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 of 25 to 33 cm to the rope length of about 115 cm or longer.1
Enter a length to see its name.
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 | 25–33 cm1 | 10–13 in1 | |
| Choker | 35–40 cm1 | 14–16 in1 | The pearls are uniform in size |
| Princess | 43–48 cm1 | 17–19 in1 | |
| Matinee | 50–60 cm1 | 20–24 in1 | |
| Opera | 70–90 cm1 | 28–35 in1 | |
| Sautoir | about 90 cm1 | about 36 in1 | Any necklace longer than opera length |
| Rope | about 115 cm and longer1 | about 45 in and longer1 |
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’s 35 cm, so a length that falls in a gap has no standard name.1 CIBJO calls any necklace longer than opera length, 70 to 90 cm, a 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 explains each standard length and what to look for in a strand, and styling pearls covers ways to wear them. The pearl size visualizer shows how large the pearls themselves would be.
References#
- CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, Pearl Commission (2026). The CIBJO Pearl Book (Pearl Blue Book) 2026. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Office of Weights and Measures. SI Units – Length. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF. Pearls (SSEF reports). Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Written by
- Learn About Pearls editors
- Fact-checked
- Learn About Pearls editors,
- Reviewed by
- Simon,
- First published
- Publisher
- Unique Pearl, a pearl jeweler
Revision history
- : 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}}
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