Hermes Farandole Long Necklace 80 Sterling Silver H104570B 00

Of the three Farandole lengths, the 80 is the one I recommend first, because it is the only one you can wear without deciding anything. At 31.5 inches the chain falls just above the bust, which means it works over a shirt, a jumper and a dress without needing to be doubled, knotted or adjusted.

The Chaine d’Ancre links sit at a middle scale here, large enough to register in a photograph and small enough not to feel like hardware. Sterling silver, made in France, unplated, so the tone stays cool and slightly businesslike against skin.

I wear mine with striped poplin and a grey crew neck, which is the combination that made me buy it: the chain breaks the horizontal lines of the stripe and the outfit suddenly has structure. With a plain white shirt it is quieter, more like a necklace and less like an intervention.

Honest notes: 31.5 inches is a length that can clash with a large pendant worn at the same time, so I keep the rest of the neck clean; and silver tarnishes, so this is not a piece to leave in a drawer for a year. Made in France, 925/1000 silver.

Two notes from long wear: the 80 sits exactly at the widest part of a striped shirt, so it can look level rather than casual, which some people love and some do not; and the links warm quickly against skin, so it never feels cold for more than the first minute. It is the length I pack for trips, because it never needs adjusting.