The Vine: July 12, 2013
I have been on the lookout for at least a year for a simple pendant necklace that I could wear every day with almost anything. I’ve tried searching Etsy for phrases like “dainty necklace” and “simple necklace pendant” but the results are so overwhelming that I end up giving up after clicking through a couple dozen pages. If anyone could pass on any recommendations, I’d be grateful.
I wear both silver and gold so either would be fine. Not a lot of color since I want to be able to wear it all the time. No hearts, crosses, peace signs, zodiac symbols, or weird plastic-looking crystals. Something that doesn’t look too cheap but is under $100 would be ideal.
Thanks!
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It is pretty overwhelming; let’s see what the readers come up with. Readers: no more than three (3) links per comment, and if your HTML gets busted, try a link-shortener. Now’s the time to plug your local/Etsy-favorite craftspeople. Hit it.
Tags: Ask The Readers retail
Not for nothing, but this silver-bunting necklace is preeeetty cute you guyyyyyyys: http://www.etsy.com/listing/98307668/silver-bunting-necklace?ref=shop_home_active
Haul ass and everything attached down to your local bead studio/store. Even in my small town we have 3 and they have every type of pendent and chain you could imagine. Here’s one of my favorites: http://www.beadstudio.com. They made a necklace for my former boss when she retired. We each picked out a charm and they chose a chain and for a mere $10 they put the whole thing together. She was thrilled and I think the whole thing cost less then $50 (and there were 20 of us in the department).
To clarify my former post: We paid for each charm and the chain, and they charged us $10 to put it all together.
Dogeared has a lot of nice, simple choices that aren’t very expensive (under $100) – http://www.dogeared.com/tags/necklaces
This one from Minoux is pretty and simple: http://www.minouxjewelry.com/shop/product.php?item=circle+of+friends+necklace
And here’s a sweet, simple circle from Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/105145053/de-lune-tiny-minimal-simple-pendant?ref=shop_home_active
I have a pendant I love that my folks picked up at Nordstrom a few years ago. It’s kind of like the Etsy one I linked above, only it’s a gentle teardrop shape, and one side is gold (I really like the fact that it’s reversible). If all else fails, you might browse the jewelry counter of a place like Nordstrom.
I have a couple of pendants that I wear a lot, but the symbols are super personal to me, so maybe think of what you would want? I have one that’s shaped like my home state (there are lots of these on Etsy, and you can get some customized with a little heart on your home town!) and one shaped like the number 7. I also got one that was made from an old trolley token from a city where I used to live, which is really cool but because of the size of the token it’s not “dainty.” A friend who’s super into has one shaped like a lightning bolt.
Or, you could go for something sleek and geometric, like this one: http://www.etsy.com/listing/115856277/gold-rhombus-necklace-14k-gold-filled
I have purchased a few cute Gorjana necklaces, all under $100: http://www.gorjana-griffin.com/gorjana/jewelry/necklaces.html?limit=50
I always get compliments on my Erica Weiner jewlery:
http://ericaweiner.com/collections/necklaces-view-all
I covet Catbird: https://catbirdnyc.com/shop/home.php?cat=105
My sister in law gave me what I’m sure must be a knockoff of this Tiffany starfish pendant (since there’s no way she spent that kind of money on it–I see very similar ones online for like $40 though–google around):http://compare.ebay.com/like/400490656865?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar I have worn it about 75% of the time for the last ten years and never get tired of it. I also get a ton of compliments on it, and it goes with EVERYTHING.
When I briefly lost it for a few months a while back, I replaced it with a mobius pendant just like this one: http://www.sensitiveplanet.com/product.jhtm?id=3483&cid=1113 (please forgive the cheesy website) which still gets a ton of use, although I did find my starfish and it’s still #1 :)
Good luck! I agree with the commenter above on thinking of a symbol or at least a genre that’s meaningful to you, and letting that help you narrow it down…although neither of these I would have thought of until I saw them :)
I’m a simple pendant kind of girl, too. One of my favorite pieces is one my husband got me for Christmas a few years ago. It’s just a simple pearl on a silver chain – something along the lines of this: http://www.amazon.com/Freshwater-Cultured-Diamond-Pendant-Necklace/dp/B005NIULS0/ref=sr_1_37?s=jewelry&ie=UTF8&qid=1373670248&sr=1-37&keywords=pearl+pendant+necklace
It’s classy, goes with everything and doesn’t break the bank!
I really like the designs from Blend Creations (http://blendcreations.com/). They have a lot of options under $100 and good options for personalization.
What a fun search! Etsy is a wonderful place to find special, affordable jewelry. Here are three you might consider:
Delicate silver star necklace (I find that a small necklace that is an outlined shape goes well with anything, because it shows through the background color of whatever you are wearing.
http://etsy.me/136R2Dg
Tiny silver or gold disc necklace (you can have an initial put on this one, or you could order it plain if that is more everyday) — also, if you prefer the look of a small, hammered disc, that is another good thing to search for.
http://etsy.me/1bvYbk2
Delicate silver infinity necklace (I gave this one to a friend, and she wore it a lot!)
http://etsy.me/159726D
I am a big fan of a go-to, every day necklace. Over the years I’ve worn a tiny circle with a heart stamped in it, a little dove silhouette, a washer with a word stamped in it, my home state (which is so pretty, and has a heard over my home town, but is kind of pointy.)
Also, I don’t know if you buy often from Etsy, but most sellers are so happy to make something to your specifications. If you want to wear a necklace all the time, it’s worth figuring out the exact length you want since they can usually adjust it.
Good luck! Check back in so we hear what you end up with!
My everyday pendant consist of gold charms with my daughter’s and husband’s first initials from Moon and Lola: http://www.moonandlola.com/ (but I almost wish I’d just gotten one of my own initials instead . . . )
Try the Metropolitan Museum of Art store, they have an interesting selection and you could argue timeless by definition :-)
Maybe this link will work:
http://store.metmuseum.org/jewelry/necklaces/icat/necklaces?sort=manual&parentCategoryRef=necklaces&order=asc&q=*&isviewall=1&perpage=100&type=pendants
I got one of these small Elsa Peretti bean necklaces as, I think, a high school graduation gift. It took me a couple of years to appreciate it, but I’ve probably worn it eighty percent of the time for most of my adult life. Her stuff has gotten a lot pricier at Tiffany’s (I actually had to replace mine once because I broke the chain and lost the bean on the subway and I swear it was under $100), but I found several on eBay for very little money:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tiffany-Co-Elsa-Peretti-Small-Bean-Pendant-Necklace-Sterling-Silver-/330951329008
She has a bunch of other shapes as well, all very neutral and pretty. I’m seeing some in Buy It Now listings for well under $100.
http://tinyurl.com/ktp7wo7
http://tinyurl.com/lazxjtf
ttp://tinyurl.com/mspqzk5
I love every single one of those. Especially the second one!
Don’t pay lots of money for a tiny sterling charm on a sterling chain. Do it yourself instead: http://www.bluemud.com/Sterling-Silver-Charms-C13.aspx
You could search for anything on that site and you’ll probably find a charm of it–a bull whip, a shark, a hair dryer? Whatever!
I also have an Etsy search protip: trying “sterling pendant necklace” or “14k charm necklace” instead of just “dainty necklace” should help to narrow things down a lot. Weeding out the non-precious metal options will give you far fewer to sift through AND should limit the results to dainty things only, because independent designers can’t afford to make giant pieces out of expensive materials.
A Cut Above the Retsy is a great site for sifting through the myriad of Etsy offerings. Try searching there for something simple, chic, and affordable.
Edor on etsy is what I think of when I think of simple metal necklaces: http://www.etsy.com/shop/edor
I’m not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for, but I love this necklace enough that I’ve bought a backup silver one and one in pink and one in blue. I like the chain length and the bit of sparkle. I’ve linked a pink one, but my favorite one is black and silver. I bought the original one at a Macy’s in New York City, but the rest of them off of ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fossil-Brand-Glitz-Copper-Fireball-Crystal-Ball-Necklace-/170989541782?hash=item27cfc55996
Bria beat me to mentioning Dogeared, but I wanted to say I wear their three wishes necklace every day (rarely taking it off). Three tiny gold beads on a silver chain. It’s perfect. http://www.dogeared.com/3-wishes-gold-dipped-stardust-bead-necklace-on-sterling-silver-chain
Sometimes I layer a Gorjana open circle necklace with it, which is also simple and wearable with most stuff. http://www.shopbop.com/viceroy-necklace-gorjana/vp/v=1/845524441844509.htm?folderID=2534374302060432&fm=other-shopbysize&colorId=11739&extid=affprg-2687457
A friend’s company sells charms that go on necklaces and bracelets. Each represents a nonprofit and a portion of the sale of the charm goes to the charity. I have a couple and they are lovely. http://www.altruette.com/index.html
She’s currently on vacation but I have a number of understated silver necklaces from Small Bird Jewelry and wear them almost daily.
My husband bought me a beautiful pendant named “Balance” from the Acorn catalog when I had just been diagnosed with MS and was having balance issues; I wear it everyday – it’s not available any more, but they have plenty of other neat pendants. http://tinyurl.com/nnmmqza
I also like this one – silver /and/ gold, so it could go with everything http://tinyurl.com/nkx7evh (Uncommon Goods would be worth mining further).
And this Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheZenMuse?ref=seller_info
Good luck finding your signature piece!
I have a necklace very similar to this: http://www.etsy.com/listing/80208453/14k-gold-fill-and-sterling-silver
Mine is all silver, and has a more delicate chain, but it’s basically the same deal. I love it and get tons of compliments on it.
I’ve been eyeballing this little crescent moon pendant and earring set for a while. But given that I’m approaching hoarder-level antics with the jewelry, sharing the love seems better. Bonus, they’re under budget together!
Etsy link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/155015623/crescent-moon-earrings-necklace-set
I’m not a big online jewelry shopper but one thing I can recommend is museum gift shops.
If you’re in an urban area, a fine arts museum usually has some really nice, arty type jewelry on sale. I picked up two sets of earrings at Seattle Art Museum for ten bucks each.(And many museums are online as well.) Much of what they sell is thematic, so if you’re looking for, say Ancient Rome style type stuff and there’s a museum showing something like that, it’s worth a look.
I wear a super cheap Cape May “diamond” 90% of the time and get tons of compliments on it. It goes with anything, since it’s clear, and dresses up or down easily. There are other sea glass-type pendants on this website, too, but for me, nothing beats the simplicity of the Cape May diamond.
http://www.vaeldesigns.com/products/dainty-cape-diamond-necklace-p-639.html#.UeIU521HFCI
Plugging my friend’s designs:
http://www.stcdesigns.com.au/
I like them, and judging by her market sales so do other people.
This is one of my favorite Etsy stores and I have several of her necklaces. She has some plain pendants with a drop pearl or stamped initial that may work for you:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/IntermezzoDesigns
http://www.etsy.com/listing/122257670/letter-initial-stamped-sterling-silver?ref=shop_home_feat
She also has some fun geeky designs like Dr Who and Scrabble tiles.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/IntermezzoDesigns?section_id=12227383
I may have to get some liquor bottle tags from her…
Good luck!
I second Dogeared. They have some of the things you don’t want but they also have some cute, simple things.
I like this shop and have had good luck whenever I’m in Seattle: https://www.fireworksgallery.net/istar.asp?a=3&dept=JWLRY
I’d look up when the local art festivals are happening. I always find amazing jewelry at the bi-annual art fest in my town. It might be awhile until there is one near you, but it’s definitely worth the wait, and it’s always nice to buy something you’ve seen in person (which you can’t get from etsy) and still by direct from the artist (which you can’t do in a department store).
I’m late to the game, and there are tons of lovely ideas already, but I’d like to add a few search-narrowing hints to Chesh’s great ones above:
1. If you’re looking for sterling, consider adding “.925” or “marked” to your search. This will weed out all those pesky “silver TONE” listings. On that point, “mark,” “signed,” or “hallmark” can be especially handy keywords if you’re looking at vintage/estate pieces.
2. If you go for something symbolic or abstract, check for visual ambiguity. As a lifelong “serial pendant monogamist,” I suggest looking at pictures of the piece and relaxing your eyes, viewing it from ten feet away, or taking off your glasses. Does it look like something else? Kinda Rorschach-test-like?
I’ve had a cherub that looked like a crucifix, and a lighthouse that looked like a traffic cone, and a sand dollar that looked like a medallion. (I darn near turned a cartwheel when someone correctly identified my current Celtic cross with a claddagh built in, but she was fellow Irish diaspora and it was at my own parish. Surely the day will come.)
If you’re fond of “conversation pieces,” this advice may matter less. If you’re like me, though, you want it to be obvious and you don’t want it to spark curiosity from your seatmate on the bus when you’ve had a long day already and your tonsils hurt and you have to tuck your chin in all weirdly to look at the thing while you’re describing it to the nosy stranger and IT’S JUST TOO MUCH PRESSURE.
I want to second the Elsa Peretti Tiffany’s designs. My husband got me a gorgeous little open heart of hers a while back, and it did not break the bank, but it’s simple and sweet, and I love wearing it. She has a neat teardrop design that I think is really gorgeous and would match everything. :)
James Avery has a wide range of pendants and prices; they do mostly silver and their quality (and guarantee) are excellent.
http://secure.jamesavery.com/
It’s at the top of your range, but I love the stylish simplicity of this one: http://www.sundancecatalog.com/product/five+points+necklace.do?sortby=priceAscend&vabp=all&vabp=all
One of my friends bought me and my sister this pendant from Blue Nile: http://www.bluenile.com/infinity-knot-sterling-silver-pendant_7275 and I wear it pretty much every day.
The Etsy shop of a friend who does beautiful, delicate work:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShopClementine
I also had her custom-make me a piece when I had an idea but couldn’t seem to find exactly what I wanted.
I actually bought these as bridesmaids’ gifts, and they look amazing! Dainty, but not too small, and you can pick whatever color stone you like!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/124613613/leaf-branch-necklace-with-gemstone?ref=col_view
I second the bead store suggestion. I bought $3 piece of mother-of-pearl from the bead store, put it on a chain and it’s become my go-to necklace for everyday. The mother-of- pearl goes with everything.
@Lore and the other folks mentioning Elsa Perreti stuff… My freind started a lovely tradition – she got a bean necklace for her sister when she got married. Then her sister got her one back when she got married. And after a terrible breakup, she passed her bean on to me. I then got one for my sister when she got her dream job. I think my friend (the originator) has since replaced hers, and now it’s a thing. My sister knows the story and has promised to pay to forward to a friend one day. I know it’s just a necklace, but I wear mine pretty much every day and think of all the other beans out there that are part of this extended circle.
Sars, I won a sea-glass pendant last year during the Donors’ Choose contest; the necklace was provided by a contestant named Ellen B. It’s very simple and wearable with pretty much everything. Maybe if you still have Ms. B.’s info around, that could be another idea.
Ooh, good tip. I’m not sure she still makes those, but I can inquire!
Not a pendant tip, but a search tip:
These days I do almost all my consumer shopping in Google Image search. Google, show me dozens of fence caps simultaneously, without annoying words in between! When I see something I like, I do have to hope it is the right size, or available. On the other hand, I can scan down those small pictures pretty fast.
Honestly, my favorite go-to piece is just a simple swarovski crystal on a string or a chain. My best friend is a jeweler, and while she’s given me more complex pieces over the years, I ALWAYS get compliments on just the crystal. They don’t look cheap, I find.
http://www.whitewolfjewellery.co.uk/24mm-swarovski-crystal-de-arte-crystal-pendant-sterling-silver-chain-necklace-34-p.asp
I have one that’s a golden brown colour, since I usually wear earth tones and have a yellowish skin tone. It goes with everything. I also have a seashell-shaped one that I paid about seven dollars for in Taiwan that reflects blue and yellow and pink the way it’s been cut. Simple but not plasticky.
Also coming late to the party but I wear mine ALL the time [and it’s for a great cause]:
http://www.kintera.org/AutoGen/ECommerce/Catalog.asp?ievent=288285&CategoryID=229695
A few days late, but some stuff from one of my favorite brands of simple delicate jewelry, Gorjana, just went up for sale on the website Rue La La. You need to register as a member to shop their “online boutiques.” A few new ones open every day and those items are available usually at a pretty good discount for 2 or 3 days or until sold out.
Here’s the Gorjana site if you’d like to browse the type of stuff that’s on sale, if you’re not a Rue La La member with access to that site:
http://www.gorjana-griffin.com/gorjana/jewelry/necklaces.html
I looked at the items for sale on Rue La La today, and they have quite a few pretty, simple pendant necklaces that may work for you.
http://www.ruelala.com/
This post might sound shill-y, but I promise I don’t work for Rue La La. I just happen give them too much of my own money.
Seconding the James Avery (www.jamesavery.com) suggestion. They make beautiful and affordable things. I wear the linked heart butterfly as my never take off necklace. Though I have a few of their charms and they wear well alone as a necklace.
I also agree with the love for Elsa Perreti stuff.
On the cheap end, Avon (www.avon.com)sometimes has nice simple necklaces. I gave my sister their knockoff of the Tiffany open heart pendant as part of a baby shower gift. That was a few years ago but she still wears it quite a bit.
I purchased the bunting necklace in Sars’ first comment. It’s lovely and her shop has 10% for the rest of july. Shipping took about 6 days to Ohio. Highly recommend!