How do I know if my necklace is handmade?

Handmade necklaces are incomparable works of wearable art. Each one is unique in shape, color, size and design. Artisans from across the globe offer their own distinctive style of craftsmanship. In India, the vibrant colored gemstones have become a signature fashion statement. Balinese jewelry is characterized by ornate sterling tendrils set with tiny silver spheres. In Brazil, womens necklaces are often sleek and contemporary, with gemstones chosen for their particular energies. Many jewelry designs from Bali and Central America feature hand-knotted macram, such as that used in Guatemalas popular friendship bracelets. Handmade finishes may show variations in metal patterns. No two natural gemstones share the same characteristics. Each necklace holds its own individualistic sense of beauty, making it evident that it was crafted by hand. Some even bear the artisans signature.

What makes a necklace eco-friendly?

Sustainable necklaces are designed with reusable materials, and each culture makes use of the objects and materials most readily at hand. For example, many Andean, Central American and Thai artists use repurposed wood. West African artisans use recycled paper, and beads of recycled glass or plastic. In Thailand, Mexico and Bali, coconut shells are often used. Indian artists sometimes repurpose silk from saris. And Brazilian artists collect discarded zippers and soda pop-tops to crochet into stunning, eco-friendly designs.

What are the classic techniques for making women’s necklaces?

Many artisans the world over work in lost wax. They sculpt the image they want in wax, encase it in a mold, and pour molten silver or gold into it. The wax melts and flows out, leaving only the precious metal. However some artisans in Peru specialize in handmade silver and gold filigree, and some Balinese necklaces feature chains that are handwoven from slender metal strands. Karen hill tribe artisans in Thailand often use manual tools to stamp decorative motifs on fine silver. Other techniques include macram, beaded or gemstone strands, hammered metals, and carved wood or bone.

What are the most common materials for making women’s necklaces?

Precious metals and natural gemstones are the most popular materials for women's necklaces. Silver, gold and brass all provide durability as well as beauty. Artisans also utilize local materials that can include coconut shells, bamboo, bright African print fabrics, ceramic beads, natural amber, carved bone and bull horn. Both Peru and Mexico have rich silver mines and silver is used for traditional jewelry as well as contemporary designs.

What is the best way to wear women’s necklaces?

Women's necklaces are versatile and come in many styles and lengths. They can be layered or worn alone as a statement piece. Many designs go with everything from jeans to office wear or an evening out on the town. The best thing about jewelry is that its a customizable form of expression that provides a sense of luxury and individuality.

What are the signs of a well-made necklace?

When assessing the workmanship of a necklace, its helpful to pay attention to certain characteristics. For example, quality necklaces are balanced designs that rest comfortably around the neck. Clasps are secure and work well, and gemstones and beads are properly set. The precious metals should be nicely finished, and beads should not be too tightly strung. Well-made necklaces reflect excellent craftsmanship and attractive materials.

Are there specific cultural symbols used in womens necklaces?

Each culture celebrates its rich jewelry-making history through specific symbols and styles. For example, traditional West African beads, which adorn many necklaces from the region, each have a story and a specific occasion when they are worn. Others may feature the Ghanian adinkra symbols, which convey popular wisdom. In ancient Andean civilizations, the leaders apparel and jewelry showed their rank and also incorporated religious symbols. Similarly, necklaces from Bali often depict deities from the Hindu pantheon. In India, a womans jewelry is linked to her status in society and may depict Hindu gods as well as mantra symbols such as the omkara, the root of all sounds and the emblem of the Most High. Angel necklaces and harmony ball necklaces are often worn by pregnant women in Bali and in Mexico. The pendant makes a delicate bell sound, thought to soothe the mother and the baby she is carrying. Some believe it summons a guardian angel, thus making it a symbol of loving protection.

Brown Necklaces at NOVICA

Tiger's eye pendant necklace, 'Hypnotic Feline' - Hypnotic Tiger's Eye Pendant on a 925 Silver Necklace

Bestseller

Hypnotic Feline, Hypnotic Tiger's Eye Pendant on a 925 Silver Necklace

Length: 18"

Alok Jain

(1879)

$242.24 Wholesale

$254.99 $242.24

Memories of Siddhartha, Handmade Bodhi Fig Wood and Resin Beaded Necklace from India

Sumit Dhawan

(1)

$38.24 Wholesale

$44.99 $38.24

Rose Bouquet, Balinese Hand Carved Floral Bone and Leather Necklace

Length: 19.75"

Andi Rachmansyah

(90)

$57.79 Wholesale

$67.99 $57.79

Thai Magic, Smoky Quartz and Pearl Beaded Necklace from Thailand

Length: 16.75"

Withaya Cheunjit

(77)

$143.99 Wholesale

$159.99 $143.99

Warrior of the Sea, Hand-Carved Seahorse-Themed Cotton Cord Pendant Necklace

Made Wardika

(1081)

$25.49 Wholesale

$29.99 $25.49

Gold plated multi-gemstone link necklace, 'Gemstone Romance' - Hand Crafted Gold Plated Multigem Link Necklace from India

Bestseller

Gemstone Romance, Hand Crafted Gold Plated Multigem Link Necklace from India

Length: 36"

Bhavesh

(1335)

$476.99 Wholesale

$529.99 $476.99

Oheneyire, Hand Crafted Sese Wood and Terracotta Beaded Necklace

Length: 23.5"

Catherine Offei Kwapong

(25)

$53.99 Wholesale

$59.99 $53.99

Mughal Delight, Beaded Ebony Wood Necklace with Hand Carved Leaf Pendant

Length: 24.5"

Chander Kant

(151)

$20.39 Wholesale

$23.99 $20.39

Smoky quartz pendant necklace, 'Flash' - Smoky quartz pendant necklace

Bestseller

Flash, Smoky quartz pendant necklace

Length: 17.75"

Hema

(146)

$38.24 Wholesale

$44.99 $38.24

Waterfall necklace, 'Blue Elephant Charm' - Hand Crafted Necklace with Brass and Blue Calcite Elephants

Bestseller

Blue Elephant Charm, Hand Crafted Necklace with Brass and Blue Calcite Elephants

Length: 18.5"

Tiraphan Hasub

(931)

$47.49 Wholesale

$49.99 $47.49

Happy Purple Brown, Artisan Crafted Purple Wood Beaded Waterfall Necklace

Length: 22"

Sumalee Nawakul

(184)

$23.79 Wholesale

$27.99 $23.79

Amulet, Handmade Leather Necklace with Tiger's Eye and Wood Beads

Length: 37"

Chaloemphon

(375)

$23.39 Wholesale

$25.99 $23.39

Rectangular Labyrinth, Rectangular Ceramic Pendant Necklace from Brazil

Cida Matos

(14)

$43.19 Wholesale

$43.19

Bone and leather pendant necklace, 'White Turtle' - Hand Crafted White Turtle Pendant on Leather Cord Necklace

Bestseller

White Turtle, Hand Crafted White Turtle Pendant on Leather Cord Necklace

Length: 13.5"

Made Wardika

(1081)

$20.39 Wholesale

$23.99 $20.39

Nocturnal Fox, Hand-Carved Adjustable Cedarwood Fox Pendant Necklace

Victor Hugo Lopez

(57)

$20.39 Wholesale

$23.99 $20.39

Green Orchids, Brass Beaded Quartz Necklace

Length: 18.5"

Tiraphan Hasub

(931)

$33.99 Wholesale

$39.99 $33.99

Innocent Soul, Leather Cord Necklace with Cultured Pearl Pendant and Clasp

Matta

(498)

$29.74 Wholesale

$34.99 $29.74

Guardian Owl, Owl Bone Pendant Necklace with Leather Cord from Bali

Length: 13.5"

Made Wardika

(1081)

$29.74 Wholesale

$34.99 $29.74

Spring Gentian, Handmade Blue Natural Flower Resin & Wood Pendant Necklace

Arthur Muradyan

$33.30 Wholesale

$37 $33.30

Summer Traveler, Wood and Coconut Shell Long Bead Necklace from Thailand

Length: 23.5"

Shutikarn Kantung

(2)

$42.49 Wholesale

$49.99 $42.49

Tribal Accessory, Suede Accent Ceramic Pendant Necklace from Brazil

Cida Matos

(14)

$38.24 Wholesale

$38.24

Trendy Timber, Coconut Shell & Ceramic Statement Necklace with Cotton Cord

Fundación Callotl

$53.99 Wholesale

$59.99 $53.99

Berry Pendulums, Tiger's Eye and Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace from Peru

Length: 18"

Marianela Vargas

(138)

$79.19 Wholesale

$87.99 $79.19

Ancient Sun, Black and Brown Sun-Themed Ceramic Cord Pendant Necklace

Ashkhen Bakhchinyan

$29 Wholesale

$29

Fire Glam, Bohemian Brown and Red Haldu Wood Beaded Station Necklace

Rahul Jain

(43)

$23.99 Wholesale

$23.99

Nocturnal Owl, Hand-Carved Adjustable Cedarwood Owl Pendant Necklace

Victor Hugo Lopez

(57)

$20.39 Wholesale

$23.99 $20.39

Reclaimed wood pendant necklace, 'Feline Friend' - Abstract Cat-Themed Reclaimed Wood Pendant Necklace

Bestseller

Feline Friend, Abstract Cat-Themed Reclaimed Wood Pendant Necklace

Victor Hugo Lopez

(57)

$23.79 Wholesale

$27.99 $23.79

Mpusia in Brown, African Hand Crafted Braided Brown Leather Necklace

Length: 19.25"

Ila Suleyman

(80)

$35.99 Wholesale

$39.99 $35.99

Pulses of Love, Heart-Themed Reclaimed Wood Adjustable Pendant Necklace

Victor Hugo Lopez

(57)

$29.74 Wholesale

$34.99 $29.74

Symphony, Smoky quartz pendant necklace

Length: 17.75"

Lilly Rahmann

(25)

$134.99 Wholesale

$149.99 $134.99

Joyful Colors, Multi-Gemstone Pendant Necklace on Cable Chain

Length: 16.25"

Hema

(146)

$53.99 Wholesale

$59.99 $53.99

Sweet Floral Cascade, Colorful Multi Gemstone Beaded Necklace

Anusara

(316)

$62.99 Wholesale

$69.99 $62.99

Floral Pendulums, Tiger's Eye Pendant Necklace on Cotton Cord from Peru

Length: 18"

Marianela Vargas

(138)

$79.19 Wholesale

$87.99 $79.19

Multicolor Wend Panga, Artisan Multicolor Bead Necklace with Wood Agate and Leather

Length: 19.25"

Ila Suleyman

(80)

$59.49 Wholesale

$69.99 $59.49

Cow bone and leather pendant necklace, 'Glorious Rose' - Artisan Crafted White Rose Pendant on Leather Cord Necklace

Bestseller

Glorious Rose, Artisan Crafted White Rose Pendant on Leather Cord Necklace

Length: 13.5"

Made Wardika

(1081)

$33.99 Wholesale

$39.99 $33.99

Twilight Bouquet, Artisan Crafted Multi-gemstone Flower Necklace

Length: 15.25"

Anusara

(316)

$35.99 Wholesale

$39.99 $35.99

Grey Planets, Fair Trade Brown and Grey Haldu Wood Beaded Station Necklace

Rahul Jain

(43)

$16.99 Wholesale

$19.99 $16.99

Sylvan Planets, Natural Haldu Wood and Brown Cotton Beaded Station Necklace

Rahul Jain

(43)

$20.39 Wholesale

$23.99 $20.39

Lilac Garden, Artisan Crafted Peridot Quartz and Amethyst Necklace

Length: 17.75"

Kai Kittima

(61)

$59.99 Wholesale

$79.99 $59.99

Rainbow Halo, Handcrafted Silver Necklace with Cultured Pearl and Gems

Length: 18"

Shubhra Singh

(205)

$93.49 Wholesale

$109.99 $93.49

Dazzling Peace, Folk Art Om-Inspired Aventurine and Onyx Beaded Necklace

Sumit Dhawan

(1)

$44.99 Wholesale

$49.99 $44.99

Serene Soiree, Warm-Toned Recycled Glass Beaded Necklace from Ghana

Tina Quaye

(14)

$112.49 Wholesale

$124.99 $112.49

Interior Balance, Coconut Shell and Lava Stone Aj Sign Pendant Necklace

Fernando and David

(3)

$42.49 Wholesale

$49.99 $42.49

Jungle Fuchsia, Fuchsia Calabash Gourd Pendant Necklace with Wood Beads

Kattia Lopez

$71.99 Wholesale

$79.99 $71.99

Human Richness, Coconut Shell and Lava Stone Ajpu Sign Pendant Necklace

Fernando and David

(3)

$42.49 Wholesale

$49.99 $42.49

My Flamboyant Love, Art Glass Pendant Necklace with Animal Print and Heart Motif

Fabiola Quevedo

(27)

$46.74 Wholesale

$54.99 $46.74

Earth Glam, Bohemian Brown Haldu Wood Beaded Station Necklace

Rahul Jain

(43)

$23.99 Wholesale

$23.99

Jungle Yellow, Leafy Yellow Calabash Gourd Pendant Necklace with Wood Beads

Kattia Lopez

$71.99 Wholesale

$79.99 $71.99

Jungle Crimson, Crimson Calabash Gourd Pendant Necklace with Wood Beads

Kattia Lopez

$71.99 Wholesale

$79.99 $71.99

Jungle Night, Leafy Black Calabash Gourd Pendant Necklace with Wood Beads

Kattia Lopez

$71.99 Wholesale

$79.99 $71.99

Mount Ararat, Mount Ararat-Themed Apricot Wood and Resin Pendant Necklace

Kamo Galstyan

$29 Wholesale

$29

Jungle Terracotta, Terracotta Calabash Gourd Pendant Necklace with Wood Beads

Kattia Lopez

$71.99 Wholesale

$79.99 $71.99

Turquoise Feathers, Turquoise-Accented Brown and Blue Macrame Necklace

Length: 13"

Marielos and Tania

(1)

$130.49 Wholesale

$144.99 $130.49

My Exotic Love, Fused Art Glass Heart Animal Print-Themed Pendant Necklace

Fabiola Quevedo

(27)

$32.29 Wholesale

$37.99 $32.29

Maternal Earth, Coconut Shell and Lava Stone Ix Sign Pendant Necklace

Fernando and David

(3)

$42.49 Wholesale

$49.99 $42.49

Jungle Red, Leafy Red Calabash Gourd Pendant Necklace with Wood Beads

Kattia Lopez

$62.99 Wholesale

$69.99 $62.99

Sunflower Scenes, Sunflower Handcrafted Calabash Gourd Pendant Necklace

Ruth Guevara

(1)

$80.74 Wholesale

$94.99 $80.74

Dusk Secrets, Smoky Quartz Unakite and Pink Pearl Handmade Necklace

Length: 30.5"

Narayannii

(693)

$98.99 Wholesale

$109.99 $98.99

Divine Feminine, Brown and Peach Pearls with Orange Chalcedony Necklace

Length: 19.5"

Sukanya Thongperm

(24)

$80.74 Wholesale

$94.99 $80.74

Free Path, Coconut Shell and Lava Stone Maya E Sign Pendant Necklace

Fernando and David

(3)

$42.49 Wholesale

$49.99 $42.49

Law and Authority, Coconut Shell and Lava Stone Tz’i’ Sign Pendant Necklace

Fernando and David

(3)

$42.49 Wholesale

$49.99 $42.49

Alpha and Omega, Coconut Shell and Lava Stone B'atz' Sign Pendant Necklace

Fernando and David

(3)

$42.49 Wholesale

$49.99 $42.49

Jungle Blue, Leafy Blue Calabash Gourd Pendant Necklace with Wood Beads

Kattia Lopez

$71.99 Wholesale

$79.99 $71.99

Pillar of Courage, Dark Brown Natural Obsidian Pendant Necklace from Armenia

Sergey Chobanyan

$29 Wholesale

$29

Divine Feminine, Brown Pearls and Citrine Handcrafted Necklace

Length: 18.5"

Sukanya Thongperm

(24)

$80.74 Wholesale

$94.99 $80.74

Jungle Green, Leafy Green Calabash Gourd Pendant Necklace with Wood Beads

Kattia Lopez

$71.99 Wholesale

$79.99 $71.99

Tribal Dimension, Geometric Green and Brown Haldu Wood Beaded Necklace

Rahul Jain

(43)

$16.99 Wholesale

$19.99 $16.99

Wisdom of the Elders, Beaded necklace

Length: 18"

Rachel Armah

(45)

$44.99 Wholesale

$49.99 $44.99

Excellence, Onyx and Quartz Pendant Necklace

Length: 17.75"

Lilly Rahmann

(25)

$121.49 Wholesale

$134.99 $121.49

Beaded necklaces, 'Flowers in the Summer' (pair) - Pair of Flower-themed Glass Beaded Necklaces from Guatemala

Flowers in the Summer, Pair of Flower-themed Glass Beaded Necklaces from Guatemala

Mirian Zet

(163)

$26.99 Wholesale

$29.99 $26.99

Feather Spirit, Brown Leather Feather Pendant Necklace with Tiger's Eye

Length: 3"

Chaloemphon

(375)

$29.74 Wholesale

$34.99 $29.74

Coffee Emotions, Warm Toned Glass Beaded Necklace with Pinewood Accents

Udilbia Corrales

$71.99 Wholesale

$79.99 $71.99

Sylvan Aura, Sylvan-Inspired Haldu Wood Beaded Station Necklace in Brown

Rahul Jain

(43)

$20.39 Wholesale

$23.99 $20.39

Astral Allure, Smoky Quartz and Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace from India

Length: 18"

Aparna

(594)

$135.99 Wholesale

$159.99 $135.99

Black Skull, Carved Bone Skull Pendant on Cord Handmade in Indonesia

Length: 13.5"

Made Wardika

(1081)

$33.99 Wholesale

$39.99 $33.99

Queen in Yellow, Yellow and Brown Recycled Glass Beaded Torsade Necklace

Mary Gyamfua Ansah

$32.29 Wholesale

$37.99 $32.29

Wooden Colors, Colorful Sese Wood Beaded Necklace with Brass Hook Clasp

Eliasu Adams

(16)

$33.99 Wholesale

$39.99 $33.99

Wend Panga in Red, Artisan Red Bead Necklace with Sese Wood Agate and Leather

Length: 19.25"

Ila Suleyman

(80)

$59.49 Wholesale

$69.99 $59.49

Natural Flair, Handmade Leather Necklace with Tiger's Eye Beads

Length: 6"

Chaloemphon

(375)

$62.99 Wholesale

$69.99 $62.99

Rippled, Abstract Bone Pendant Necklace with Leather Cord from Bali

Length: 13.5"

Made Wardika

(1081)

$29.74 Wholesale

$34.99 $29.74

Forest Earth, Rhodium Plated Tiger's Eye Leaf Necklace from India

Length: 18"

Alok Jain

(1879)

$118.99 Wholesale

$139.99 $118.99

Dare to Hope, Handcrafted Recycled Glass Beaded Torsade Necklace

Length: 18"

Kwaku Ofosuhene Apenteng

(6)

$98.99 Wholesale

$109.99 $98.99

Shining Shield in Red, Handmade 925 Sterling Silver Garnet Cord Pendant Necklace

Length: 27"

Ketut Sulastri

(297)

$107.99 Wholesale

$119.99 $107.99

Zebra Crossing, Recycled Glass and Clay Beaded Necklace from Ghana

Length: 24.5"

Ivy Mowtey

(5)

$53.99 Wholesale

$59.99 $53.99

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