There are three types of necklaces available. The traditional necklace is a single threaded beaded piece or a chain. Men’s necklaces are usually just a chain for example. A pendant is another type of necklace that hangs from a chain or something like a leather thong which is an alternative option to consider. Finally a choker is a wider piece of jewellery and sits tighter around the upper part of the neck. The most unusual necklaces in the history of mankind must be those that were worn by the Pa Dong Long Neck tribe from Burma. Children were made to wear hoops from an early age around there necks. As the child grew more rings were added until when reaching adult age as many as 28 rings were worn in one go. The rings around the neck give the illusion that the neck is getting longer and stretching. In fact what is really happening is the collar bones are being weighed down over time, forcing them to lower hence more neck length. The women who wear the rings do get to remove them but only on their wedding night. It is hard to imagine the discomfort in this procedure but much neck washing is required. They are then slipped back around the neck after the wedding night is over to remain for the rest of their lives. This is partly due to the neck muscles not being strong enough to support their heads anymore.

It was not only in Burma that the practice of hoop ring around the neck was practised but also in Africa too. The women here were called giraffe women due to the elongated necks they now had. The hoops were worn around not just there necks but also there arms and legs. The brass rings would symbolise her devotion to her husband. It was the responsibility of the husband to provide the rings which also reflected his wealth with more he provided. The rings were only removed after his death as the rings symbolised a bond which was now broken. The practice of wearing brass rings in this way is now dying out as the modern tribes prefer to wear the more usual type of necklaces.