Necklace

A necklace is an article of jewellery which is worn around the neck. Necklaces are frequently formed from a metal jewellery chain, often attached to a locket or pendant. Necklaces can also be manufactured with cloth, and they sometimes contain rocks (particularly gems),wood, and/or shells with different shapes and sizes.

Necklaces have been an integral part of jewelry since the time of ancient civilizations. The birth of necklaces is believed to be as old as the Stone Age, which is around 40,000 years old. At that time, people were decorating themselves with mollusk necklaces. Later, necklaces made of stones, bones, shells and animal teeth became popular. After the discovery of metals, gold, silver and a variety of other metals were used to make eye-catching necklaces for both men and women.

[edit]Types of necklaces

The Maasai use necklaces as part of traditional attire

Girl wearing a necklace

Bib necklace

A bib necklace is made multiple strands of stepped pearls.

Choker

35 centimetres (14 in) to 43 centimetres (17 in) long and sits high on the neck.

Matinee necklace

A matinee length necklace is 56 centimetres (22 in) to 58 centimetres (23 in) long, typically a single strand that rests at the top of the cleavage.

Opera necklace

An opera necklace is 75 centimetres (30 in) to 90 centimetres (35 in) long and sits at the breastbone.

Princess necklace

A princess necklace is 45 centimetres (18 in) to 50 centimetres (20 in) long. It is between choker and matinee length.

Sautoir or rope necklace

A sautoir or rope necklace is any necklace longer than opera length.

Uniform necklace

A uniform necklace consists of pearls that appear to be all the same size, although normally there is a slight difference towards the ends so they appear to be in proportion.

Sharktooth

A sharktooth necklace is a necklace with a shark tooth attached.

Diamond Necklace

A diamond necklace is a necklace that incorporates diamonds. There are a variety of diamond necklaces available to the average consumer including the diamond eternity necklace, the diamond 'V' necklace, the diamond 'Y' necklace and the diamonds by the yard necklace.^[1]

Lariat necklace

A long necklace without a clasp, often worn draped multiple times around the neck, the ends can be crossed over, looped or knotted in various ways. This type of necklace sometimes incorporates a loop at one or both ends to allow it to be worn in the style of a Lasso, or it may be worn doubled over with the ends passed through the loop formed in the middle.