--- title: "Pearl Necklace Length Guide" description: "Enter a pearl necklace's length in centimeters or inches and see its standard name, from collar and choker to princess, matinee, opera, sautoir and rope." canonical_url: "https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/necklace-length-guide/" 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." --- # Pearl Necklace Length Guide Pearl necklaces come in standard lengths with names of their own. Enter a length below to see its name in CIBJO’s standards, which define seven of them, from the [collar length](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#collar-length) of 25 to 33 cm to the [rope length](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#rope-length) of about 115 cm or 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, 25 to 33 cm; choker, 35 to 40 cm; princess, 43 to 48 cm; matinee, 50 to 60 cm; opera, 70 to 90 cm; sautoir, about 90 cm; rope, about 115 cm or longer. [1] A length you enter is marked with a line across the rows. | Name | Centimeters | Inches | Note | | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | | [Collar](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#collar-length) | 25–33 cm [1] | 10–13 in [1] | | | [Choker](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#choker) | 35–40 cm [1] | 14–16 in [1] | The pearls are uniform in size | | [Princess](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#princess-length) | 43–48 cm [1] | 17–19 in [1] | | | [Matinee](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#matinee-length) | 50–60 cm [1] | 20–24 in [1] | | | [Opera](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#opera-length) | 70–90 cm [1] | 28–35 in [1] | | | [Sautoir](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#sautoir) | about 90 cm [1] | about 36 in [1] | Any necklace longer than opera length | | [Rope](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#rope-length) | about 115 cm and longer [1] | about 45 in and longer [1] | | ## How the guide names a length The guide reads your length against CIBJO’s own figures in the unit you choose: centimeters, or the rounded inch figures CIBJO gives beside them. [1] On the chart, inches are marked at exactly 2.54 cm each, the length the inch has had since 1959. [2] The ranges don’t meet. CIBJO’s definitions leave gaps, for example between a collar’s 33 cm and a [choker](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#choker)’s 35 cm, so a length that falls in a gap has no standard name. [1] CIBJO calls any necklace longer than [opera length](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#opera-length), 70 to 90 cm, a [sautoir](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#sautoir), and a strand of about 115 cm or longer a rope. [1] ## How to measure a necklace Lay the necklace flat and measure it from end to end, clasp included. That is how SSEF, the Swiss gemological laboratory, gives the total length of each strand on its reports, to about the nearest 0.5 cm. [3] CIBJO’s length definitions don’t say whether the clasp counts. [1] To see how a length would fall on you before buying, hold a string or a tape measure around your neck at that length. ## More about necklace lengths The page [necklace lengths](https://learnaboutpearls.com/buying/necklace-lengths/) explains each standard length and what to look for in a strand, and [styling pearls](https://learnaboutpearls.com/wearing/how-to-style-pearls/) covers ways to wear them. The [pearl size visualizer](https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/pearl-size-visualizer/) shows how large the pearls themselves would be. ## 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. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Office of Weights and Measures. SI Units – Length. [Source](https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/si-units-length) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261011201050/https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/si-units-length) 3. 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/) **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). _Pearl Necklace Length Guide_. Learn About Pearls. https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/necklace-length-guide/ **MLA:** “Pearl Necklace Length Guide.” _Learn About Pearls_, Unique Pearl, November 4, 2026, learnaboutpearls.com/tools/necklace-length-guide/. **Chicago:** Learn About Pearls editors. “Pearl Necklace Length Guide.” Learn About Pearls. Unique Pearl. Last modified November 4, 2026. https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/necklace-length-guide/. **BibTeX:** `@misc{lap-tools-necklace-length-guide, title = {Pearl Necklace Length Guide}, author = {{Learn About Pearls editors}}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {\url{https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/necklace-length-guide/}}, 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 - [Necklace lengths](https://learnaboutpearls.com/buying/necklace-lengths/): The seven standard necklace lengths, collar to rope, in centimeters and inches. - [Styling pearls](https://learnaboutpearls.com/wearing/how-to-style-pearls/): Necklace lengths, mixing colors and shapes, pearls beyond the strand, and pearls at funerals. - [Pearl size visualizer](https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/pearl-size-visualizer/): Pearls drawn at true size, from 1 to 20 mm, with each type's typical sizes.