Won’t You Wear My Ring …

“Won’t you wear my ring around your neck,

To tell the world I’m yours, by heck

Let them see your love form me,

And let them see the ring around your neck”

Elvis sang these words sometime in the 1950’s, and many young people probably complied .. but just who copied whom? The women of the Karen tribe of Burma – also known as the giraffe women – have been literally wearing rings around their necks for ages.

Whereas the young girls in Elvis’ time were only wearing their boyfriends’ school rings on a chain around on their necks, Burmese girls have worn rings around their necks for centuries. At the age of six or even five the first neck ring – usually brass, sometimes silver or other material – would be placed around their a girl’s neck. As the girls get older, more and more rings would be piled around their necks, reaching a maximum of 20 rings in usual circumstances - but, it is rumored that one woman managed to wear 28 neck rings!

The neck rings are worn as a talisman, as a sign of physical maturity, for luck, to symbolize social status, to symbolize wealth, and last, but never, ever, least, women wear these rings to look more beautiful.

As with most cultures, the wedding night is always an exception to everything. All the neck rings are removed on a woman’s wedding night. The weak, and probably very green and dirty neck is painstakingly washed, the rings are then painstakingly replaced around the neck, one by one, never to be removed until death do they part – rings and woman.

It is said that the tradition itself is slowly dying out – or it is? I mean, look at the beautiful chokers you can find here on Fadwa.com. I do admit that my designs are much more comfortable, thankfully, but I also do admit that I, as a woman, am still on the search of the more beautiful – at least in my designs. 

The chokers on these pages have been made with love, they will not make your neck ache, or turn it into a green mess (as does the brass of the neck rings), plus you have the added benefit of being able to change them as often as you like without risking your good fortune, chances of marriage, social status .. although you do run the risk of looking very elegant at least, and maybe even feeling a feminine and lovely.

Enjoy!

(To read previous newsletters, please click here) 

Email me

Please email me for custom orders! For wedding and special occasions, I can create something special for you.

Use the online catalogue The Treasure Chest Collection as a source of inspiration for custom orders. Try combining your choice of choker/necklace from The Treasure Chest Collection with your choice of colors from the Theme Box, to order something truly unique, created especially for you.

Don't forget to have a look at Bracelets & Anklets, a collection of semiprecious and crystal bracelets and anklets.

Please place your order by sending me an email at fadwa-wm@fadwa.com (see Ordering information page for more details).

If you want to know more about me, or you need additional contact information, see the About Designer page.

Please remember

Each of jewelry in this gallery is handmade, and as such, may vary slightly from the pictures.

Quantities are very limited and subject to bead availability.

Enjoy! And thank you for visiting.

Fadwa