sautoir

[ soh-twahr, saw-; French soh-twar ]

noun

, plural sau·toirs [soh-, twahrz, saw-, soh-, twar].

1. a ribbon, chain, scarf, or the like, tied around the neck in such a manner that the ends cross over each other.
2. a chain to which a pendant is attached, worn around the neck.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sautoir¹

From French, dating back to 1935–40; saltire

Example Sentences

In a slight twist on the original bag, the padlock can be sheathed in its clochette — now rendered in black alligator — to be worn as shown on a leather cord as an elegant sautoir. $39,500, hermes.com.

From New York Times

The flapper’s boyish silhouette became the ideal, leading to the popularity of the sautoir, a long necklace often ending in a tassel, strung with tiny pearls or gemstones, that nestled against the breastbone.

From New York Times

A dangling tassel is the focus of this new jewel-encrusted convertible sautoir, which can be worn nine ways, including as a brooch, pendant or choker, and features a 10-carat antique cushion-cut ruby from Mozambique.

From New York Times

Many of the house’s most arresting designs were created in the ’50s and ’60s, including the 1969 sautoir necklace — a heart-shaped emerald pendant, weighing over 127 carats, surrounded by cabochon-cut gems of ruby, citrine, amethyst, turquoise and topaz.

From New York Times

The exhibition “Bvlgari, the story, the dream” includes the diamond-and-sapphire sautoir necklace that Hollywood star Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor during their stormy love affair.

From Washington Times