Custom Design Gemstone Necklace
A gemstone necklace puts colour close to the face, where people notice it first. At GIOIA Fine Jewellery, we design each necklace from scratch in Singapore, to mark a milestone, a birthday or a unique proposal. A sapphire necklace can even take the place of a proposal ring. This guide covers how a necklace differs from a pendant, how to choose the stone and the length, and what a bespoke necklace costs.
Gemstone Necklace Jewellery
Necklace vs. Pendant Jewellery
Many people use the words “necklace” and “pendant” for the same thing, but they are built differently.
- Necklace: The gemstones or design are built into the chain itself, so the whole piece reads as one. It suits fuller designs that sit along the neckline.
- Pendant: A separate piece that hangs from a chain. A gemstone pendant is simpler in structure, easy to personalise, and you can change the chain to suit the outfit.
A necklace cannot be moved to another chain, so we set the length and fit with you at the design stage.
Unique Charm of Coloured Gemstone Necklaces
Coloured gemstones bring something to a necklace that a row of diamonds does not: colour that can be chosen for the person wearing it. Here is what to think about.
Spectrum of Colours
Coloured gemstones come in a wide range of shades, from royal blue sapphire and vivid pigeon blood red ruby to Muzo green emerald. With rare gemstones in so many colours, there is plenty of room to find the one that suits you.
Personalisation
Our bespoke work has been featured by Tatler Asia, and every necklace starts with the stone. You can choose your birthstone, a stone linked to your zodiac sign, or simply your favourite colour. Some clients combine the birthstones of the whole family in one piece.
Intensity and Contrast
The depth of colour matters. A very dark stone can disappear against dark clothing, while a lighter tone shows up against almost anything. It helps to look at the stone against your skin tone and the clothes you usually wear.
Gemstone Size Matters
On the neckline a stone has more space around it than on a finger, so a small stone that looks right in a ring can look lost. A slightly larger stone, or several stones together, usually reads better.
Customising the Perfect Necklace Length
From chokers to long strands, the length should suit your lifestyle and wardrobe.
- Chokers: These sit close to the neck and suit formal or minimal looks.
- Long Necklaces: Easy to layer, and more of a statement. They need a little more care, because a long chain can catch or knock against things when you bend down.
Designing Your Bespoke Gemstone Necklace
Every necklace is drawn for the person who will wear it. These are the directions clients ask for most.
- Floral Motifs: Flowers and leaves, as in the hydrangea sapphire necklace above.
- Vintage Art Deco: Geometric lines and symmetry, in the spirit of the 1920s and 1930s.
- Modern Minimalism: Clean, simple settings for everyday wear.
- Personalised Touches: Your favourite flower, a pet, initials or a symbol that means something to you.
Even a classic diamond halo can be made your own, through the size and shape of the diamonds, how they are spaced and the metalwork around them.
Why choose a necklace?
A necklace can be worn every day without the knocks a ring takes, and it can carry more than one stone. There is no pressure in a consultation with us. We guide you through choosing the gemstone, sketching the design and making the piece.
Tourmaline Flora Necklace, a Bespoke Commission
Held together by a yellow gold chain, this commission opens into a broad leafy pendant that reads as intricate and bold at the same time. Where the leaves meet, a step-cut green tourmaline is set, picked for its unusual sparkle and deep, saturated shade. Two small round bluish-green tourmalines sit between the chain and the pendant and give the silhouette a personality of its own.
The client asked for a proposal ring to match. We built one around a princess-cut green tourmaline held by a pair of trillion diamonds, with a run of round brilliant pave diamonds tapering along the band, set out from the centre and coming full circle. In white gold, the design lets the colour of the stone carry the piece, a green meant to be worn on any day rather than saved for one.
Seven Gemstone Necklace for Feng Shui, a Bespoke Commission
This curved necklace was commissioned for feng shui. It holds seven round natural gemstones, each a different colour. From one end to the other they are yellow sapphire, peridot, orange sapphire, pink spinel, violet spinel, tanzanite and teal spinel.
Each stone was matched to the others in size, so the colours run evenly along the curve. In feng shui, colours are linked to the five elements, for example green with wood and deep blue with water. If you are working with a feng shui master, we can design a necklace around the colours and the number of stones you have been advised to wear.
Gemstone Necklace FAQ
How much does a bespoke gemstone necklace cost in Singapore?
Our bespoke gemstone necklaces start from about SGD 3,000. The final price depends on the gemstones you choose, their size and quality, the metal and how detailed the design is.
How long does a custom gemstone necklace take to make?
About 10 to 12 weeks from the agreed design to the finished necklace. If you need it for a particular date, tell us early so we can plan around it.
What is the difference between a necklace and a pendant?
In a necklace, the gemstones are built into the chain, so the piece is designed as a whole. A pendant is a separate piece that hangs from a chain and can be moved to a different chain.
Which gemstones suit a necklace?
Almost any. A necklace takes far fewer knocks than a ring, so stones that need more care on the hand, such as emerald, tanzanite and tourmaline, are well suited to one. Sapphire, ruby and spinel are the hardest wearing.
Create Your Gemstone Jewellery
Gemstone necklaces are not only for women. We have also made emerald necklaces for gentlemen, for sentimental reasons and for feng shui.
To start yours, contact us to arrange a consultation.
