Blog - Vintage Jewelry

LadyRay's Jewelry & Emporium, Baltimore, MD

Necklaces come in various lengths - from choker to opera.  Created from numerous materials, including flowers and vines, art glass and enamel, faux pearls and rhinestones, gems and precious metals, they enhance our look and style.  We wear statement necklaces, chains, and native created or inspired pieces.  There are necklaces for men, women, and children.  In the 1960s, men began to seriously sport puka, heishi, and seed bead necklaces. To this day, these neck chains are popular.  Beginning in the 1970s and through the 1980s, gold chains became the big thing, especially for men and teenage boys.  From thin to heavy, males in the United States sported a variety of styles and lengths.  They also bought chains made from sterling silver, stainless steel, copper mesh, and platinum with crosses, lion's heads, African-inspired pendants, celtic images, and other ornmentatal objects. Diamond-studded chains, popularized by entertainers, especially rappers, sold for thousands of dollars.  To this day, young men still like to sport their neck chain jewelry and will probably continue to do so far into the future. Pop culture fueled this trend that reached across the country and globe so that the wearing of neck chains by men and boys is not unusual.