What is a rivière necklace?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
A rivière is a necklace consisting of a single continuous line of gemstones, all individually set with no connecting metal links showing between them, so the stones form an unbroken river of light around the neck. The stones are usually of equal size or graduated, becoming slightly smaller as they move away from the front centre. Diamond rivières are the most classic and glamorous form, originating in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when the necklace became one of the defining jewels of European courts and high society. The name comes from the French word for river.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a rivière and a tennis necklace?
- A tennis necklace is effectively a rivière in contemporary terminology. The two terms describe the same style, a continuous line of uniformly or graduatedly set diamonds or gemstones, with rivière being the older, more formal French term and tennis necklace being the casual modern name that became popular after a famous incident at the 1987 US Open.
- What gemstones are used in rivière necklaces?
- Diamonds are the most classic choice, but fine rivière necklaces have been made with sapphires, emeralds, rubies, aquamarines and pearls. Period rivière necklaces from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries often featured pastes, topazes and coloured gemstones.
- How should a rivière necklace be worn?
- A rivière typically sits as a choker or just above the collarbone and looks most effective against bare skin or a low neckline where the full unbroken line of stones is visible. It is a formal necklace, though modern versions in lighter stones like aquamarine can be dressed down.
Designing a ring
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