. Last modified November 4, 2026. https://learnaboutpearls.com/buying/necklace-lengths/. **BibTeX:** `@misc{lap-buying-necklace-lengths, title = {What Are the Standard Pearl Necklace Lengths?}, author = {{Learn About Pearls editors}}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {\url{https://learnaboutpearls.com/buying/necklace-lengths/}}, note = {Learn About Pearls, published by Unique Pearl}}` Quoting with attribution and a link is welcome. See [how to cite and reuse](https://learnaboutpearls.com/cite/). **Suggest a correction** ## Related pages - [Buying](https://learnaboutpearls.com/buying/): How to compare pearl types and quality, what to ask a seller, and when to get a lab report. - [Pearl size guide](https://learnaboutpearls.com/buying/pearl-size-guide/): How pearls are measured, the usual sizes of each type, and how size affects value. - [Wearing](https://learnaboutpearls.com/wearing/): How pearls are worn, the June birthstone and pearl anniversaries, and how to wear pearls safely.