Pendant, Locket and Necklace: What’s the Difference

Pendant, Locket and Necklace: What’s the Difference

Jewelry aficionados are passionate about owning all kinds of jewelry- traditional, classic as well as contemporary. It’s a fact that these people love to amass a sizeable personal collection. But when it comes a certain type of jewelry, that adorns our neck, do you the know the difference between a pendant, locket and a necklace. Necklace, pendants and lockets have one thing in common, they are all designed to be worn around the neck. We at KaratCraft have defined these terms for you.

Pendant

Pendant is a term derived from the Latin word “Pendere” or the old French word “Pendre.” Both simply means "to hang down." Pendant is a jewelry that has a small loop to be suspended to a bracelet, earring or chain. Pendant earrings are commonly known as chandelier earrings. In the bracelets, pendants are known as charms and they are known as pendants when looped to a chain (Please hyperlink to chain) and worn around the neck.

The practice of wearing pendants dates back to the Stone Age. In those days, pendants were objects such as teeth or nails of wild animals such as tigers, lions or wild boar, stones and shells. Pendants was derived as a primitive practice of adorning amulets or talisman around the neck using a chain. Pendants of huge dimensions studded with gemstones usually bearing auspicious scenes were worn by pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Two hornets clasped together is an apt example of a beautiful, delicate and elegant pendant carved in gold, found in archeological site of Mycenae, Greece and it dates back to the 17th century BC.

History tells that the Greeks used gold and gemstones in jewelry as early as 600 BC. Though, initially, pieces in form of shells and animals were crafted later towards the 300 BC, they mastered the art of making colored jewelry using amethyst, pearls and emerald. Historians opine, it was during this period pendant started appearing as a jewelry item. Earliest pendants had animals such as cats and dogs as motifs. Later, designs used birds, fish and insects. Today, we have an array of pendants ranging from alphabets, zodiac, casual/everyday wear, traditional as well as religious pendants.

Locket

A locket is also a pendant, that has a small storage space. It is available in various shapes such as round, oval or flat with a hinged cover. This piece of jewelry is a sentimental piece that is usually suspended from a gold or silver chain that is worn around the neck. It is also worn on the wrist, if it is suspended on a bracelet. Locket is meant to hold a memento such as a photograph of one's beloved, a miniature portrait painted on ivory or an even a lock of hair. Lockets are crafted in precious metals and is often engraved, enameled or set with gemstones.

In the Middle Ages, lockets were worn as devotional or reliquary jewelry. Later on, in the sixteenth century Britain it was gifted as a token of love or memento for being in queen's service. One famous commemorative locket is the Armada Jewel, a piece of jewelry during the period of Queen Elizabeth I. This beauty was cast in gold and had enameled profile of the Queen on the front and Noah's Ark on the back. Lockets were very much in vogue during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and still continues to be in style in the twenty-first century.

Necklace

A necklace is jewelry that covers or laces the neck with series of gemstones interspersed and linked together with gold or silver metal chain. The origin of necklace dates back to the Stone Age. In historic days, Greek and Hellenistic pendants covered the entire neck and was known as necklace. Choker is also a necklace that hugs the neck in a snug manner because it short in length and sits high on the neck. This piece of jewelry draws attention to the wearer's face. Pendants usually, hangs down from the necklace.

Today, there are so many designs in pendant and necklace to choose from. You can also browse for them in many reputed online shops.