Pendants — styles you will see at the showroom.

What to look at

A pendant is where a single good stone does the most work, which is why solitaires dominate this case. Look at the bail — the loop the chain runs through — as closely as the setting: a bail that is too tight for the chain you own turns a finished piece into a repair job, and it is the one measurement people forget to check.

Chain and pendant are sold separately more often than not, so decide the length first. A short chain keeps the stone at the collarbone where it is seen, a longer one drops it below the neckline and behind fabric. Heavier pieces need a wider link than the delicate chain that came to mind.