Summer Necklaces for Men: Pearls, Colour and Beads

Summer is when a necklace does the most work. Fewer clothes, more on show.

Light, fresh and bold, the pearl necklace is the go-to summer necklace for men, and it's no longer the only one. Coloured pearls, beaded necklaces, gemstones and fine chains all come into their own when the shirts get lighter and the collars come open. Whether you like a simple, pared-back look or a layered, statement fit, there's a summer necklace for it.

Two strands of real freshwater pearls: the simplest summer necklace there is.

Below we'll cover the best summer necklaces for men, why pearls lead the list, which coloured pearl, beaded and gemstone necklaces work, pearls with pendants, the lightest chains for the heat, and how to style it all. If anything catches your eye, tap the image to see it in more detail.

Jump to:

• What Are the Best Summer Necklaces for Men?
• Why Is a Pearl Necklace the Go-To Summer Necklace?
• Which Coloured Pearl Necklaces Work for Summer?
• Are Beaded Necklaces Good for Summer?
• Which Gemstone Necklaces Suit Summer?
• Can You Wear a Pearl Necklace With a Pendant?
• Which Chains Are Best in the Heat?
• How Do You Style a Necklace for Summer?
• FAQs

What Are the Best Summer Necklaces for Men?

Five types of necklace cover almost every summer look. Here's what each does best.

Necklace	Why it works in summer	Wear it with
White pearl necklace	Bright against a tan, light to wear	Black or white T-shirt, open linen shirt
Coloured pearls	Adds colour without a loud piece	White, cream and pastel shirts
Beaded necklace	Relaxed, textured, beach-ready look	Vests, camp collars, swim shorts
Gemstone necklace	Colour and gold for evenings	Linen suits, open shirts
Fine chain (2-3mm)	Barely there, layers with anything	Everything, including the other four

For the full range in one place, our Summer Essentials edit brings the season's pieces together.

Why Is a Pearl Necklace the Go-To Summer Necklace?

Because nothing else does contrast quite like it. White pearls against a tan, a black T-shirt or an open white shirt catch the light in a way metal doesn't, and they look at home by the pool, at a beach bar or at a summer wedding.

Gone are the days of wondering whether you can pull the look off. Men's pearl necklaces now sit alongside chains, bracelets and rings in most collections, and they're no longer reserved for a select few. They're also lighter to wear than most chains, which matters in a heatwave.

Ours are real freshwater pearls, 5-7mm, on an adjustable 48-53cm fit, so each one is slightly different. If you want to know why that matters, our guide on how to tell if pearls are real explains it. For the history behind men wearing pearls, read why men wear pearl necklaces.

Which Coloured Pearl Necklaces Work for Summer?

Coloured pearl necklaces are where summer gets playful. A few beads of colour between white freshwater pearls pick up the colours of summer clothing and swimwear, from pastels to bright blues, without turning the necklace into a costume piece.

Forest Green Real Pearl Necklace

The Forest Green Real Pearl Necklace: white freshwater pearls with green beads.

White freshwater pearls broken up with deep green beads. Green reads as fresh against white linen and earthy against a tan, which makes it one of the easiest colours to wear all summer.

Cobalt Blue Real Pearl Necklace

The Cobalt Blue Real Pearl Necklace. Blue beads between freshwater pearls, finished in 18K gold.

Blue beads between white freshwater pearls, on 18K gold and 316L stainless steel. Blue is the most natural summer colour there is. It works with navy, white and denim, and it looks right anywhere near water.

Here's one of our favourite summer looks, built around the Forest Green Real Pearl Necklace. Notice how the style of the pearls is picked up in the bracelets: beaded designs like the Gold Mosaic Bracelet echo the round shapes of the necklace. Sleek gold bands and a touch of gold on the sunglasses pull it together.

A full summer look: coloured pearls, gold beaded bracelets and gold bands.

What gives the look its confidence is the detail. Look closely and you'll spot the same patterns repeated in the rings and the bracelet. It's all about the attention to detail.

Are Beaded Necklaces Good for Summer?

They're made for it. A beaded necklace has a relaxed, textured feel that suits vests, camp-collar shirts and beachwear, and it layers well with pearls because the shapes match.

Ocean Beaded Necklace

The Ocean Beaded Necklace: mixed-tone 8mm ocean beads with a limited edition clasp.

Mixed-tone 8mm ocean beads with a limited edition clasp, on 18K gold and 316L stainless steel. It's perfect for layering and bold enough to stand alone, and the soft, washed colours sit halfway between a pearl and a stone.

Stone beaded necklaces

For something darker and more grounded, the Matte Onyx Beaded Necklace pairs hand-strung black onyx with engraved 18K gold spheres, and the Tiger's Eye Beaded Necklace brings rich golden-brown tones that pick up a tan. See them all in our bead necklaces. Our guides to black onyx for men and the beaded bracelet cover what each stone means and how to match your wrist to your neck.

Which Gemstone Necklaces Suit Summer?

Gemstone necklaces are the evening option: colour set in gold, made for linen, terraces and late dinners.

From the Summer Gemstones shoot: coloured stones set in gold, against linen.

The Gemstone Necklace, our fastest selling necklace ever, combines ruby, amethyst, amber and emerald tones, each handset in a bezel or four-claw frame, with round-cut opals for balance. If you prefer one colour, the Green Gemstone Clover Necklace sets emerald green stones between 18ct gold clovers, and the Melted Emerald Gemstone Necklace sets its stones in molten-look gold bezels.

Gemstone necklaces suit every age. Colour, linen and gold never date.

Browse the full gemstone collection, or see the pieces on in the Summer Gemstones lookbook. For the wrist, our gemstone bracelet guide explains each stone.

Can You Wear a Pearl Necklace With a Pendant?

Yes, and in summer it's one of the best ways to wear pearls. If you're thinking about a set of men's pearls, chances are you already have a few men's pendants in your rotation. A pearl necklace with a pendant means you don't have to pick between the two, and the 18K gold hardware lets you layer your favourite gold and silver pieces alongside.

Pearls with pendants, shot in the summer light where they look their best.

Take the Crucifix Real Pearl Necklace. It combines one of the best-selling men's pendants with a fresh set of all-natural pearls, which makes it one of our most sought-after pearl pieces. You might think it's striking enough to wear alone, and it is, but it also pairs with the Crucifix pendant on its own chain, and its 18K gold details let you layer it with any gold necklaces. If the symbol matters to you, our guide to what a crucifix necklace means is worth a read.

The Crucifix Set: the crucifix pendant and the Crucifix Real Pearl Necklace, together.

If you want to draw a bit more attention, look at the Pendant Real Pearl Necklace. It sets a wing pendant and a rose pendant among the pearls for a more statement piece. It tends to look best either on its own or with plenty of other statement pieces. There's not much in between.

The Pendant Real Pearl Necklace, with a wing and a rose set between the pearls.

For a layered summer look, keep both pearl necklaces at the same or a similar length. It gives a clean, deliberate finish. In the look below, the relaxed shirt is the ideal canvas for a second necklace, the Iced Beaded Real Pearl Necklace.

Two pearl necklaces at a similar length, over a relaxed shirt.

Which Chains Are Best in the Heat?

Thin ones. When it's hot, a heavy chain feels heavy, and a fine one disappears until someone notices it. Chains around 2-3mm sit light against the skin and layer under pearls without competing.

• The 2mm Cuban chain is the cleanest everyday option.
• The 3mm rope chain has diamond-cut links that catch the sun.
• The 3mm Figaro chain adds a little pattern without adding weight.

If you want pearls and chain in one piece, the Chain Wrap Real Pearl Necklace weaves freshwater pearls with a 1mm 18K gold rope chain. For every link style side by side, see types of men's chains, or browse our minimal pieces.

How Do You Style a Necklace for Summer?

When it comes to summer style, keep it simple: fewer clothes, more layers of jewellery. A few rules make it easy.

• Open the collar. Two buttons undone on a linen or camp-collar shirt is the frame every summer necklace needs.
• Match the shapes. Round pearls and beads on the neck, beaded bracelets on the wrist. The look reads as one idea.
• Repeat the metal. Gold pearls, gold rings, a gold clasp. Show the same metal at least twice.
• Use colour carefully. One coloured piece is plenty. Let it pick up something in your shirt or swimwear, like pastels with pastel-toned beads.
• Finish with your hands. A signet ring or a couple of bands balance a statement necklace.

Gold pearls, gold rings, beaded bracelets: repeat the metal and the look holds together.

Finish the look with rings, whether that's a bold gold signet ring or a few understated minimalist jewellery pieces. For the full method on layering pearls with chains, pendants and rings, read our men's pearl necklace styling guide. Heading away? Our guide to men's holiday jewellery covers what to wear by the pool, in the sea and on the plane.

Finish with a signet ring in the same metal as your necklace.

FAQs

What necklace should a man wear in summer?

A real pearl necklace is the classic choice, because white pearls stand out against a tan and a light shirt. If you want more colour, try coloured pearls or a beaded necklace. For something quieter, a thin 2-3mm chain does the job without feeling heavy.

Are pearl necklaces good for summer?

Yes, they're one of the best. Pearls are light, they look fresh against white and pastel clothing, and they layer with the chains and pendants you already wear. They also work year-round, so they're not a one-season buy.

What colour necklace suits a tan?

White pearls and gold both stand out against tanned skin. Green and blue beads add colour without clashing, and warm stones like tiger's eye pick up the same tones as a tan.

Should you wear gold or silver in summer?

Either works. Gold looks warm with a tan, linen and earthy colours. Silver keeps a look cool and clean with white, navy and pastels. Pick one as your main metal and repeat it on a ring or bracelet.

Are beaded necklaces for men in style?

Yes. Beaded necklaces in onyx, tiger's eye and mixed ocean tones are a summer staple, and they sit well alongside pearls and fine chains. Keep beads around 6-8mm so they read as a necklace rather than a bracelet worn high.

What necklace goes with a linen shirt?

Pearls, gemstones and gold chains all work with linen. Leave the top two buttons open and let one or two necklaces sit inside the collar. With linen, less is usually more.

Can you layer a pearl necklace with a pendant?

Yes. Keep the pearls as the shortest layer and let the pendant hang a few centimetres lower on its own chain, or choose a pearl necklace with the pendant built in, like our Crucifix or Pendant Real Pearl Necklaces.

Where to Go From Here

Summer is the perfect time to try bold pieces, have fun mixing and matching, and add to your collection. Start with a white pearl necklace, add a coloured or beaded piece when you want more, and keep your chains thin.

Explore the full Men's Real Pearl Necklace Collection, see them on in the Summer Pearls lookbook, and pair your necklace with a pearl bracelet for the wrist.