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.
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.
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.
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:
| Name | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bharat Ratna | Highest civilian decoration of India. | |
| Order of the British Empire | 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 | Rank of Commander. | |
| Order of the Defender of the Realm | 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 | , | Rank of Companion |
| Order of the Crown of Perlis | , | Rank of Compainion |
| Order of Prince Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail of Perlis | ||
| Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak | , | 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 | , | Rank of Companion or below |
| July 1 Medal | 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 |  Netherlands | [2] |
| Order of the Netherlands Lion | [3] | |
| Order of Orange-Nassau | [4] | |
| Pour le Mérite | , | [5] |
| Grand Cross of the Iron Cross | , & | Consists of the 1813 Grand Cross, 1870 Grand Cross, 1914 Grand Cross and 1938 Grand Cross |
| Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross | ||
| Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross | ||
| German Order | Awarded by the Nazi Party | |
| Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary | Ranks of Commander's Cross with star and Commander's Cross. | |
| Royal Order of Sahametrei | Rank of Commander. | |
| Order of Canada | Ranks of Companion or Officer. | |
| Order of Ontario | ||
| Medal of Honor | 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 | If rank of Officer or higher.[8] | |
| Order of the Holy Sepulchre | ||
| Order of the Crown of Thailand | Second Class and Third Class. | |
| Order of the White Elephant | ||
| Order of the Direkgunabhorn | ||
| 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 | Second Class and Third Class. | |
| Order of the Sacred Treasure | ||
| Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise | Second Class and Third Class. | |
| Order of Merit | First class. | |
| Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky | First class. | |
| Order of Liberty |