Jen Proudman’s wood collar necklace pairs 14k gold with citrine

How do you wear a statement collar without it wearing you? Jen Proudman answers with carved Sono wood tempered by 14k yellow gold and citrine, a combination that gives the necklace polish, shape and enough lightness in the styling to feel considered rather than costume. At $3,200, the piece is priced like a serious jewelry object, not a novelty accessory, and the construction explains why.

The collar’s strongest move is its use of gold. The citrines are bezel-set in thick 14k yellow gold, a setting choice that gives the stones a clean rim and a finished edge, while also helping the wood read as intentional and luxurious. Proudman’s own description of the design notes three 18x14mm oval citrines, a flat back and a silhouette meant to sit comfortably through the day and into night. That flat back matters: with a collar this bold, comfort is part of the design language, not an afterthought.

Styling is where the necklace becomes especially useful. The best way to wear it is layered with a longer chain or even a paracord necklace, which gives the collar room to breathe and keeps the neckline from feeling crowded. On its own, the piece makes a strong frame at the collarbone. Paired with something longer, it turns into an anchor, allowing the carved wood and citrine to do the talking while the gold keeps the look grounded. That balance is what makes unconventional materials easier to embrace. The yellow gold acts as a visual bridge, softening the leap from polished stone to artisanal wood.

Proudman’s connection to wood collars goes back to a summer in Bali a few years ago, when she first made one of the earliest pieces in the category. She has credited Balinese artisans as master carvers, and that craftsmanship shows in the way the wood is treated here, not as a rustic flourish but as a refined surface worthy of gold and gemstone. The category is not a one-off experiment, either. Milestones by Ashleigh Bergman has listed a Wood Collar with Emerald Cut Citrine at the same $3,200 price, underscoring that this is a recurring part of Proudman’s design vocabulary.

Alternative materials have moved quickly from curiosity to staple, and wood is emerging as one of the more compelling examples. In Proudman’s hands, it no longer reads as an eccentric contrast material. It reads as wearable sculpture, sharpened by 14k yellow gold and made practical by the kind of construction that lets a statement collar live in real wardrobes, not just in display cases.