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Sautoir

Jewellery
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A long necklace, often ending in a tassel, pendant, or decorative fringe. It can be worn hanging low or wrapped in layers.

Detailed Definition
A sautoir is a long necklace that falls below the chest, often finished with a tassel, pendant, or ornamental drop. It became especially fashionable in the early twentieth century, where its length lent movement to dresses and dancing bodies. In poetry, it can trail like a thread of memory, a rosary without prayer, or a chain of light swinging with each step. Its loose drape suggests freedom, glamour, and an elegance that is never fully still.
Example
Example in poetry:
“The sautoir swung low, a silver pendulum over her dress” emphasizes the necklace’s long length and movement; A poet can use a sautoir to evoke the fashionable freedom and motion of a dancing figure; “At the end of her sautoir, the little watch counted midnight” employs the long necklace as a vehicle for time imagery; A sautoir tangled in a drawer can symbolize a memory that remains beautiful yet difficult to retrieve
Additional Notes
Popular in early twentieth-century fashion, a sautoir’s length allows it to swing, loop, or trail, suggesting elegance and movement.
Also Known As
Long Necklace Opera Necklace
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