Wear beautiful jewelry every day. After all, maybe today you will go out and meet Fate.
Olga Gutsal
Jewelry says a lot about a woman, so men always subconsciously pay attention to them. Of particular interest to them are ladies with original products on their neck and hands. Today we’ll talk about neck pendants, which are as popular these days as they were centuries ago.
From the beginning of time ...
Jewelry on the neck was worn by ancient people. Once the fangs and bones of animals had a completely different meaning and played the role of protective amulets. For the same purposes, pebbles, shells, tree fruits were used. Our ancestors even used sticky vegetable juice to attach these jewelry to the body. Over time, masters appeared who were engaged in the manufacture of figures of deities and animals from natural materials.
A huge contribution to the development of the jewelry industry was made by the ancient Egyptians. Many gods were personified by animals, so even today in the Land of the Four Deserts pendants with scarabs, crocodiles, cats and sphinxes are incredibly popular. They are made mainly of gold and silver.
Pendants and the Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, the demand for jewelry increased significantly. The number of jewelry masters has also increased. Products become more complex, multifaceted, ornate. In the same period, the term "suspension" appears. It originated in France.
Initially, the pendant served as the tip of the laces that tied the edges of the clothes. It was made of gold or silver, covered with enamel and even decorated with precious stones. At that time, on the neck were insignia (awards, orders), charms, medallions with mini-portraits of dear people.
Hollow glass pendants appeared during the Renaissance. They were often filled with aromatic oils, perfumes, and even poisons to eliminate objectionable rivals at court. Where these jewelry just did not wear - on the neck, on hats, on skirts! ...
And soon the precious metals replaced the glass. The fantasy of jewelers was limitless. At the same time, it was already possible to find pendants of religious and even mystical themes on sale.
Today, a pendant is a type of jewelry that is suspended on a chain. It is worn only on the neck and can have any shape and size, but the eyelet into which the chain is threaded is an obligatory part of the pendant.
What are the pendants?
The abundance of shapes and sizes of pendants on the neck is simply amazing. They are worn:
- On the chain. Traditional jewelry that hangs on chains of different lengths and shapes.
- On the velvet. This type of pendant is called a choker (“strangler”) and tightly wraps around the base of the neck. Not suitable for girls with a short neck, since visually it will be shortened even more.
- On the shoelace. Inexpensive and stylish jewelry, which is currently very popular, usually complement the everyday look.
Types of pendants on the neck today also can not be counted. It can be a zodiac sign, the first letter of a name, an icon, a mystical sacred symbol, an animal figurine, and, of course, “traditional” jewelry made of gold, silver, platinum, nickel. And they are all divided into conditional groups.
Types of neck pendants
1. Pendants. The shape of the pendant is often round or oval. But there are decorations in the form of the hands of Fatima, angels, hearts, animals. They are also made of precious and semiprecious stones, gold, silver, wood, leather, clay. Silver neck pendants are incredibly popular today, as they successfully emphasize almost any image.
2. Medallions. These are the same pendants, but with a secret inside. They consist of two parts, fastened with a swivel joint and a lock. Often have a rounded shape. Inside, a mini-portrait of a dear person, solid perfumes, the face of a saint, prayer, a message valuable to the owner can be stored.
3. Aromatic pendants. Aromatic oils are stored in these products, which evaporate through the narrow neck of the jewelry, exuding a delicious, and sometimes healing, aroma. Such natural perfumes in the Middle Ages were especially in demand by ladies from high society.
4. Amulets depicting sacred symbols. Usually belong to one of the world religions or ancient cultures. They serve as protective amulets, but sometimes similar decorations simply emphasize the image. Such talismans, if this is not a symbol of your faith, must be charged with positive energy.
The photo shows a men's pendant on the neck. Depicts a pagan Slavic symbol.
5. The clock. Pendants with watches have recently lost their popularity. Most often they are collected by connoisseurs of antiques.
Neck Pendant Length
Short or long chain to choose? And it depends on the anatomical features of the neck.
Girls with a thin and long neck should choose short chains. It can be chokers, necklaces, jewelry-racks, collars. V-shaped decoration will only enhance the effect. Wearing them is strictly not recommended.
Stylists advise girls with a thick and short neck to prefer chains longer than 5 cm below the collarbone. One of the most successful options is a product with small links at the base of the neck, which expand to the chest. In general, small parts are preferable, since large elements will visually shorten it.
Breast size is also incredibly important when choosing a suspension. If you are the owner of a lush bust, elegant jewelry will make your breasts even bigger, so choose products with large elements.
Girls with a small bust should pay attention to small neat pendants that will harmoniously look on the neck.
How to choose a pendant for clothes?
Pendants in classic or vintage style made of precious metals combine perfectly with an evening gown. Products decorated with precious stones on medium-length chains will look most spectacular.
Under a business suit, it is appropriate to wear pendants of a restrained, classic form, devoid of bright accents. Do not wear items with too large elements. The cross, as a personal decoration, is better to hide under clothes.
These neat, restrained pendants on thin chains can be worn under a suit. Different models also combine. They will add sophistication to the image, but will not create disharmony with the costume.
The image in ethnic style is accented by items of unusual shapes with interesting ornaments that emphasize your image. Pendants with Indian, Egyptian and African elements will do.
The photo shows a fashion show held in the summer of 2016. A true Native American look, complemented by female neck pendants, is a little wild, but harmonious and open.
When and with what to wear?
In this case, you should decide when and where you plan to wear the jewelry. For a casual look, small elegant products are suitable that will harmoniously combine with clothes of any color. But for special occasions, you can pick up something bright and extraordinary. This advice is more relevant to young girls who have the opportunity to experiment with the image.
For middle-aged and older women, stylists recommend purchasing an expensive pendant inlaid with precious stones.
It is not necessary to wear the pendant complete with earrings, a ring or a bracelet. Today's fashion does not require this. The main thing is that the decorations look harmonious. For example, you should not combine a gold pendant on your neck with silver earrings or a bracelet made of floss on your hand. Such a duet will look a little artless. But at the same time, many designers advise girls to abandon sets and pick up different products. The main thing is that disharmony does not work out.
DIY neck pendant
If you still haven’t found that pendant that will emphasize your personality, make it yourself. Today in stores with accessories for jewelry you can buy everything you need, including beads, thin-nose pliers, decorative pebbles, fishing lines for hanging on the neck and other elements. In the hardware stores you can also find all kinds of velvet, chains, ribbons and pendants themselves of various shapes and sizes. With a little patience - and your unique pendant is ready!