Necklace

A necklace is an article of jewelry that is worn around the neck. Necklaces may have been one of the earliest types of adornment worn by humans. They often serve ceremonial, religious, magical, or funerary purposes and are also used as symbols of wealth and status, given that they are commonly made of precious metals and stones.

The main component of a necklace is the band, chain, or cord that wraps around the neck. These are most often rendered in precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum. Necklaces often have additional attachments suspended or inset into the necklace itself. These attachments typically include pendants, lockets, amulets, crosses, and precious and semi-precious materials such as diamonds, pearls, rubies, emeralds, garnets, and sapphires. They are made with many different types of materials and are used for many things and are sometimes classed as clothing.

Necklace lengths

Necklaces are typically classified by length:

Collar

A collar is about 30 centimeters (12 inches) to 33 centimeters (13 inches) long and sits high on the neck.

Choker

A choker is a close-fitting, short necklace, 35 centimeters (14 in) to 41 centimeters (16 in) long.

Princess necklace

A princess necklace is 45 centimeters (18 in) to 50 centimeters (20 in) long.

Matinee necklace

A matinee-length necklace is 56 centimeters (22 in) to 58 centimeters (23 in) long.

Opera necklace

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

Rope necklace

A rope necklace is any necklace longer than opera length.

Lariat necklace

A lariat is a very long variation on the rope, without a clasp, often worn draped multiple times around the neck.

Other necklace uses

Non-jewelry items are also used similar to a necklace to be worn on a neck, for example:

Carcanet

name of a publishing house in the UK

Cross necklace

any necklace featuring a Christian cross or crucifix.

Choker

A choker is a close-fitting necklace worn around the neck, typically 14 inches to 16 inches in length. Chokers can be made of a variety of materials, including velvet, plastic, beads, latex, leather, and metal, such as silver, gold, platinum, etc. They can be adorned in a variety of ways, including with sequins, studs, or a pendant.

Collar

• Collar is an older word for necklace and is usually reserved today for a necklace that lies flat to the body rather than hanging freely and rests directly above the collar bone.
• a collar can have significance in BDSM relationships

Figaro chain

a jewelry chain design consisting of two or three small circular links followed by one elongated oval link. The most notable Figaro chains are manufactured in Italy. They are usually worn by men and are often adorned with pendants such as crosses and medallions.

jewelry chain

Fine metal chains are used in jewelry to encircle parts of the body, namely the neck, wrists, and ankles, and they also serve as points to hang decorative charms and pendants. Unlike industrial chains for other purposes, jewelry chains or body chains are designed for aesthetic purposes.

lanyards

for holding badges and cards at conventions, etc.

Livery collar

A livery collar or chain of office is a collar or heavy chain, usually of gold, worn as insignia of office or a mark of fealty or other association in Europe from the Middle Ages onwards.

One of the oldest and best-known livery collars is the Collar of Esses, which has been in continuous use in England since the 14th century.

Locket

A locket is a pendant that opens to reveal a space used for storing a photograph or other small item such as a lock of hair. Lockets are usually given to loved ones on holidays such as Valentine's Day and occasions such as christenings, weddings and, most noticeably during the Victorian Age, funerals. Historically, they often opened to reveal a portrait miniature.

Love beads

one of the traditional accessories of hippies. They consist of one or more long strings of beads, frequently handmade, worn around the neck by both sexes. The love bead trend probably evolved from the hippie fascination with non-Western cultures, such as those of Africa, India, and Native America, which make common use of similar beads.

Pendant

one of the traditional accessories of hippies. They consist of one or more long strings of beads, frequently handmade, worn around the neck by both sexes. The love bead trend probably evolved from the hippie fascination with non-Western cultures, such as those of Africa, India, and Native America, which make common use of similar beads.

Torc

is a large rigid or stiff neck ring in metal, made either as a single piece or from strands twisted together. The great majority are open at the front, although some have hook and ring closures and a few have mortice and tenon locking catches to close them. Many seem designed for near-permanent wear and would have been difficult to remove. (also spelled torq or torque)

Usekh collar

Egyptian artisans fashioned images of gods, kings, and mortals wearing broad collars made of molded tubular and teardrop beads. The Usekh (or Wesekh) is a personal ornament, a type of broad collar or necklace, familiar to many because of its presence in images of the ancient Egyptian elite.

More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Necklace ]

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