Mama Necklaces: Gold Mom, Mommy and Grandma Necklaces

A mama necklace is a gold pendant that spells the word mama, worn close to the neck as a quiet piece of personal jewellery. The place to start is the Jennifer Meyer range, where you will find the word in several forms across our initial and name necklaces, beginning with the Mama Necklace.

The short answer to “which mama necklace should I buy?” is this: choose a script mama necklace for a soft, handwritten look, choose an uppercase pendant for something bolder, and add diamonds if it is a gift for a milestone such as a first baby. Plain 18K gold starts at around $1,980 at Coveti, and diamond versions start at around $4,920.

What is a mama necklace?

A mama necklace is a necklace carrying the word mama, usually as a small gold pendant on a fine chain. People search for it as “mama necklace”, “mom necklace”, “mommy necklace” and, for the next generation up, “grandma necklace”. They are the same idea in different vocabularies, and they are among the most popular gifts in fine jewellery because the word does the explaining.

The appeal is that the necklace is personal without being private. A name belongs to one person. The word mama belongs to everyone who has been called it, so the piece can be given by a partner, a child, a sibling, a friend, and bought for oneself. It marks a role rather than a person, and it is a role people are proud of.

At Coveti, the mama pieces come from the Letters and Words collection by Jennifer Meyer, which also covers love, honey, lucky and manifest. If you are choosing between lettering styles in general, our initial necklaces guide compares them side by side.

Script versus uppercase: which mama necklace looks better?

Jennifer Meyer makes the word in two distinct hands, and the choice changes the whole feel of the necklace.

The script version looks handwritten. The Mama Script Necklace has a pendant measuring 22.17mm by 4.46mm on a 16 inch chain, at around $2,130. It is fine, fluid and light on the neck, and it layers easily with other necklaces. The Diamond Mama Script Necklace adds 0.33 carats of diamond at around $5,400.

The classic mama necklace in the range is simpler. The Mama Necklace is a 16 inch chain with a pendant of 0.79 inch by 0.15 inch, at around $1,980. The Diamond Mama Necklace is the same shape with diamonds, at around $4,920.

The uppercase version is stronger and more graphic. The Uppercase Mama Necklace is around $5,320, and the Uppercase Mama Pendant Necklace hangs on an 18 inch chain at around $5,430. For something smaller in the same letters, the Mama Mini Uppercase Letter Necklace is made in 14 carat gold at around $2,710.

As a rule, script suits someone who wears fine, delicate jewellery, and uppercase suits someone who prefers a strong, simple line.

Mom, mommy, mummy, mum and more

The word matters, and it varies by country and by family. Jennifer Meyer covers most of the common versions, so there is rarely a need to settle for a word that is not quite right.

For American English, there is the Mom Necklace at around $1,650 and the Mommy Necklace at around $2,310. The Mommy Script Necklace is around $2,270, and the Diamond Mommy Necklace has 0.36 carats of diamond at around $5,980.

For British English, there is the Mum Necklace at around $1,650 and the Mummy Necklace at around $2,310. If you are buying from London for a British mother, the Mum Necklace is the one that sounds like her.

The mom, mum and mama words are all clean and short, which makes them the best fit for small pendants. Mommy and mummy are longer, so the lettering is a touch more generous.

Grandma, nana, abuela and bubbe

The next generation up has its own set of words. A grandmother is often the hardest person to buy for, so a word she is actually called is a safe bet.

The Grandma Necklace has a 1 inch pendant on a 16 inch chain at around $2,970. The Nana Necklace is the same size at around $1,980. For Spanish-speaking families, the Abuela Necklace is around $2,640. For Yiddish-speaking families, the Bubbe Necklace is around $2,310.

These are good gifts for a new grandmother, for a birthday, and for a family where several generations are being given something at the same time. A grandmother, mother and daughter can each have the word that is theirs.

The Ellen line, named for Jen’s mother

Not every mother-themed piece spells the word. Ellen is Jennifer Meyer’s best-selling line, and it is named for Jen’s mother, Ellen. The line is flat, polished gold, and it includes hoops, bands, cuffs and plate necklaces.

That makes the Ellen plate necklace a quietly meaningful gift for a mother. The Ellen Plate with 3 Cut Out Heart Detail Necklace is around $5,910, on a 16 inch chain with a pendant measuring 19.75mm. The Ellen Plate with 3 Heart Cut Emerald Detail Necklace is made in 14 carat gold with 0.44 carats of emerald, at around $7,970. For the most luxurious option, the Diamond Ellen Plate with 3 Heart Cut Out Detail is around $13,300.

The story behind the name is part of the gift. If you are buying for someone who likes to know where a piece comes from, you can tell her that the line is named for a mother. Our collections guide explains the other named lines, including Edith for Jen’s grandmother and Carson for her sister.

Mama necklaces compared

Pairing a mama necklace with initial pieces

A mama necklace becomes more personal when it is worn with another piece that speaks to the rest of the family. Because Jennifer Meyer’s lettering comes as words rather than single initials, the pairing is usually a word with a small charm.

The most natural partner is love. The Love Script Necklace is around $1,980, and it sits easily beside the Mama Script Necklace because the lettering matches. For something smaller, the Mini Heart Necklace is around $1,280 and the Mini Heart Charm Necklace is around $2,710.

Stagger the lengths when you layer. Wear the mama necklace at 16 inches, the second necklace at 18 inches, and a third at 20 inches if you want one. The lettering should not repeat the same height. The same principles are covered in more depth in our guide to initial necklaces and in the charm necklaces guide.

Mother’s Day and new-mother gifts

Gifts for mothers tend to be bought under a little time pressure, which is a good reason to decide on the word, the style and the budget before you start browsing.

A mama necklace is one of the best gifts for a mother, and it fits two occasions especially well.

For Mother’s Day, choose by relationship. A gift from a partner can be the diamond version, since it is the more significant piece. A gift from a grown child suits the plain script, which is more modest and more personal. A gift for your own mother might be the Ellen plate, because the line is named for a mother.

For a new mother, the choice is about wearability. She will be holding a baby, so a smooth, light pendant on a 16 inch chain is better than something long that can be grabbed. The Mama Necklace and the Mama Script Necklace both fit that description. The pendants are small, and the chain has a spring ring clasp.

A few practical notes on buying:

• Choose 18K yellow gold if she wears yellow gold already. Coveti stocks the colour shown in each photograph.
• Choose the word she uses for herself, not the one you use for her.
• Choose diamonds for milestone gifts, and plain gold for everyday.

Our Jennifer Meyer gift guide sorts the full range by recipient and price, and returns follow the policy at coveti.com/returns101.

Looking after a gold word necklace

A plain gold pendant needs very little. Wipe it with a soft cloth after wearing, keep it in a pouch away from harder jewellery, and fasten the spring ring clasp before you put it on. Diamond versions benefit from a gentle wipe too, because lotion and skin oils dull the sparkle faster than anything else. Take it off before swimming and heavy exercise, as you would with any fine piece.

About the maker

Jennifer Meyer founded her eponymous fine jewellery line in Los Angeles in 2005, after working in communications for Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani. Every piece is designed by her and handcrafted by master artisans in Los Angeles. In 2016 she won the Daily Front Row Fashion Los Angeles Award for Best Jewelry Designer. The brand says it wants to make jewellery that feels personal, enduring and wearable, and the Letters and Words collection is a plain expression of that. Coveti ships worldwide from London, and every piece is 100% authentic. For the full range, visit the Jennifer Meyer page, and for the wider necklace edit see our guide to Jennifer Meyer necklaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a mama necklace in gold?

A mama necklace in 18K gold costs from around $1,980 at Coveti for the plain Mama Necklace. The Mama Script Necklace is around $2,130, the Diamond Mama Necklace is around $4,920, and the Uppercase Mama Pendant Necklace is around $5,430. Diamonds and larger pendants raise the price.

What is the best mama necklace for a new mother?

The best choice is a light script necklace on a 16 inch chain. The Mama Script Necklace is smooth, small and easy to wear while holding a baby, at around $2,130. For a milestone gift, the Diamond Mama Script Necklace adds 0.33 carats of diamond.

Is there a mom necklace and a mum necklace?

Yes. Jennifer Meyer makes the Mom Necklace for American English and the Mum Necklace for British English, both at around $1,650 at Coveti. There are also Mommy and Mummy versions at around $2,310, plus script and diamond styles of Mommy.

Is there a grandma necklace?

Yes, the range has a Grandma Necklace at around $2,970, a Nana Necklace at around $1,980, an Abuela Necklace at around $2,640 and a Bubbe Necklace at around $2,310. Each has a small gold pendant on a 16 inch chain.

What is the Ellen line by Jennifer Meyer?

Ellen is the brand’s best-selling line, named for Jennifer Meyer’s mother, Ellen. It is made in flat polished gold and includes hoops, bands, cuffs and plate necklaces. The Ellen Plate with 3 Cut Out Heart Detail Necklace is around $5,910 at Coveti.

Can I layer a mama necklace with other necklaces?

Yes. Wear the mama necklace at 16 inches and add a Love Script Necklace, a small heart charm at 18 inches, and a longer chain if you like. Vary the shapes so each pendant reads clearly, and match the metal tone for the neatest result.