Choose the symbol first, then the height and grams, then the diamonds and the chain
Start with the ankh, the sign most of these pieces carry and the one that sold most here in the year. Then read the height and the grams, because a dainty ankh and a heavy Eye of Horus can look alike in a photo. The usual height is 1.5 inches. Plan on a chain as well, since only three come as a set. Take 14K gold if she will wear it every day.
Symbols: ankh necklace, Eye of Horus, Nefertiti and King Tut pendants for women
Start with the ankh. Eleven of the 19 pieces carry one, and ankh pieces took just over half of the sales in the year. It is the ancient Egyptian sign of life, a loop above a cross, so most titles say ankh cross.
The Eye of Horus is the old sign of protection. One ankh carries it, and one custom piece sets it in diamonds. Nefertiti, the queen, comes twice. The pharaoh head comes three ways, two of them on a chain. A silver hamsa set and a small crowned cross carry no Egyptian sign. Most also sell on the men's pages, so let the inches decide. The heavier pieces are in Egyptian pendants.
Size and grams: how big an ankh pendant looks on a woman
Read the inches before the photo. The usual piece stands 1.5 inches tall. It weighs just under 5 grams, light enough for every day.
The smallest ankh, in 10K, is about an inch tall and under a gram. Past 8 grams a piece turns bold. The ankh with the Eye of Horus stands 2 inches tall. It weighs 19.3 grams, and the custom Nefertiti is just as tall. Hold a ruler at her collarbone first.
Diamonds or plain gold: natural diamond ankh pendants in 10K and 14K gold
Thirteen pieces carry diamonds, all natural by their listings. The four 14K diamond ankh crosses hold 1.2 to 1.74 carats. The two 10K micro pave ankhs hold under a third of a carat each. Most stones are SI clarity in G or H color.
Four ankhs are plain gold. If she never takes it off, choose 14K for the richer yellow. 10K is paler, though a little harder. Twelve pieces offer yellow, white or rose gold, and the micro pave ankhs come in yellow only.
The chain: Egyptian necklace sets, with chains of 18 to 24 inches
Expect to add a chain, since 16 of the 19 come alone. The sets are the small pharaoh on a 10K Cuban chain, the silver King Tut on a Franco chain and the silver hamsa on a cable chain, each from 18 to 24 inches.
An 18 inch chain rests near her collarbone. No listing prints the size of the bail, the small loop at the top, so tell us her chain's width, or pick one from the women's gold chains.
Made for her: custom Egyptian jewelry, the wait and returns
Two titles say Custom Made. The Eye of Horus goes in the cart from its listing. The 14K Nefertiti cannot, so the desk quotes it. Ask the wait before you promise a date, because anything made or personalized for her is final sale.
A stock piece has fourteen days from delivery, unworn, unaltered and in its box. The desk clears it first, then our return label carries it home. We keep five percent for restocking and subtract the return shipping. Ask about her piece in the live chat, or call or text 212-872-9692 from 10 AM ET.