Below are some tips to help you decide whether a necklace or bracelet of a certain length will suit your taste and fit comfortably.

USING THE MEASUREMENTS OF PIECES YOU ALREADY OWN

(Note that these methods are good starting points, but larger beads will produce a tighter fit, and smaller beads, a looser fit. So if the piece you're measuring has larger or smaller beads than the one you're thinking of purchasing, take these differences into account.)

For a stretch bracelet, lay a piece of baker's twine or thick string over the top, and mark where it crosses over itself; then lay the twine or string out straight and measure the distance between the marks.

For a bracelet or necklace with a clasp, unclasp the piece and lay it out straight on a smooth surface. You can then use a measuring tape to find the length:

• For a piece with a lobster-claw clasp and an extender chain, measure from the outer tip of the clasp to the outer end of the link where you usually attach the clasp.
• For a piece with a box clasp, measure from the outer edge of the box to the loop where the tab attaches to the piece, but don't include the length of the tab itself.
• For a piece with a toggle clasp, measure from the outer edge of the ring to the loop where the bar attaches to the piece, but don't include the bar itself in your measurement. 

MEASURING YOUR WRIST OR PREFERRED NECKLACE LENGTH DIRECTLY

You can wrap a tape measure or a piece of twine or string around your wrist as tightly or loosely as you'd like a bracelet to fit, and note the measurement.

For a necklace, you can drape the tape measure, twine, or string around your neck and take the measurement of the length you like.

Again, if the piece you're considering has larger beads than the one you used for your measurement--or beads larger than about 8mm if you used a tape measure, twine, or string--you'll want to add a bit of extra length to your desired measurement, as larger beads will make the fit tighter.