Main types
The combination of different styles in one image is considered bad manners . Many women consider this their highlight, but in the end they look tasteless. Jewelry is a key touch in creating an image. Therefore, a chain with a pendant should not only match the clothing style , but also emphasize the dignity of its owner.
The pendants deserve special attention here. The following models are currently relevant on the jewelry market.
- Classic . They are distinguished by laconic forms, correct proportions, geometry and high-style aesthetics. Perfect for business, casual and formal wear.
- Sports . Made from high quality jewelry material. They stand out from other pendants due to their simplicity. In rare cases, sports pendants with stones are found.
- Casual . This category includes pendants of various shapes. These can be stars, hearts, animals and other representatives of flora and fauna. They are great for young girls or teenage girls.
- Avant-garde . They always catch the eye because they look unique and bright. Suitable for parties and going out.
- Luxury . They personify luxury and have refined and flowing shapes. Found in the collections of the world's leading jewelry houses. Such pendants are often decorated with a scattering of diamonds or other precious stones.
Pendant by body type
Wide and short neck
Recommended: elongated pendants on long chains. To visually elongate your neck, choose pendants with chains hanging from the level of your collarbones by 5 centimeters or more. V-shaped pieces also lengthen the silhouette.
Long neck
Recommended: Medium-sized jewelry on short or medium chains. The top row of a multilayer chain can be with a small pendant. It should fit snugly around your neck.
Pendant for wide neck and long neck
Historical reference
Like any other decoration, a pendant in the ancient world was not so much an ornament as a talisman against evil spirits and a talisman. Hunters wore the fangs of the predators they killed around their necks to gain their strength and agility, and girls decorated themselves with shells, feathers, and beautiful stones - also not without a mystical meaning.
A little later, with the help of neck jewelry, it was possible to determine the position occupied by the owner in the social hierarchy, while the sacred meaning remained. For example, in Ancient Egypt, an amulet-pendant often depicted a scarab or was made from its shell.
Middle Ages
Before the widespread use of buttons, pendants decorated the ends of ties on clothes. In Europe they began to wear them around the neck in the Middle Ages. For the aristocracy, these were pendants with heraldry indicating membership in the clan, and men wore them more often than women. It was at this time that neck jewelry, like rings, often became guardians of poisons and participants in palace intrigues.
It should be noted that from about the 16th century pendants were removed from the stage. Only rich people, aristocrats, could afford jewelry, and they preferred more “prominent” jewelry - precious necklaces. This applies not only to Europe, but also to the East.
New time and modernity
The popularity of pendants returned in the 18th century, when they were chosen as guardians of the secrets of the heart. Lockets with romantic contents have become a part of many love stories. Lovers exchanged portraits, mothers placed the locks of their beloved children on their chests, and hung incense bags around their sons' necks, sending them off to war. Most often, such jewelry was hidden from prying eyes.
Since the 20th century, pendants have been valued primarily for their decorative function - they are no longer hidden. Small, elegant jewelry is an accessory that has become almost mandatory for every woman. Of course, even today they often have a special meaning for the owner: if they were presented on a special occasion by a special person.
Alloy color and composition
It is generally accepted that the chain and cross should be made of the same jewelry alloy. But it may be that a person wears a simple pectoral cross with which he was christened in church. And it is not at all made of a precious alloy: gold, silver, and especially platinum. So how to choose a chain for a cross in this case?
Firstly, for a regular cross made of copper or brass, you can choose a chain of the most suitable shade. There are yellow, pink, red and white gold chains on sale, which makes the choice much easier.
Secondly, you can remember what alloy the future recipient of the gift wears from other jewelry. Does he wear a white, yellow or red gold wedding ring? And if this is a lady, then what earrings and rings are she most often wearing: gold or silver? Remembering these data, you can choose the most suitable shade that will be in harmony with the cross and all other decorations.
Well, thirdly, even if the cross is silver, and you want to give an expensive gift, then a platinum chain or a white gold chain will go perfectly with matte white silver.
Length and weight of decoration
When deciding the question - how to choose a chain for a cross , remember that the length of the chain should allow you to hide the cross. And the weight of the chain, so that it does not deform, should be 2 times the weight of the cross. The length of the chain will, of course, be different for different people.
Children have thin necks, and they don’t wear things with a deep neckline. But the risk that during games a long chain might simply fly off your neck and over your head is great. Therefore, choose silver or gold chains with a length of 40 to 45 cm. And keep in mind that the younger the child and the slimmer his build, the shorter the chain you should choose.
If the chain is for a man, evaluate not only his build, but also his clothing style. If he often unbuttons the top buttons of his shirt, then it is better to choose a longer chain for the cross so that it does not fall out of the open collar.
The most difficult choice is choosing a chain for a girl or woman. When choosing, you also need to take into account the fact that the female sex likes to wear clothes with deep and original cutouts; and the fact that the gift must be chosen based not only on the build, but also on the age of the lady to whom the gift will be presented. Because the older the woman, the longer the chain for the cross should be.
WEAVING
It is necessary to think carefully about how to choose a chain for a pectoral cross at the moment when you choose to weave a chain.
It should be smooth, without too complex weaving elements, which will allow the chain to remain graceful. The most suitable weaving is anchor or shell. It is these weaves that have proven themselves to be the most durable and reliable. In addition, the links of these weaves are securely soldered, which will provide additional wearing comfort: the links will not scratch the skin or catch on clothing.
And one last thing. For any piece of jewelry to last long, you need to take regular care of it. And the chain for the pectoral cross is no exception.
Source
What should a secure lock be like?
Having decided which chain weaving you like best, do not forget to pay attention to the lock. By making the jewelry heavier with a pendant, you proportionally increase the load on all its elements .
A weak locking mechanism may not withstand this. Therefore, when purchasing, you need to compare several products - so the difference between the designs will become clearly visible. Preference should be given to the tightest of the fasteners. But even such precautions may be in vain if the chain is subject to active exploitation. Constant movements inevitably loosen the lock, shortening its service life. To avoid this, jewelers recommend having several pieces in your collection and alternating them from time to time. For example, one of the items can be worn during the day, with miniature and light pendants, and for more elegant and large evening pendants, it is worth buying a chain with wide links and durable weaving.
CLASP
- The lock of the jewelry should be strong and reliable: open and close it several times during the acquaintance stage in the jewelry salon. If you have to use force to close it tightly, the lock is flimsy or very thin, it may hold the ends of the chain together, but it will no longer withstand the load of the weight of the pendant.
- Inspect the joints of the lock elements: nicks and chips should raise suspicion. The color of the lock should perfectly match the entire chain.
- If the chain has hinged elements, they should all rotate freely.
Differences between pendant and pendant
A pendant is any piece of jewelry that hangs from clothing or other jewelry—a chain, bracelet, or even earrings. That is, the charm for the bracelet is also a pendant, just like the diamond pendants for the dress that Anne of Austria gave to the Duke of Buckingham (by the way, this is a real story, Dumas only changed it a little).
However, today relatively small jewelry is usually called a pendant, but for larger neck jewelry other names are used:
- Pendant - you won’t be wrong if you call this any large, bright pendant that is supposed to be worn around the neck - on a chain or cord. You won’t want to combine the pendant with anything else - it is completely self-sufficient, although today you can add multi-layer thin chains to it. It is often made with a cabochon or a large stone with cutting, enamel, or inlay, although it can also be without inserts.
- A medallion is usually called a “pendant with a surprise.” It is a small box in which a portrait of a loved one, a lock of his hair or any other relic that evokes warm memories is hidden. The classic medallion is round or oval, the third most popular shape is a heart.
- A cameo or gem is a carved image, usually of a woman's head. It can be made in the form of earrings, but is more often found as a pendant necklace.
- Pectoral crosses and other jewelry with religious significance are also not usually called pendants. Many people prefer to wear them secretly, under clothes, and then they can only be classified as jewelry conditionally.
To summarize: a pendant is a broader concept than a pendant. However, in the common sense, this is the name for small-sized jewelry for the neck. The components of a pendant and a pendant are the same - they consist of a hanging eye, a connecting eye, a base, a caste (frame for the insert) and an insert (if there is one). However, if we are talking about a pendant on a fishing line, it does not have ears.
Choosing the right men's silver chain
Decoration for a representative of the stronger sex should be democratic and quite solid:
- Slender and slightly thin young people should not choose massive options. Such models may be too flashy. It is better to opt for a fairly simple weave that creates an original pattern and adds volume.
- For men with a heavy build, thin and airy chains are not suitable, as they will be visually lost. Jewelry stores always stock heavy jewelry for such occasions.
Remember that a jewelry accessory should not cause discomfort or discomfort to its owner. If a silver chain digs into your skin or rubs your neck unpleasantly, you need to choose another, more comfortable model.
Jewelry for men should have strong and reliable weaving. Very often, silver chains have several layers of links. This is done so that the selected option can last as long as possible without the need for repair or replacement.
SIMPLE LIFE HACKS
How much to weigh in grams.
The cheaper the chain, the less the weight of the metal that went into its production, so you should not save money if you intend to wear a diamond or other expensive pendant with it, which a chain that is too light may simply not withstand.
Is more better?
The minimum jewelry requirement is a pair of chains: everyday and original weaving. The latter can serve as the basis for necklaces as original as you like - experiment with the shapes and sizes of pendants.
