Origin and History of the Necklace

Origin and History of the Necklace

Necklaces have been worn by men and women for thousands of years. It's thought that people began wearing necklaces as a sort of ID badge to distinguish themselves from people from other cultures, tribes or groups. Regardless, the oldest known chain, made from shells, bones and teeth, date from 30,000 BC. By around 2500 BC, artisans were making necklaces from gold hammered into a variety of intricate shapes. The Egyptians, however, raised jewellery and necklace-making to a high art, as seen from the elaborate necklaces found in pharonic burials. In ancient cultures, the more gold in your necklace, the more prestige and social standing you'd have. And there's no doubt that necklaces were highly regarded gifts for women and men.