The history of necklaces and why they will never go out of fashion

Necklaces are one of the most popular fashion accessories of today. They come in a wide variety of styles, designs, colors and lengths and are made of a broad range of materials. 

The first necklaces were probably manufactured as early as the Stone Age about 40,000 years ago. The oldest necklaces were made of purely natural materials. Before weaving and the invention of thread, dried vines or pieces of animal tendons were used, which were decorated with shells, bones, teeth, colorful skins of human prey, bird feathers, coral, carved pieces of wood, colorful seeds and stones or naturally occurring gems and other beautiful natural materials.

Fabric and metal processing expanded the range of jewelry for people increasingly. Cords and yarns enabled the development of smaller, more durable and more precious necklaces. After the beginning of the Bronze Age people discovered how to melt metal and bring it into shape. Bronze, copper, silver, gold, electron, platinum and a variety of other metals were used to make beautiful necklaces for men and women, and metal necklaces became an alternative. Gemstone cutting and glassblowing made it possible to add faceted and highly polished gems as well as beautiful art made of glass.

In modern times, many new metals, such as stainless steel and titanium, are now available for necklaces, which previous generations could not melt properly until high-temperature melting crucibles and cutting torches were developed; galvanization made mass ownership of gold (or at least gold-veneer) jewelry possible. Miniaturization and laser etching enabled the creation of finely detailed works of art, or insignia or other calligraphy on individual elements of the necklace.

But always as thousands of years ago, the colors and luminosity of glass beads fascinate, they are ever newly combined in different sizes and will never go out of fashion!