The 11 Best Initial Necklaces From A to Z
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It’s fall’s most personal jewelry trend.
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Initial necklaces are back, babes. The personalized necklace style has come in and out of fashion for generations, dating back to the 16th century, when Queen of England Anne Boleyn famously wore a “B” pendant. Today the trend has fans including modern-day princesses and celebrity royalty alike, including Kate Middleton, Julia Roberts, and most recently, Hailey Bieber, who have all been spotted wearing this customizable necklace trend.
Initial necklaces are a subtle sister style to the more overt nameplate necklace, making them a great option for folks who love a sentimental accessory moment but gravitate towards a more minimal aesthetic. And because initial necklaces are so customizable, they’re easily paired with pieces you already have in your jewelry capsule collection. Out of this fall’s jewelry trends, initial necklaces are definitely among the most versatile. That said, there are a few things to keep in mind before you splurge on one of your own, including narrowing down your preferred style, whether you want additional embellishments or charms, and choosing a material.
Ahead, you’ll find the best initial necklaces starting at just $38, along with all the details on what to expect when shopping for this celeb-loved jewelry trend.
Best Overall: Brook & York Blaire Diamond Initial Pendant Necklace
We Love: This necklace’s balance between sparkle and subtle is spot on.
What We Don’t Love: Some shoppers might find the length of this necklace a bit tight.
Not quite a statement necklace, but also not entirely minimal, this Brook & York initial necklace features a 14K gold vermeil uppercase letter initial pendant accented with genuine diamonds. The only downside of this piece is that it doesn’t offer customizable lengths. At 16-inches, some shoppers might find the fit a bit restrictive.
Price at time of publish: $160
Color: Gold | Chain Length: 16 inches
Best Budget: Anthropologie Delicate Monogram Necklace
What We Love: The price point of this initial necklace can’t be beat.
What We Don’t Love: There are no customizable options for this necklace.
Bringing together the best design elements from blingy statement initial necklaces and their subtle, minimal counterparts, Anthropologie’s initial necklace features an offset, crystal-studded initial pendant and a mid-length 16-inch chain. Coming in at just under $40, this piece won’t break the bank, but it’s also more likely to tarnish or fade than other pieces on this list. Even so, if you’re hoping to jump on this jewelry trend quickly and without too much of a commitment, this is the initial necklace to try.
Price at time of publish: $38
Color: Gold | Chain Length: 16 inches
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Best Celeb Lookalike: The M Jewelers Pave' Bubble Letter Pendant Necklace
What We Love: It’s a near-perfect match of Bieber’s statement initial necklace for under $200.
What We Don’t Love: The chain is vermeil, not solid gold.
The bubble font pendant on this statement initial necklace might not have the exact same swoop and style of Bieber’s statement piece, but it’s delivering the same eclectic vibe. Available in both 18K gold vermeil and sterling silver, this piece’s relatively affordable price point can be credited to the use of cubic zirconia instead of genuine diamonds.
Price at time of publish: $170
Color: Gold, Silver | Chain Length: 16-18 inches
Best Luxury: Ariel Gordon Helium Initial Pendant
What We Love: The whimsical design and unique chain set this luxury piece apart.
What We Don’t Love: The hollow initial pendant may dent if handled roughly.
The chunky gold style of this initial necklace’s pendant mimics the puffed up playfulness of a helium letter balloon. Like a balloon, the 14K gold pendant is hollow, meaning it could be dented, so the brand recommends handling this piece with care. While this initial necklace does have a fine jewelry price tag, you can purchase the pendant on its own to mitigate some of the cost. If you’d rather splurge on an entire necklace, you have options. Though the brand recommends pairing the Helium Initial Pendant with its Singapore Foxtail Chain, it also offers a range of other à la carte chains you can choose from.
Price at time of publish: Starting at $875
Color: Gold | Chain Length: 16-22 inches
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Best Minimal: Uncommon James Personalized Touch Necklace
What We Love: The offset initial and centered pendant make this necklace unique.
What We Don’t Love: Made from brass, this necklace could tarnish.
If you love to emulate celebrity jewelry trends without exactly replicating them, this might be the necklace for you. Featuring an offset, rather than centered, capital letter and a single, dainty cubic zirconia, this necklace manages to be both minimal and eye-catching. While we love the design, it should be noted that this necklace could tarnish or potentially stain your skin when it interacts with your body’s natural oils and sweat. That said, if you’re the type to wear layered necklaces over a turtleneck sweater and keep your jewelry polished and clean, the style reward could offset the risk.
Price at time of publish: $60
Color: Gold, Silver | Chain Length: 16.5-18.5 inches
Best Yellow Gold: BabyGold Mini Letter Necklace
What We Love: This initial necklace is handmade from recycled materials.
What We Don’t Love: Some initials are hard to read in this necklace’s font.
Although there are dozens of initial necklaces out there, tracking down a well made lowercase initial necklace is more difficult than you might expect. Enter L.A.-based brand Baby Gold. Its mini letter necklace features a lowercase pendant in a swirly, feminine script that’s just as delicate as the chain it sits on. This is a great option for folks looking for something a little bit different, but be sure to check your specific initial before adding this necklace to your online shopping cart as certain letters are a bit hard to decipher.
Price at time of publish: $150
Color: Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold | Chain Length: 14-20 inches
Best White Gold: BYCHARI Initial Pendant Necklace
What We Love: The sleek, refined style of this initial necklace is a standout.
What We Don’t Love: Each piece takes three to four weeks to be produced.
If you love the look of silver, but don’t want to worry about your initial necklace tarnishing, you might want to choose a white gold option like the BYCHARI Initial Pendant Necklace. Available in three chain lengths, this necklace features an initial in a sleek, sans serif font that can be centered or offset to one side. Delicate and refined, this piece exudes quiet luxury, but don’t count on wearing it ASAP. Once ordered, production takes between three and four weeks, meaning you’re looking at about a month-long wait before shipping.
Price at time of publish: $280
Color: Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold | Chain Length: 18 inches
Best for Multiple Initials: Oak and Luna Mini Initial Choker Necklace
What We Love: Oak and Luna allows shoppers to include a second initial on this necklace.
What We Don’t Love: Shipping times are a bit longer for this necklace.
Why feature a single initial on a necklace when you can have two? Oak and Luna’s delicate initial choker necklace allows you to include two capital letters on its delicate, adjustable 14-inch to 16-inch chain. This piece is available in sterling silver, 18K gold vermeil, 14K yellow gold, and 14K white gold so you can seamlessly layer it with other pieces you love to wear. As is often the case with personalized jewelry, you’ll have to wait about two weeks for this initial necklace to arrive after purchase with standard shipping. However, Oak and Luna also offers expedited and urgent shipping, which cuts wait time down to a little over a week.
Price at time of publish: Starting at $70
Color: Gold, White Gold, Silver | Chain Length: 14-16 inches
Best Choker-Length: Kendra Scott Diamond Letter Pendant Necklace
What We Love: The shorter length makes the diamond pendant on this choker-length initial necklace stand out.
What We Don’t Love: The price point is high.
The whimsically rounded edges on this 14K yellow gold initial necklace’s pendant make this a mini version of Bieber’s supersized B necklace. This necklace’s price tag definitely places it in the “splurge” category, but the attention to detail and craftsmanship set it apart from many other initial necklaces. Each pendant is designed by hand in the brand’s Austin, Texas studio and set with conflict-free pavé diamonds. The chain is solid 14K gold rather than vermeil or plated, making it a true fine jewelry piece.
Price at time of publish: $600
Color: Gold | Chain Length: 15-18 inches
Best Customizable: Lee Fiori Engravable Asymmetrical Initial Necklace
What We Love: This necklace’s level of personalization can’t be beat.
What We Don’t Love: If you’re not a fan of block-lettering, you’re out of luck.
If you want to add even more personalization to your initial necklace, a brand like Lee Fiori that offers engravings might be right for you. Available in sterling silver, rose, white, and yellow gold, this necklace features a slightly off-kilter uppercase letter set on a matching chain. In addition to choosing the precious metal of your choice, you can also have a name or word with up to nine letters engraved on the pendant. When it comes to the chain, you can choose between either 14-inch, 16-inch, 18-inch, or 24-inch lengths as well as a 16-inch chain with an optional two-inch extender.
Even with all these customizable features, this initial necklace ships fast and is usually available in under a week. Despite its relatively affordable price tag, especially when you consider all the customizable options, you’re not skimping on quality if you opt for this piece. Lee Fiori handcrafts its made-to-order jewelry using recycled silver and gold in Toronto. Because it produces and designs pieces in-house and sells directly to shoppers, it’s able to cut costs and keep prices low.
Price at time of publish: $94
Color: Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, Silver | Chain Length: 14-24 inches
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Best Long Necklace: Mejuri Bold Letter Pendant Necklace
What We Love: This necklace boasts the roomiest lengths on our list.
What We Don’t Love: The pendant is attached via a noticeable jump ring.
If you prefer a longer necklace, you’ll appreciate this pendant initial necklace, available in 20-inch and 22-inch lengths. The 18Karat gold vermeil pendant on this necklace features a unique woven style that adds a special touch. However, eagle-eyed sticklers for a streamlined aesthetic might find the large jump ring that attaches the initial pendant to the necklace chain a bit distracting.
Price at time of publish: $148
Color: Gold | Chain Length: 20-22 inches
What to Keep in Mind
Price Point
Initial necklace prices mostly depend on two factors. Like most jewelry, initial necklace price tags largely depend on the materials used to create the piece. Sterling silver is more affordable, while gold and platinum will be more expensive. Semi-precious or precious stones also add up. Customization, especially if the initial necklace in question is handmade, can also increase the price point so be sure to review all related fees before falling in love with an initial necklace. The range in our guide is from $38 for Anthropologie's Delicate Monogram Necklace to $875+ to a luxury initial necklace from Ariel Gordon. For something that sits right in the middle, our best overall pick from Brook & York is $160.
Customization Time
While most trendy jewelry is shipped out as soon as you complete your online shopping order, initial necklaces can, but don’t always, take a bit longer to produce. Although some jewelry brands keep a number of initial pendants on hand, if you’re looking for a less common letter or an initial necklace featuring multiple letters, you could be looking at at least a few weeks’ time from purchase to delivery. If you, like this writer, struggle with practicing patience, keep an eye out for expedited production and shipping options, which many jewelry brands and stores offer for a fee. The customizable features on Lee Fiori make the longer wait time worth it.
Your Questions, Answered
How long do initial necklaces take to make?
Depending on how customized you’d like your initial necklace to be, this type of necklace can be ready to ship when purchased or take up to six weeks to produce and design. Be sure to check the brand’s shipping and production times before ordering, especially if you have a special event in mind.
What initials should you get on an initial necklace?
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to what initials you should choose when customizing an initial necklace. Many folks choose to go the Bieber route and pick the first initial of their last name as the featured letter on their initial pendant. The first initial of your first name is also a popular choice, but you can also go with the initial or initials of a loved one, from your partner, child, or sibling, or even a childhood best friend. Our one piece of cautionary advice is to avoid featuring the initials of a relatively new partner on this style of necklace, especially if you’re planning on dropping a ton of money on a luxury item. There’s nothing worse than having a gorgeous piece of jewelry that you don’t love to wear because it reminds you of an ex. It may not be as permanent as a tattoo, but money is money!
Why Shop With Us
Amber is a fashion writer for InStyle. She has worked as a writer and editor in the fashion and beauty industries for a decade. She lives, writes, and takes OOTD photos in Philadelphia.
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