Size is the question we are asked most, and the answer is never a number alone — it is how the piece sits, moves and reads on you. Here is everything we know about choosing well, from necklace lengths to ring sizes, so you can order with confidence.
Last updated: 2026
Necklaces
Pearl necklace lengths have names older than fashion:
| Length | Name | Where it sits | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35–40 cm (14–16") | Choker / Collar | Snug at the base of the neck | Modern, graphic, lovely with open collars |
| 45 cm (18") | Princess | Just below the collarbone | The classic — the length most strands are made |
| 50–60 cm (20–24") | Matinee | Between collarbone and bust | Effortless over knitwear and shirts |
| 70–90 cm (28–36") | Opera | Below the bust, or doubled | Dramatic; doubles as two strands |
| 100 cm+ (40"+) | Rope | As long as you dare | Wear long, knotted, doubled, wrapped |
- To find your length: cut a piece of string to the length, try it in the mirror, and measure it. Thirty seconds, never wrong.
- Pearl size matters too: the same 45 cm reads differently with 6 mm pearls (quiet) and 10 mm pearls (a statement). When in doubt between two sizes, the smaller pearl is the easier everyday companion.
- Layering: mix lengths rather than sizes — a choker with a princess-length strand, 5 cm apart, is the easiest way to wear more than one.
Earrings
- Studs: 6–7 mm is the everyday classic — present but not loud. 8–9 mm reads as an occasion; 4–5 mm is the quietest, loveliest first pearl.
- Drops: judge by total drop length — 15–25 mm moves with you without weighing on the earlobe.
- Weight: pearls are lighter than they look. A 9 mm pearl stud weighs less than a metal button earring of the same size — comfort is rarely the problem people fear.
Rings
- UK sizes are letters (C, D, E…); most of our rings follow UK sizing. If you know your size in another system, write to us and we will convert it.
- To measure at home: wrap a thin strip of paper snugly around the finger, mark the overlap, and measure in millimetres — that is the circumference. Measure at the end of the day, when fingers are largest, and never when cold.
- Between sizes? Go up for wide bands, down for narrow ones. And remember: a pearl ring is worn like any ring — but cared for like a pearl (see Pearl Care).
Bracelets
- Measure the wrist with a soft tape, snug but not tight, and add 1–1.5 cm for a comfortable drape. Pearl bracelets are meant to move a little — a strand that stands rigid on the wrist is too small.
- Bead size: 6–7 mm for everyday; 8 mm and above when the wrist is the occasion.
For children and first pearls
A first pearl is usually a 4–5 mm stud or a short 35–38 cm strand. Choose the smallest, lightest, most durable thing — the point is that it is worn, not saved. Our Pearl Care page covers the rest.
When you are still not sure
Write to us — care@galenesea.com — with a photo of your hand or wrist, or the neckline the piece is meant for. A photo tells us more than measurements do, and we will tell you honestly which size we would choose, even when the honest answer is the smaller one.