The necklace stack is layering’s jewelry chapter — and it runs on the same physics: length intervals, weight balance and one statement per composition. Stacking like you mean it: the architecture, the metal treaty and the neckline coordination.

The Length Architecture

The stack’s structure: two-inch intervals minimum between layers (the choker at 14-16, the mid at 18, the pendant at 20-24 — the tangle starts where the intervals end), odd numbers compose better (two reads accidental; three reads built), and the weight gradient (delicate at the throat, substance at the base — the visual pyramid).

The Statement Budget

The stack’s soloist rule: one focal piece per composition (the pendant, the medallion, the pearl strand — the rest are supporting chains), matching the earring volume inversely (the big stack wants the small stud — the jewelry face-frame budget is shared), and the everything-delicate alternative (the all-fine stack reads as one composite piece).

The Metal Treaty

The mixing rules, updated: same-metal stacks are foolproof; mixed-metal stacks are current — with a bridge (the two-tone piece that contains both metals legitimizes the mix), and the skin-tone note (the warm-gold and cool-silver undertone alliance applies, but the mixed stack pledges to both). The old one-metal law is fully repealed; the bridge clause replaced it.

The Neckline Coordination

The stack meets the garment: the crew neck carries stacks ON the fabric (the over-knit stack is a winter classic), the V-neck wants the stack echoing its angle, the collared shirt takes the short layers inside or one long layer out (the video-call frame doctrine), and the strapless carries maximum architecture. The neckline is the stack’s venue — book accordingly.

Two-inch intervals, one soloist, bridge the metals, match the venue. The necklace stack was always layering in miniature — same physics, ounce for ounce.