Moving into fall as quick as a flash means bigger jewelry looks—I don’t know why that seems to be my unwritten rule, but I think it has something to do with heavier clothing and more red carpet events.

As we begin to anticipate September’s Emmy Awards, I’m smitten with styles like this necklace from Benjamin & Co., an event-ready piece of jewelry if there ever was one.

It’s a look that’s just plain sexy—presumably because you’d imagine someone would have to wear a deeply cut top or dress to accommodate its long line of diamonds. But I actually love the thought of this piece draped not against bare skin, but the soft fabric of a favorite T-shirt—the antithesis of what you’d expect, which, I think, makes it all the more cool. I like to imagine several glitzy chains at choker length, gathered atop this dazzling form, before giving way to this necklace’s epic drop-off of baguette diamonds. This imagining makes it less red carpet and more everyday, but who wouldn’t want to wear loads of diamonds on the daily?

Speaking of baguettes, this piece has more than 7.5 carats of them, and a smattering of rounds complete the sparkling style. What I like best is the arrangement of the baguettes in the line: Some are set in the more traditional north-south and others are east-west, for a hint of wabi-sabi style that makes this version more visually interesting than your typical, shipshape diamond statement piece.

That isn’t to say that this creation isn’t precise. The diamonds, all graded VVS1/F according to the company, are set in 18k white gold that blends beautifully with the stones. Emerald-shape links account for the back quarter of the necklace (the part that begins to run behind the neck), which means that someone can access this huge look at a lower price than if it had been done completely in an eternity-style setting. At just over $22,000 retail, that may mean something to the customer (or it may not).

Benjamin & Co., established in 1982, is a Los Angeles–based manufacturer and wholesaler of jewelry. The company is a frequent exhibitor at JCK Las Vegas and offers diamond and gemstone jewelry, as well as wedding bands and men’s jewelry, too.

Brittany Siminitz

JCK Contributing Editor