Necklet

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The Apollo 13 crew, with President Nixon, wearing their Presidential Medals of Freedom on ribbons Apollo 13 with president Nixon.jpg
The Apollo 13 crew, with President Nixon, wearing their Presidential Medals of Freedom on ribbons
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour worn on a ribbon. Joly - Charles, grand-duc de Francfort, ne le 8 fevrier 1744..jpg
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour worn on a ribbon.
Commander's cross of the Legion of Honour worn on a ribbon. Bertrand Bessieres (1773-1854).jpg
Commander's cross of the Legion of Honour worn on a ribbon.

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.

Contents

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[ citation needed ].

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. [1]

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:

NameCountryNotes
Bharat Ratna Flag of India.svg  India Highest civilian decoration of India.
Order of the British Empire Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Ranks of Knight Commander and Commander.
Royal Victorian Order Ranks of Knight Commander and Commander.
Order of Merit
Order of the Companions of Honour
Order of St. John Ranks of Commander or higher.
Legion of Honour Flag of France.svg  France Rank of Commander.
Order of the Defender of the Realm Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg  Malaysia Rank of Companion, male recipient only (Female recipients version used the ribbon tied in a bow)
Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia
Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia
Order of Merit
Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang Flag of Pahang.svg  Pahang,

Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg  Malaysia

Rank of Companion
Order of the Crown of Perlis Flag of Perlis.svg  Perlis,

Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg  Malaysia

Rank of Compainion
Order of Prince Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail of Perlis
Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak Flag of Sarawak.svg  Sarawak,

Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg  Malaysia

Rank of Companion and Officer, male recipient only (Female recipients version used the ribbon tied in a bow)
Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak
Order of Kinabalu Flag of Sabah.svg  Sabah,

Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg  Malaysia

Rank of Companion or below
July 1 Medal Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Awarded by the Chinese Communist Party
August 1 Medal Not to be confused with the order with the same name established in 1955
Military William Order Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands [2]
Order of the Netherlands Lion [3]
Order of Orange-Nassau [4]
Pour le Mérite Flag of Prussia (1892-1918).svg  Prussia, Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire [5]
Grand Cross of the Iron Cross Flag of Prussia (1892-1918).svg  Prussia, Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire & Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany Consists of the 1813 Grand Cross, 1870 Grand Cross, 1914 Grand Cross and 1938 Grand Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross
German Order Awarded by the Nazi Party
Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Ranks of Commander's Cross with star and Commander's Cross.
Royal Order of Sahametrei Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia Rank of Commander.
Order of Canada Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Ranks of Companion or Officer.
Order of Ontario
Medal of Honor Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Highest military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. [6]
Legion of Merit If 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. [7]
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Texas Medal of Valor
Surgeon General's Medallion
George Washington Spymaster Award
Order of Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia If rank of Officer or higher. [8]
Order of the Holy Sepulchre Flag of Vatican City (2023-present).svg  Vatican City
Order of the Crown of Thailand Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Second Class and Third Class.
Order of the White Elephant
Order of the Direkgunabhorn
Order of Ramkeerati
Order of Chula Chom Klao Second Class (Grand Commander and Knight Commander).
Order of Rama Second Class and Third Class.
Order of the Rising Sun Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Second Class and Third Class.
Order of the Sacred Treasure
Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Second Class and Third Class.
Order of Merit First class.
Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky First class.
Order of Liberty

See also

Notes

  1. "Orders medals and decorations of Britain and Europe", Paul Hieronymussen, London 1967
  2. Military Order of William Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine , 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.
  3. Order of the Netherlands Lion Archived 2009-08-31 at the Wayback Machine , official website; Commander, hangs from the ribbon, which is worn by men around the neck
  4. Order of Orange Nassau Archived 2010-03-10 at the Wayback Machine , official website; Grand Officer, hanging from the ribbon, which is worn by men around the neck
  5. Pour le Mérite; n.b., 1667, cross was worn around the neck from a long black, "watered ribbon"
  6. Medal of Honor, official website
  7. 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).
  8. "Order of Australia Booklet" (PDF) (14th ed.). September 2020.

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