A statement necklace works on one condition, which is that there is nothing else asking for attention above the waist. That means a plain neckline, no pattern near the face, no earrings of any size, and ideally no other jewellery beyond a watch. It sounds austere and it is the entire reason the necklace reads as deliberate rather than as too much. The neckline is the practical part. A crew neck knit or a plain t shirt gives a solid ground and works with a shorter necklace sitting above the fabric. A scoop or a v neck suits a longer piece that follows the same line. A shirt collar can go either way depending on whether it is buttoned, and a high neck or a polo neck is the most striking of all with a heavy piece over it.

Length changes the effect more than the design does. A collar or choker sitting at the base of the neck draws attention upwards and shortens the neck slightly, which suits a longer neck and an open shirt. A necklace sitting at the collarbone is the most versatile. Anything longer sits on the chest and works over a knit or a high neck, where a shorter piece would disappear. Weight is the limiting factor for real statement pieces, since anything substantial in metal or stone will pull on the neck over an evening and slide out of position, and a well made piece distributes that weight along the chain rather than at the pendant. Check the clasp too, because the failure point on heavy jewellery is always the fastening.

What convinced us on this was seeing how much better a plain outfit looks with one strong piece than a considered outfit looks with three small ones. So the approach is to build the outfit as though there will be no jewellery at all, get it right, and then add the necklace as the only decision that reads. Removing the earrings is the step people resist and the one that makes the biggest difference. On colour, a piece in a warm metal sits more comfortably against cream and camel, and a cooler one against grey and navy. If you take one thing away, take something off before you add the necklace, because subtraction is what makes a statement piece look intentional.