A neck order 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.
Most of the insignia of orders are issued in several degrees which typically include a neck order version for Commanders and Grand Officers. In countries which do not typically bestow orders with degrees, neck orders are still usually considered to be high-ranking decorations.
In the Middle Ages most orders 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. For comfort, the neck ribbon was put under one shoulder when riding, giving birth to the sash order. 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 female 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 German 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.
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 a neck order when this was considered more convenient or when another Grand Cross was worn.
A number of nations confer honors which are signified in the form of an insignia on a collar or chain, including:
Order of the Garter (United Kingdom).
Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom).
Order of Canada.
Order of the Seraphim (Sweden)
Order of St Olav (Norway).
Order of the Elephant (Denmark).
Order of the Golden Fleece (Spain).
Order of Leopold (Belgium).
Order of the Chrysanthemum, Collar (Japan)
Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, Collar (Estonia).
Order of the National Coat of Arms, Collar (Estonia).
Order of the White Star, Collar (Estonia).
Order of the Three Stars, Collar (Latvia).
Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero (Panama).
Order of al-Hussein bin Ali (Jordan).
Order of Idris I (Libya).
Order of the Seal of Solomon (Ethiopia).
Order of the Queen of Sheba (Ethiopia).
Order of the Hashimi (Iraq).
Order of the Liberator General San Martin (Argentina).
Mahendra Chain (Nepal).
Birendra Chain (Nepal).
Order of Independence (Tunisia).
Order of the White Rose (Finland).
Order of the Falcon (Iceland).
Cordon of Honour (Sudan).
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Italy).
Chain of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
Order of Merit (Chile).
Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil).
Order of the Aztec Eagle (Mexico).
Order of the Seraphim (Sweden).
Order of the Nile (Egypt).
Order of Muhammad Ali (Egypt).
Fuad I Chain (Egypt).
Order of the Republic (Egypt).
Order of Saint James of the Sword (Portugal).
Order of Prince Henry (Portugal).
Order of Mubarak the Great (Kuwait).
Order of al-Khalifa (Bahrain).
Great Chain of Badr (Saudi Arabia).
Order of King Abdul Aziz (Saudi Arabia).
Order of Independence (Qatar).
Order of the Pioneers of Liberia (Liberia).
Order of Muhammad (Morocco).
Order of Carlos III (Spain).
Order of Zayed (United Arab Emirates).
Order of Boyaca (Colombia).
Order of the Tower and Sword (Portugal).
Royal Victorian Chain (United Kingdom).
Order of Chula Chom Klao (Thailand).
Order of the Star of Romania (Romania).
Order of Kamehameha I, Collar (Hawaii)
Select list of badges suspended from neck riband
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:
The Order of the British Empire or Royal Victorian Order (Britain), if at the rank of Commander.
The Order of Merit or Order of the Companions of Honour (Britain).
Legion of Honour (France).
Military William Order (Netherlands).
Order of the Netherlands Lion (Netherlands).
Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands).
Pour le Mérite (Prussia).
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Germany)
Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Germany)
Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (Hungary)
Royal Order of Sahametrei (Cambodia), if rank of Commander.
Order of Ontario (Canada)
Medal of Honor (United States).
Legion of Merit (United States), 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.
Presidential Medal of Freedom (United States)
Texas Medal of Valor (Texas)
