A necklet is a type of decoration which is designed to be worn and displayed around a person's neck, rather than hung (draped) from the chest as is the standard practice for displaying most decorations.
In the Middle Ages most order's insignias were worn on a collar – see livery collar. Later, in the 16th century the insignia of the French Order of the Holy Spirit were worn on a ribbon. When, in the late 17th century, orders were divided into several classes, the cross on a ribbon around the neck became the privilege of a commander. A decoration in that rank is usually awarded to high-ranking officials like brigadiers, consuls and secretaries of State.
A woman usually wears her commander's cross on a bow on the shoulder of her dress.
In chivalric orders like the Order of Malta or the Teutonic Order the insignia of the knights is worn hanging from a ribbon around the neck. The same is true of the Order of the Golden Fleece."Orders medals and decorations of Britain and Europe", Paul Hieronymussen, London 1967
In the 19th century it was not unusual to wear a Grand Cross, normally hanging from a ribbon over the shoulder to the hip as on a necklet when this was considered more convenient or when another Grand Cross was worn.
Select list of badges suspended from neck riband Some nations confer honors which are signified in the form of a badge which is worn suspended from a ribbon (also known as riband or ribband) around the neck, including:
Name Country NotesBharat RatnaHighest civilian decoration of India.Order of the BathRanks of Knight Commander and Companion.Order of St Michael and St GeorgeRanks of Knight Commander and Companion.Royal Victorian OrderRanks of Knight Commander and Commander.Order of the British EmpireRanks of Knight Commander and Companion.Order of MeritOrder of the Companions of HonourOrder of St. JohnRanks of Commander or higher.Legion of HonourRank of Commander.Order of MeritOrder of the Defender of the RealmRank of Companion, male recipient only (Female recipients version used the ribbon tied in a bow)Order of Loyalty to the Crown of MalaysiaOrder of Loyalty to the Royal Family of MalaysiaOrder of MeritOrder of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang,Rank of CompanionOrder of the Crown of Perlis,Rank of CompanionOrder of Prince Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail of PerlisMost Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak,Rank of Companion and Officer, male recipient only (Female recipients version used the ribbon tied in a bow)Order of the Star of Hornbill SarawakOrder of Kinabalu,Rank of Companion or belowJuly 1 MedalAwarded by the Chinese Communist PartyAugust 1 MedalNot to be confused with the order with the same name established in 1955Military William OrderMilitary Order of William , official website; Grand Cross , worn without ribbon on the left breast or around the neck on a 55 millimetre wide ribbon, or as a sash.Order of the Netherlands LionOrder of the Netherlands Lion , official website; Commander , hangs from the ribbon, which is worn by men around the neckOrder of Orange-NassauOrder of Orange Nassau , official website; Grand Officer , hanging from the ribbon, which is worn by men around the neckPour le Mérite, Pour le Mérite; n.b., 1667, cross was worn around the neck from a long black, "watered ribbon"Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, & Consists of the 1813 Grand Cross, 1870 Grand Cross, 1914 Grand Cross and 1938 Grand CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnights Cross of the War Merit CrossGerman OrderAwarded by the Nazi PartyOrder of Merit of the Republic of HungaryRanks of Commander's Cross with star and Commander's Cross.Royal Order of SahametreiRank of Commander.Order of CanadaRanks of Companion or Officer.Order of OntarioMedal of HonorHighest military decoration of the United States Armed Forces.Medal of Honor, official websiteLegion of MeritIf at the rank of Commander. The Legion of Merit is awarded in degrees only to foreign nationals and its neck order is thus not available to U.S. citizens.USAMilitaryMedals.com: Legion of Merit Medal Ribbon; n.b., The Legion of Merit is one of only two United States military decorations to be issued as a neck order (the other being the Medal of Honor), and the only United States decoration which may be issued in award degrees (much like an Order of chivalry or certain Orders of Merit).Presidential Medal of FreedomTexas Medal of ValorSurgeon General's MedallionGeorge Washington Spymaster AwardOrder of AustraliaIf rank of Officer or higher.Order of the Holy SepulchreOrder of the Crown of ThailandSecond Class and Third Class.Order of the White ElephantOrder of the DirekgunabhornOrder of Ramkeerati Order of Chula Chom KlaoSecond Class (Grand Commander and Knight Commander).Order of RamaSecond Class and Third Class.Order of the Rising SunSecond Class and Third Class.Order of the Sacred TreasureOrder of Prince Yaroslav the WiseSecond Class and Third Class.Order of MeritFirst class.Order of Bogdan KhmelnitskyFirst class.Order of Liberty
See also Order Order of chivalry Order of merit Collar (order)
Notes
References Duckers, Peter. (2004). British orders and decorations. Princes Risborough : Shire. ; Paul Hieronymussen, Paul and Christine Crowley. (1967). Orders, medals and decorations of Britain and Europe. London: Blandford Press. McCreery, Christopher. 2005). The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History and Development. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ; Peterson, James W., Barry C. Weaver and Michael A. Quigley. (2001). Orders and Medals of Japan and Associated States. San Ramon, California: Orders and Medals Society of America. ;
External links Collars of Orders of Knighthood and Livery Collars