Your Guide To Station Necklaces
A station necklace is a simple yet elegant piece of jewelry that allows you to incorporate gemstones and other details without donning a clunking piece of jewelry. Whether you've recently seen these trendy necklaces on your favorite celebrities or friends, you may be curious about their origins. Here's your guide to station necklaces (and bracelets, earrings, anklets, and so much more).
What Is a Station Necklace?
The station necklace is a delicate metal necklace embellished with gemstones and other adornments with even spacing along the chain. Station necklaces are a concept, and thus there are a variety of designs with different patterns of gems. These gems are the defining factor of the station necklace. Beyond gems, station necklaces can be made with other materials such as gold beads. Beaded station necklaces can look very similar to our favorite Saturn chain.
Here's a quick history of the modern station necklace. The piece was first introduced in 1974. While it was initially considered a "classic," interest died down shortly after it debuted. The station necklace was then revived in 1996 when it was featured in the rom-com Tin Cup. In this movie, Renee Russo wore a pearl station necklace. These pearls were set along a knotted silk cord and replaced the more traditional diamonds.
The shift from diamonds to pearls was popular with the public, and it made the necklace trend for a few years in the late 90s. As often happens, the station necklace trend eventually died down until 2008. This time, people loved what a delicate station necklace chain added to a layered necklace look.
You may hear of a "By the Yard" necklace, a type of station necklace. A typical example of this is a Diamond by the Yard necklace that features round brilliant cut diamonds that are bezel set by stations along a gold chain. These stations are stopping points where the diamonds are set. You can add as many stations (or diamonds) as you desire, but there's generally an odd number on the necklace.
How to Wear a Station Necklace
If there's one word to describe a station necklace, it's delicate. For this reason, you want to make sure you style your necklace appropriately. Otherwise, it can get lost in the chaos of an outfit. Here's what we suggest.
Layer your station necklace
The number one way to wear a station necklace today is through layering. Layering is a popular trend in all accessories. There are many different necklace styles. It's essential to pair the right piece with your station necklace to let it shine. Consider these tips if you want to layer your jewelry without it getting tangled or looking awkward.
- Select a necklace of different lengths and types. We've said it before, and we'll say it again - when layering, you want to mix textures and types of jewelry. For example, if you have a short station necklace, you can pair it with a longer hanging pendant necklace and a choker tennis necklace. Additional jewelry pieces also help to pull focus to the station necklace and bring out its beauty. We also love pairing station necklaces with a diamond pendant, charm necklace, curb chains, or a pearl pendant.
- Layering several chunky, similar-length necklaces to create a "collar" look does not work well with a station necklace. Station necklaces go better with a minimalist style. We recommend avoiding statement necklaces with station necklaces to ensure your station necklace doesn't get lost.
- If you're having trouble coming up work a layered look, try for pre-made arrangements. This allows you to achieve the look you're seeking without much effort. There are some pre-made sets you can purchase with station necklaces.
Choose the right neckline
When you're wearing a simple chain necklace, your neckline is everything. The high neckline on a shirt or dress can provide the proper backdrop for your chain and make it stand out more than it otherwise would.
Station necklaces vary in length. You might be asking what size station necklace should I buy? Most often, they're between 16 and 28 inches in total length. So, you have many options when it comes to the size of your necklace. Below are the necklaces lengths, and nearly all of these can apply to the station necklace.
- Collar: Super short necklace of 12 to 13 inches that hugs the skin
- Choker: Typically, 14 to 16 inches in length and will embrace the collarbone
- Princess: The most popular necklace length at 18 inches - falls several inches below the collarbone
- Matinee: Necklace of 20 to 25 inches that barely meets the bust line
- Opera: Typically, 26 to 36 inches in length (often pearls)
- Sautoir: Longer than 27 inches - can be worn doubled or tripled
Wear a dark color
Station necklaces are often on delicate chains. This feature is often why they're appealing to people. They're simple and dainty. However, this can also make it difficult for you to see. Just as you want to pick a suitable neckline, we recommend wearing a dark-colored top or dress to create a stunning backdrop for your necklace: 14k yellow gold or rose gold pop against a dark color.
What Does Station Mean in Jewelry?
A station is simply the point at which the gemstones or other adornments are placed along the metal necklace chain. Stations can be incorporated into the design of necklaces, anklets, earrings, and bracelets.
The Settings of Station Necklaces
Station necklaces with gems (especially diamonds) are often bezel set. This setting is a style where the stone is surrounded by a metal rim rather than clutched by the four or six prongs that you're used to seeing with the solitaire setting. It's a setting that's been in vogue for the last couple of years in the jewelry industry overall. It's popular with station necklaces and engagement rings alike. Right now, an eyeglass setting is trending. Eyeglasses appear similar to a bezel setting, but there is less gold, and the back of the diamond is not enclosed. Eyeglasses give off a bit more of a dainty look.
Who Invented Diamonds by the Yard
Diamonds by the Yard is a rope of tiny diamonds that can be used to make both bracelets and necklaces. This unique setting is formed to hold perfectly cut small diamonds in an elegant position on either sterling silver, white gold, yellow gold, or even platinum.
This design was first fashioned by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany. She was asked to create a "simplified, affordable version of diamonds for women." She stationed 12 small diamonds in gold bezels at uneven lengths on a 36-inch chain. It was subsequently dubbed the Diamonds by the Yard necklace. Peretti varied the style with a different number of diamonds and various chain lengths. It has since been expanded from just necklaces to earrings, rings, pendants, lariats, bracelets, etc.
Gemstones Used in a Station Necklace
The station necklace was originally created with diamonds. However, they are not exclusively crafted with diamonds. They can be accented with any birthstone or gold on the chain. From topaz to black diamonds, there are no wrong choices for station necklaces. Here are some examples of gemstone necklaces that showcase station necklaces' sheer variety. Here are some of the most popular station necklaces at Alexis Jae jewelry.
The necklace includes 5 round cut diamonds that are each approximately .09 carats.
Price: $850
This necklace features three emerald stones
Price: $330
Perfect for someone with a September birthday as this is their birth month!
Price: $400
This dainty bracelet will pair perfectly with any outfit. It's a modern and timeless piece.
Price: $550
These simple gold dangle earrings will accent your outfit without overdoing it. They're only 1.5 inches with 3 white diamonds.
Price: $580
How to Make a Station Necklace
Supplies
- Station pendant with rings on either side (i.e., bezel set diamond, turquoise, emerald, etc.)
- For a necklace, 15 inches of a small cable chain
- For a bracelet, 6 inches of a larger curb chain
- Clasp
- Jump rings
- Pliers (round nose, chain nose, and flat nose)
- Flush cutters
Instructions
- Take your cable chain and divide it in half
- Clip it with your flush cutters
- Take your jump rings and attach them to your cable chain
- Use them to attach your station pendant to your chain
- Continue this process of clipping your chain, linking jump rings, and attaching any bezel-set gems or pendants that you want on your necklace
- Attach a clasp to the end of one side of the chain and a jump ring on the other side of the chain
Final Thoughts
Station necklaces are an easy piece that you may forget you're even wearing. They're simple, dainty, and elegant. You can leave them on, loop them, or layer them. The possibilities are endless! Many will even call them the perfect necklace. They are a great choice if you're looking for gift ideas.
Our mission at Alexis Jae is to help people skip the middleman and invest in high-quality, ethically-sourced jewelry. My family has been jewelers for 70+ years. We are committed to helping you find the perfect piece to add to your jewelry box. We only sell fine jewelry (14k or 18k gold) featuring precious or semi-precious stones. Start shopping today and save 50% off traditional retail prices!
We're always looking to add valuable content to The Glistener. We aim to add one new article a week, from gift guides to educational pieces. If you have any questions, please let us know! We'd love to include it in our next blog.
1 comment
G. Malone on