The best timeless gold coin necklaces to shop now

By Hannah Hughes 2020-08-02T17:00:00Z

Welcome to woman&home’s online shopping guides, where we reveal where to buy the most popular and top-rated products. This guide is about gold coin necklaces, but you may also be interested in our edits of dresses to hide a tummy, comfortable non-wired bras, and flattering swimwear styles for every shape.

A classic gold coin necklace will never go out of date; in fact it might just be the most longstanding jewellery trend on earth, having been gifted throughout history to bring luck and good fortune to the wearer.

Fashion insiders across the globe love this classic necklace, and nearly every major jewellery brand has designed its own version. Celebrity loved label Missoma has 16 different necklace styles all based around the Roman coin, and their iconic ‘Arc Coin Necklace’ designed in collaboration with Lucy Williams has been a sell-out style since it launched in 2017. Missoma’s coin necklaces have been spotted on everyone from Cindy Crawford to Margot Robbie; the latter showcasing their versatility when she wore hers to a Pre-Oscar party and styled it with a casual airport look the following day.

Petro Stofberg, co-founder of Wardrobe Icons – the online magazine and blog whose motto is to ‘show you what never goes out of fashion’ also champions the humble gold coin.

"Trends come and go each season but what most of us really want are expensive looking timeless pieces that always make an outfit look pulled together. The gold coin necklace is an iconic piece of jewellery, perfect for everyday wear to add detail to a t-shirt and jeans, it can also be layered up with other necklaces to create a more stylised look”, says Petro.

Petro wears a Katerina Psoma necklace £163 available exclusively at Wardrobe icons

Brands such as Monica Vinader offer different length chains so you can perfect your layering look, or you can invest in their pre layered version. More affordable pre-layered versions can also be found at Oliver Bonas.

Most of us don’t want to remove our jewellery every time we shower, so for an everlasting buy it’s really worth investing in something that’s gold plated.

Leading jewellery brand Missoma recommends looking for pieces that are handcrafted and finished with 18ct gold vermeil on a sterling silver base - the term French word “vermeil” pronounced “ver-may” is used to refer to jewellery made of silver and coated with gold. You can also look for gold plating on a brass base which offers the pure gold look for an affordable price point.

What do coin necklaces mean?

The origin of coin jewellery most likely dates back to when coins were first invented. It’s thought that the Egyptians would decorate soldiers with medals similar to their currency. And, as long as civilians and soldiers have been travelling, other nation's coins have always been a great souvenir to take back home.

The sentimental status of an exotic coin continues today with most pendants having a meaning behind them. With this in mind they are perfect for gifting to a loved one, or yourself.

We asked John Lewis's jewellery buyer En-Ni Charlton what her favourite current style was and she said, "Often the coin itself represents special meanings or are ideal for engraving a personal initial. My favourite coin necklace is from Leah Alexandra, it's based on a Rosemonde Gerard 19th century French poem and the necklace is stamped with the French sentiment "+ qu'hier - que demain" - which translates from the poem's French verse meaning "I love you more than yesterday and less than tomorrow."

The best gold coin necklaces to buy now

So whether you choose a personalised initial coin, a zodiac embossed disk, an engraved message or a Roman mythical god there’s bound to be something that’s special to you. Here’s our edit of the best coin necklaces to shop now...