Pendant necklaces come in far more styles than you might expect. Some are bold and sculptural, others are delicate enough for everyday wear, while lockets, gemstones, birthstones and moving elements can all give a pendant a very different personality.
As an Australian jewellery designer, I've been designing and making jewellery for over 30 years. As you might imagine, I've created and worked with many different pendant necklace styles over that time. In this guide I'll walk you through 10 types and design approaches, including classic pendant forms as well as more creative ways pendants can be styled and worn.
If you're trying to work out which style suits you, your wardrobe or someone you're buying for, this guide should help narrow things down. You can also browse our full collection of Pendant Necklaces for current designs in sterling silver, solid gold and gemstones.
For broader styling advice, see our must-read Jewellery Styling Guide.
What Is a Pendant Necklace?
A pendant necklace features one or more decorative elements suspended from a chain, cord or strand. The pendant may move freely, sit in a fixed position, open like a locket, hold a gemstone or combine several smaller elements together.
There isn't just one formal way to classify pendant necklaces, so this list includes both classic types of pendant necklaces and broader design or styling approaches. The 10 styles covered here are statement pendants, delicate pendants, gemstone pendants, nature-inspired designs, mixed metals, layered pendants, lockets, birthstones, kinetic pendants and colourful pendants.
1. Statement Pendant Necklaces
Statement pendant necklaces are designed to stand out. They may be large, intricate, colourful or simply distinctive enough to become the focus of an outfit.
This style suits anyone who likes expressive jewellery or wants one strong piece to do most of the visual work. A statement pendant can be especially effective with simple clothing, where the design has room to shine.
Explore our Statement Necklaces for bold, creative designs with plenty of personality.
Style tip: Pair a statement pendant with clean necklines, block colours or minimal earrings so the necklace remains the focus. You can also read our guide to How to Wear Statement Jewellery.
2. Delicate Pendant Necklaces
Delicate pendant necklaces are lighter, smaller and more understated. They add detail without dominating an outfit, which makes them ideal for everyday wear.
This type of pendant works well if you prefer jewellery that feels refined, easy to layer or simple enough to wear repeatedly. Small gemstone details, fine chains and compact motifs all fit comfortably into this category.
Browse our Dainty Jewellery, Everyday Jewellery or full Necklaces & Pendants collection for more ideas.
Style tip: Wear a delicate pendant on its own for a simple look, or combine it with other fine necklaces at different lengths for subtle layering.
3. Gemstone Pendant Necklaces
Gemstone pendant necklaces use a stone as a focal point, adding colour, sparkle, symbolism or texture to the design.
They can range from tiny birthstones and subtle cabochons to larger gems that become the visual centrepiece. Natural stones and lab-grown gemstones both offer a huge variety of colours and moods, so this is one of the most versatile pendant styles.
Browse our Gemstone Jewellery to see current designs in a range of stones and colours.
4. Nature-Inspired Pendant Necklaces
Nature-inspired pendants draw on flowers, leaves, stars, shells, landscapes and other organic forms. They can feel symbolic, decorative or simply connected to places and things you love.
These are some of my favourite designs to create because natural forms lend themselves beautifully to texture, asymmetry and small details.
Explore our Australian Flora Jewellery and Bouquet Flower Jewellery for nature-inspired pendant designs.
Style tip: Botanical pendants work especially well with other organic shapes and can be mixed with matching or contrasting flower-inspired earrings and rings.
5. Mixed Metal Pendants
Mixed metal or two tone pendants combine two (sometimes more) metal colours, most commonly sterling silver with yellow gold. The contrast adds warmth and visual interest without necessarily making the necklace feel bold.
This style is also very practical if you already wear both silver and gold jewellery, because a mixed metal pendant can help tie those pieces together.
Browse our Mixed Metal Jewellery collection for pendant designs combining silver and gold.
6. Layered Pendant Necklaces
Layering several pendant necklaces lets you combine different lengths, shapes, textures and metals into one personalised look.
A simple way to start is to choose one hero pendant and then add smaller or quieter pieces around it. Varying the chain lengths helps each pendant remain visible rather than competing for the same space.
See our Layering Necklaces collection for designs chosen to work well together, and use our guide to choosing necklace lengths if you need help getting the spacing right.
7. Locket Necklaces
Lockets are one of the most recognisable types of pendant necklace. Traditional versions open to hold a photograph or tiny keepsake, while contemporary lockets may use layered panels, open structures or symbolic details instead.
Because lockets can sometimes hold something personal or carry a private meaning, they often work especially well as sentimental jewellery and meaningful gifts.
Explore our range of Locket Necklaces for traditional and more contemporary open locket designs.
8. Birthstone & Personalised Pendants
Birthstone and personalised pendants add significance through a gemstone, initial, date or other detail connected to the wearer.
Birthstones are especially popular because they can represent the wearer, a child, partner or another important person. Some people also choose a gemstone simply because they love its colour or symbolism rather than following the traditional month.
Explore our Birthstone Jewellery or browse the dedicated Birthstone Necklaces collection.
9. Kinetic & Moving Pendants
Kinetic pendants include elements that move independently as you wear them. Gemstone clusters may shift and sway, layered pendants can move against one another, or a charm may rotate freely along the chain.
The movement gives these designs a playful, tactile quality and can make even a relatively small pendant feel visually lively.
You can find kinetic and multi-element designs throughout our Pendant Necklaces collection.
10. Colourful Pendant Necklaces
Colourful pendants use gemstones, beads, enamel or contrasting materials to add a strong colour accent to an outfit.
They work particularly well if you wear a lot of neutral colours and want jewellery to provide the focal point. A single gemstone can add a restrained hint of colour, while beaded or multi-gem designs can create something much bolder.
Browse our Beaded Necklaces or Gemstone Jewellery for colourful necklace designs.
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How to Choose the Right Pendant Necklace Style
If you're unsure which pendant style will suit you, start with the jewellery and clothing you already wear most often.
- For everyday wear: Try a delicate pendant, small gemstone design or simple nature-inspired piece.
- For maximum impact: Choose a statement pendant, bold gemstone or colourful design.
- For personal meaning: Look at lockets, birthstones, symbolic motifs or personalised pendants.
- For versatility: Mixed metal or layering necklaces can work with a wider range of jewellery and outfits.
- For something unusual: Kinetic, sculptural or asymmetric pendant designs can add individuality without necessarily being oversized.
Necklace length also makes a big difference to how a pendant looks when worn, so our guide to Choosing a Necklace Length is worth reading before you decide.
Final Thoughts: Finding a Pendant That Suits You
There is no single best pendant necklace style. The right choice depends on how you dress, what you enjoy wearing and whether you want your jewellery to blend in, stand out or carry personal meaning.
After more than 30 years designing jewellery, I've found that the pieces people wear most are usually the ones that feel like a natural extension of their personality. That might mean a tiny pendant worn every day, a colourful gemstone, a meaningful locket or something unconventional enough to start a conversation.
Explore our full collection of Pendant Necklaces to discover designs in sterling silver, solid gold and gemstones, or visit our Jewellery Gift Guide if you're choosing a necklace for someone else.
Simone Walsh is an 
