Solitaire Moissanite Necklace on Box or O Chain

Most solitaire necklaces give you one chain and expect you to live with it. This one lets you choose the chain as well as the stone, which matters more than it sounds. A box chain is square in profile and sits rigid and flat, reflecting light along its length. An O link chain is rounder and softer, moves more, and reads less formal. Choosing the chain first, and then the stone, is the better way to build a necklace you will wear every day.

The pendant is a single prong set stone, offered in GRA certified moissanite or in zircon. The moissanite option is the one to choose if you want the stone to be the point of the piece, since it holds far more fire and will not dull with wear. The zircon option gives the same silhouette at a lower entry price. Moissanite has a refractive index of about 2.65 and a Mohs hardness of 9.25, whereas zircon sits near 8 and scratches more easily, so the gap shows up most on a pendant that is worn daily and rubs against clothing.

Everything sits on 925 sterling silver plated in 18k white, yellow or rose gold, with the chain finished to match the setting rather than approximately matching it. The chain is 45cm, which is the standard drop for a pendant to sit at the collarbone and the easiest length to layer with.

• Stone: moissanite (GRA certified) or zircon
• Chain styles: box chain or O link chain
• Metal: 925 sterling silver, 18k plated
• Finish: white gold, yellow gold or rose gold
• Chain length: 45cm
• Setting: prong set solitaire pendant