la·va·liere | ˌlä-və-ˈlir
noun
A chain from which an ornament or gemstone hangs in the center
A lavaliere is traditionally a piece of jewelry or chain containing a piece of jewelry that hangs around the neck of the wearer. Popularized in the 1660’s, the lavaliere typically involved a small locket made of gold and encrusted in jewels. Some were also enameled instead. The lavaliere was first popularized by the mistress of Louis XIV in the mid-1700s. The Duchesse de La Valliere wore these types of ornaments and it became commonplace to wear something similar and refer to them by her name. For some period of time in the French Republic, the term was also used to describe the scarves men wore around their necks.
