The world of jewellery is very diverse and changing, but there is a series of garments that throughout history have been present in women’s daily life and that have only undergone transformations in terms of designs, materials used, uses, colors, etc., but can still be found in the closets of these modern and proactive women who like to be fashionable, elegant and splendid, and at the same time practical because today’s troubled world demands if from them.
In this way, garments such as medallions have existed since ancient times and have come to be considered among the oldest pieces of jewellery in the world, being currently valid and even included in the collections of some famous designers.
In this context, medallions appeared thousands of years ago, so it is convenient and interesting to delve a little into that history, which gradually guides us in the evolutionary path that this garment has had over thousands of years. For example, this type of necklace was widely worn in the Ancient Rome, where the victors of the battles were initially given them as acknowledgement for the work accomplished and presented in the form of a large gold coin.
Also, it was used as amulet with religious signs or images of gods during the celebration of rituals and special ceremonies, that were usually run by the priests of the time, who exerted a great influence on the kings and rulers and of course, on the population. Hence, the so-called plebeians wore much simpler and cheaper versions to project all their faith in the images they could carry there.
Following our journey in history and countries, we can mention that in ancient Egypt, medallions were one of the favourite garments, especially when they had the image of Cleopatra who, in her eagerness to power, had as a custom to give a medallion to her servants, provided with emeralds with her portrait, which they wore in the form of a necklace, which is believed to have positioned this traditional way of jewellery.
On the other hand, the great Pharaoh Tutankhamun, who believed faithfully in his gods and spiritual ceremonies, as well as symbols that brought luck or protected him from the vibrations of the environment, used to wear a sacred medallion in the shape of a beetle, which represented the rising sun and the resurrection in Egyptian mythology, providing strength and power to its bearer, as well as the necessary protection against evil.
Moving to England of 16th century, it is said that medallions appeared in this country at that time, but that they became very popular during the XVIII-XIX centuries in the middle of the Victorian era, when they were worn as “reminders” of war victims, family members and loved ones; however, in the fifteenth century Queen Elizabeth I used to wear a medallion with the painted portrait of her mother, Anne Boleyn. She did not separate from this medallion and was part of her daily attire, due to the great love she professed for her mother.
Likewise, in past times it was common to wear a type of “secret” medallion, with the purpose of keep the smell of a very dear person, which had a pillow inside with a few drops of the loved one’s perfume that allowed smelling and remembering him.
This is how medallions evolved to the present day, when people opt for medallions in different ways, but the circular ones enclosed in a frame highlight, and inside they can contain any image, whether of any person, a religious symbol, a saint, a virgin, or even signs of oriental philosophy such as ying and yang, for example.
However, this custom has been lost, and most of the medallions have simply become an ornament with varied designs, made of materials such as gold, silver, precious or semiprecious stones, and became part of the styles of necklaces that can be adapted to any look or style.
Generally, medallions have a round or oval shape and even rectangular one, but some may have heart, drops, geometric or abstract shapes; that depends on the creativity of the designers and the preferences of the consumers of these garments that usually hang on chains with decorations of precious stones or drawings.
In this sense, modern jewellers make luxury medallions by using metals such as gold or silver, as well as precious stones such as pearls, emeralds and diamonds; however, some opt for plastic, wood or glass; everything depends on the creativity and technology which they count on. Likewise, semi-precious stones are often used, such as amber, lapis lazuli, coralline, onyx, turquoise, agate, among many others.
As for precious metals, there are some combinations of yellow, white and pink gold, which are used by some jewellers, managing to stamp a wonderful effect and give a unique beauty to garments.
But, there is a detail that should be taken into account when wearing medallions, and it is that they can be very serious or formal, considering that their popularity comes from the Victorian era, so it should be chosen very well according to the occasion when they are shown off. Therefore, it is best to wear them with classic, business or bohemian styles.
Due to the reasons given above, try to wear clothes with classic styles, such as pencil skirts style, Victorian blouses, simple and classic jackets, although it could be accepted the wearing of more striking garments for younger girls; however, it should not be exaggerated. In this way, you could be fashionable, look splendid and modern wearing this type of medallions that even the famous designers have taken into account in their collections.
It should be noted that there have been famous fashion firms that bet on the use of medallions in the spring-summer season in 2017 with fabulous and very creative designs, which were accompanied by chains and large pendants instead of the usual small necklaces that were worn mostly in the 90s that returned with some variations in terms of clothing.
In this context, it is convenient to remember the fashion shows celebrated by well-known firms such as Prada, Chanel or Givenchy, which exhibited their creations of medallions and maxi-necklaces, in which they used thick chains and large pendants, in combinations with exquisite garments that stood out with the use of these wonderful accessories.
Another designer who chooses the use of medallions and maxi-necklaces is the Italian Maria Grazia Chiuri, current creative director of Dior, one of the most famous fashion houses. She is one of the few designers who never leaves chokers aside to accompany the emblematic looks of this French firm.
As for maxi-necklaces, we must say that these have become quite demanded pieces by modern women of any age, but especially of younger girls who choose darker and larger designs with more colors.
Maxi-necklaces have been gaining ground in the demanding world of fashion until positioning themselves as a useful garment to wear any look, either at night or day; however, you must take the necessary care not to make an inappropriate choice, and not to look grotesque and with a look considered bad taste and inappropriate for the occasion.
This trend to be a piece of a size much larger than usual comes hand in hand with the trends of garments, which are experiencing changes in this aspect of fashion, although much size together can be exaggerated and counterproductive, as a striking maxi-necklace because of its size, colors and design per se could excessively ornate a look that already contains other very colourful elements.
Therefore, below we will explain some rules that it is advisable to take into account in order to give a correct use to these wonderful pieces that look good on their own.
Let’s start by recommending that when wearing a very striking maxi-necklace, clothes with prints should not be worn to avoid the look being scandalous for those who observe it; remember that passing the limits is never good and it will be achieved that beautiful woman who wants to look splendid stands out of context and impacts, not precisely for the elegance and good taste, so be careful when choosing the maxi necklace and the attire.
On the other hand, you must take into account the shape of the neckline and the height of the neck, so we recommend necks to be closed and high, so that the maxi-necklace highlights without excessively ornamenting the look, so that both the necklace and the dress look impeccable.
Another aspect to consider and not less important is the colors of the maxi– necklaces, which will depend on the occasion in which they are worn; for example, during the day it is recommended to wear simple and basic garments, such as closed blouses, jeans skirts, or dresses made of unicoloured fabrics or in discreet tones, to give you colors with that maxi necklace full of colors and life.
On the contrary, during the evenings, if you are thinking about wearing a maxi– necklace, you should wear dark-coloured dresses, which will make the jewel stand out even more, besides that as far as possible you should avoid make-up or other striking accessories, for the obvious reasons we mentioned.
ALFA