Diamond necklaces and pendants UK (2026): the best at every budget, all with the chain

The best diamond pendant for most people is a classic solitaire in 18ct gold: Goldsmiths' Signature 0.25ct pendant, with a GIA-certified diamond, is our pick. Under £1,000, its 9ct gold 0.25ct pendant; under £500, a bezel-set diamond in 9ct white gold. For a designer name, Chopard's Happy Diamonds.

Every necklace here is sold new by Goldsmiths, a UK authorised retailer, at Goldsmiths' own price on the date shown, and every one comes with its chain. All diamonds are natural: we don't list lab-grown.

How we chose

We went through the diamond necklaces and pendants Goldsmiths has in stock, more than 300 that come with a chain, and compared the details Goldsmiths gives for each: the metal, the diamond weight, the colour and clarity grades, the chain length, and whether the diamond is certified. We left out pendants sold without a chain. The explanations of the grades come from GIA. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes the price you pay.

Bigger diamond, or better diamond?

The same money can buy either. Two solitaire pendants in 18ct white gold:

Grades are Goldsmiths' own. On GIA's scale, H is near-colourless, SI1 means inclusions a skilled grader notices under 10x magnification, and I1 means inclusions that are obvious under 10x and may affect brilliance. The Signature diamond is the better stone; the other is the bigger one.

The best diamond pendant overall: Goldsmiths Signature, 0.25ct

One of Goldsmiths' 77-facet Signature diamonds, 0.25 carats, H colour and SI1 clarity, GIA certified, in 18ct white gold on an 18ct white gold 40cm chain, according to Goldsmiths. It comes with a certificate for the diamond.

Best overallGoldsmiths Exclusive 18ct White Gold 0.25cttw Brilliant Cut Solitaire Goldsmiths Signature Diamond Pendant Necklaces · White gold · Diamond · 0.25ct total £1,750Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

Also in yellow gold, and with a bigger 0.50ct Signature diamond.

The best bigger diamond: 18ct white gold, 0.40ct

A single 0.40ct diamond in a classic four-claw setting, in 18ct white gold on a 43cm (17 inch) chain, I colour and I1 clarity, according to Goldsmiths.

Best bigger diamondGoldsmiths 18ct White Gold 0.40cttw Diamond Solitaire Pendant Necklaces · White gold · Diamond · 0.4ct total £1,750Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

The best diamond pendant under £1,000

9ct yellow gold, 0.25ct. Round brilliant-cut diamonds totalling a quarter carat, in 9ct yellow gold on a 45cm chain, I colour and I1 clarity, according to Goldsmiths.

Best under £1,000Goldsmiths 9ct Yellow Gold 0.25cttw Diamond Pendant Necklaces · Yellow gold · Diamond · 0.25ct total £995Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

The best diamond pendant under £500

9ct white gold bezel pendant. A round diamond held in a bezel, a rim of gold, in 9ct white gold on a 45cm (18 inch) chain, I colour and I1 clarity.

Best under £500Goldsmiths 9ct White Gold 0.11cttw Bezel Set Diamond Pendant Necklaces · White gold · Diamond · 0.11ct total £360 £450Sale price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

For something different: two interlinked circles, one set with diamonds, in 9ct white gold on a 40cm chain.

The best diamond heart pendant

Goldsmiths 18ct white gold heart. A 13.7 by 12.2mm heart set with 0.20 carats of diamonds, H colour and SI clarity, on an 18ct white gold 46cm chain, according to Goldsmiths.

Best heartGoldsmiths 18ct White Gold 0.20ct Heart Pendant Necklaces · White gold · Diamond · 0.2ct total £500 £850Sale price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

The best initial necklace

Roberto Coin Tiny Treasures. A letter in 18ct gold set with diamonds, on a chain adjustable from 16 to 18 inches. Goldsmiths has many letters in yellow and white gold.

Designer diamond necklaces

Chopard Happy Diamonds Icons. A diamond that moves freely between two sapphire crystals, in ethical 18ct yellow gold, on a chain adjustable from 38 to 42cm, according to Chopard's details at Goldsmiths.

Best designerChopard Happy Diamonds Icons Necklace In Ethical 18ct Yellow Gold With Diamond Necklaces · Yellow gold · Diamond · 0.05ct total £2,100Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

Messika My Twin. An emerald-cut and a pear-cut diamond together in 18ct white gold, 0.30 carats in all, G colour and VS clarity, on a chain adjustable from 35 to 45cm.

The luxury choice: a full carat

Goldsmiths 18ct white gold, 1.00ct. A full carat of round brilliant-cut diamonds in 18ct white gold, H colour and SI1 clarity, GIA certified, on a 45cm chain, according to Goldsmiths.

Buying one as a gift

A pendant is one of the safest jewellery gifts: there's no size to guess. Check that the chain is included (every necklace in this guide has it). Goldsmiths' extended Christmas returns, which we read in October 2026, cover items bought between 1 October 2026 and 3 January 2027, if unused and in their original packaging, with proof of purchase. Always check Goldsmiths' own page before you order.