Station necklaces
Pearl tin cup necklaces
Individual pearls set at intervals along a chain, wired one station at a time.
The style took its name from the 1996 film Tin Cup, where Rene Russo wore one throughout. Thirty years on, it hasn't gone anywhere. What's changed is what goes into them.
~ Jeremy Shepherd, Founder and CEO
How they're made
Wired one station at a time
A tin cup necklace looks simple and isn't. Every pearl is drilled, wired and finished on its own, then spaced along the chain by hand so the intervals hold their rhythm when the necklace moves.
We build them to order rather than holding finished stock. You choose the metal and the length, and the piece is assembled for you at the bench.
Choosing a length and spacing
Two things decide how a station necklace wears: the length of the chain, and how far apart the pearls sit.
Pearl size matters as much as length. A 3 to 5 mm akoya station necklace is a quiet piece. An 11 to 14 mm Fijian is not. Our Luna and Terra lines are graduated, so the pearls grow toward the center and the necklace reads as one continuous piece rather than a repeated motif.
16 to 18 inch
Closely spaced stations. Reads as everyday and sits well under a collar.
20 to 24 inch
The most versatile length. Below the collarbone, with room between the pearls.
26 inch and longer
Wider spacing and dressier. The easiest length to layer.
Before you buy
What is a tin cup necklace?
A necklace with individual pearls set at intervals along a chain rather than strung end to end. The name comes from the 1996 film Tin Cup, where Rene Russo wore one throughout the picture.
Is a station necklace the same thing?
Yes. Both names describe the same construction and get used interchangeably. Station necklace is the more common term in the trade, tin cup is what most customers call it.
Can I choose the metal and the length?
On most pieces, yes. Chain is solid 14K or 18K gold in yellow, white or rose, and many styles come in more than one length. Because we build to order, tell us in the special instructions box at checkout if you want something outside the listed options and we'll come back to you.
Can I see the pearls before you build it?
Yes, and this is the part worth using. A tin cup is built from loose pearls, so the piece does not exist until you order it. Ask and we will photograph and film the exact pearls we would set for you, before anything is wired to the chain. Request it on any product page, at no cost and with no obligation to buy.
Which pearls suit this style?
Almost any. We build station necklaces in akoya, Freshadama freshwater, Tahitian, Fijian and natural conch. Rounder pearls give an even rhythm along the chain. Baroque and keshi give every station a shape of its own.
Not sure which length?
Our specialists will show you pieces on camera and talk through spacing, pearl size and metal. Most appointments run about twenty minutes.
