Sitting in your jewelry box or safe, there are probably a number of articles that you’re used to. You might be used to some of the earrings, the rings, the bracelets, and the watches. Another item of jewelry we seldom think about is the necklace, long since a symbol of status, prosperity, as well as an ideal gift for the holidays.

It’s easy to buy someone a cheap necklace, but like with all jewelry, there are people who take necklaces very seriously and put serious time, effort, and craftsmanship into them. And this head to some famous, and expensive, necklaces throughout history.

This article will take a look at some of these necklaces as well as the history of necklaces, and their cultural impact. If you’re a fan of necklaces, or even want to learn how to turn your necklace into cash, you’ve found the right article. Keep reading.

Necklaces througout history

One way to view necklaces is simply as another article of jewelery, indistinguishable from the other forms except that it worn around the neck. Another way to look at it entirely is to view the necklace as its own classification of jewelry. From this perspective, we can gain a wider perspective of famous, expensive, and cultural necklaces throughout our history.

We know that necklaces have been used since ancient times to the same purpose they’re often used today – decoration and ornamentation. Wearing an especially extravagant necklace might symbolize some special occasion or reflect on the situation it’s being worn for. In history, as well as today, necklaces have been worn by both men and women.

We know that ancient Hebrew men and women, as well as ancient Egyptians, wore necklaces for the purposes mentioned above. Necklaces then, like today, were often made of gold, silver, or other precious metals, and decorated with precious gemstones. This tradition lasted through the ancient Greeks and Romans as well. These two civilizations, as many people believe, were the classical precursors to our own.

The most expensive necklaces of the world during these times were likely worn by the highest ranking officials and royalty. It wouldn’t be unusual for a Pharaoh, for example, to demand that he own the most expensive necklace, ring, and earrings known in the world. Other Emperors and Kings likely would have made similar demands and trades.

Necklaces throughout cultures

Our traditional Western way of viewing the necklaces has remained pretty consistent so far. Pearls, gold, and silver are frequently associated with our view of the necklace. But what about some lesser-known cultures, where ornamentation is even more important than in our own?

In this case, we run into some very extravagant necklaces, with a variety of materials and colors. For example, local tribes in Africa often adorn themselves with very colorful materials and attire. Some tribes, such as the Maasai, will use necklaces are part of ceremonial attire, wearing several necklaces at once. These necklaces don’t appear the way we know necklaces to be, but will often be made of very different materials with painted colors like orange, blue, and green.

Some remarkably expensive necklaces

Ok, on with it: so what have some of the most expensive necklaces been? We can’t list every expensive necklace owned throughout history, but some remarkable ones have made a bit of a historical impact.

For instance, a Hindu King named Jaipal owned a remarkable necklace made from pearls and rubies that was considered to be one of the most expensive ever known. Its price ran at around $200,000 in today’s money, perhaps even more.

It should be noted that many of the world’s expensive necklaces can change in value because of the gemstones and minerals that adorn them. For example, consider that a diamond can be attached to a necklace easily and greatly increase its value. This leads to a fluid notion of what the “most expensive” necklaces really are.

Today’s most expensive necklaces commonly feature diamonds or other precious stones, and in large quantities. Similarly, platinum necklaces are often worth more than gold ones, which are in turn worth more than silver ones.

How to sell your expensive necklace

You can look into selling your expensive necklace (or even your not-so-expensive broken or old necklaces) by continuing to explore Sell Gold HQ. If your necklace contains precious metals like silver, gold, or platinum, you’ll be able to fetch a fair price for the metals it contains. Precious metal brokers will in turn melt down those metals for industrial re-use.

Related posts:

1. World’s Most Expensive Watches
   From pocket sundials to GPS watches, we’ve encountered more than our fair share of portable...
2. Where Are The Best Watches Made?
   Vacheron Constantin, Patek Phillip, Rolex – depending on your knowledge of watches, you might not...
3. Why is Platinum A Good Metal for Jewelry?
   Although we’re used to gold and silver as the structure in our jewelry, we often...