Millennium Falcon

Star Wars vehicle

A screenshot from Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope depicting the Millennium Falcon.jpg

The Millennium Falcon as seen in Star Wars

First appearance Star Wars (1977)

Last appearance Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Created by Corellian Engineering Corporation

Information

Affiliation

Lando Calrissian

Han Solo

Chewbacca

Gannis Ducain

Vanver and Toursant Irving

Unkar Plutt

Rey

Auxiliary vehicles

YT Dart spacetug (under Lando)

Five Model CEC Class-1s escape pods

General characteristics

Class YT-1300F light freighter / smuggling ship

Armaments

2x Arakyd Tomral RM-76 heavy laser cannons (under Lando)

2× CEC AG2G quad-bolt cannons (ventral and dorsal)

8× Arakyd ST2 concussion missile racks

BlasTech Ax-108 "Ground Buzzer" blaster cannon

Tractor beam projectors

Defenses

Duralloy plating

1× ray shield generators (stern)

Torplex deflector shield projector

Nordoxicon Unlimited Anti-concussion field generator

1× force shield generators (bow)

Novaldex stasis-type shield generator

Kuat Drive Yards deflector shield projector

Signal jammer

Carbanti 29L electromagnetic countermeasures package

Maximum speed

1050 km/h (652 mph; maximum earth-like atmospheric speed)

75 MGLT (megalight per hour; subluminal speed)

0.5 HCR Blackmarket Drive (hyperdrive class rating; superluminal speed)

10.0 HCR Stock Back-up Drive

Propulsion

Sublight engine thrusters (10×)

60 degree turn rate per second (atmospheric)

90 degree roll rate per second (atmospheric)

Power

Girodyne SRB42 sublight engines

Rippinnium Quadex Power Core (subluminal)

Class 0.5 Coaxium Isu-Sim SSP05 Hyperdrive (superluminal)

Length 34.75 metres (114.0 ft)

Height 7.8 metres (26 ft)

Population volume

2 pilot/co-pilot

2 gunners

6-30 passengers (modular configuration)

100 metric tons cargo

The Millennium Falcon is a fictional starship in the Star Wars franchise. Designed by Joe Johnston for the movie Star Wars (1977),[a] it has subsequently appeared in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Additionally, the Falcon appears in a variety of Star Wars spin-off works, including books, comics, and games; James Luceno's novel Millennium Falcon focuses on the titular ship.[1] It also appears in the 2014 animated film The Lego Movie in Lego form.

The ship, a YT-1300 Corellian light freighter, is primarily commanded by smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford and Alden Ehrenreich) and his Wookiee first mate, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew and Joonas Suotamo), and was previously owned by gambler/con-artist Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams and Donald Glover). Solo: A Star Wars Story depicts the ship as being co-piloted by, and later integrated with, Calrissian's droid L3-37 (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). Described as being one of the fastest vessels in the Star Wars canon, the Falcon looks worn-out but despite its humble origins and shabby exterior, the Millennium Falcon has played a critical role in some of the greatest victories of the Rebel Alliance and the New Republic.

Origin and design

The ship originally had a more elongated appearance, but this design's similarity to the Eagle Transporters in Space: 1999 prompted Lucas to change the Falcon's design.[2] The original model was modified, re-scaled, and used as Princess Leia's ship, Tantive IV.[3] Modelmaker Joe Johnston had about four weeks to redesign the Falcon, and Lucas' only suggestion to Johnston was to "think of a flying saucer".[4] Johnston did not want to produce a "basic flying saucer", so he created the offset cockpit, forward cargo mandibles, and rear slot for the engines.[4] It was also said that the shape of the ship was roughly based on a hamburger with an olive-on-the-side cockpit. The design was simple enough to create in the four-week window. Johnston called production of the new Falcon design one of his most intense projects.[4]

The sound of the ship traveling through hyperspace comes from two tracks of the engine noise of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, with one track slightly out of synchronization with the other to introduce a phasing effect.[5] To this, sound designer Ben Burtt added the hum of the cooling fans on the motion-control rig at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).[5]

It has been noted that the cockpit with its iconic greenhouse-style window was likely inspired by the cockpit of the American B-29 Superfortress.[6][7][8]

Models and sets

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Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon during the making of a scene from the Star Wars Holiday Special

Visually, the Millennium Falcon was represented by several models and external and internal sets. For Star Wars, a partial exterior set was constructed and the set dressed as Mos Eisley's Docking Bay 94 and the Death Star hangar. Besides the functional landing gear, an additional support held up the structure and was disguised as a fuel line. The interior set included the starboard ring corridor, the boarding ramp, cockpit access tunnel, gun turret ladder, secret compartments, and the forward hold. The cockpit was constructed as a separate set that could be rocked when the ship was supposed to shake. Several inconsistencies exist between the internal set and the external set, the cockpit access tunnel angle being the most noticeable.

The effects models for Star Wars matched the design of the exterior set. The primary model was five feet long and detailed with various kit parts. The ship was represented by a matte painting when Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) sees it for the first time, showing the full upper surface. For the 1997 "Special Edition", a digital model replaces the effects model in several shots, and is used in a new shot of the Falcon lifting off from Docking Bay 94.[9]

For The Empire Strikes Back (1980), a new external set was constructed. In spring 1979, Marcon Fabrications, a heavy engineering firm that served the UK's petrochemical and oil industries,[10] was hired to build a movable full-scale external model capable of "moving as if it were about to take off."[10] Built in secrecy under the project code name Magic Roundabout,[10][11] the company leased the 1930s Western Sunderland Flying Boat hangar in Pembroke Dock, West Wales.[11][12] The model, which took three months to construct, weighed over 25 long tons (25 t), measured 65 feet (20 m) in diameter and 20 feet (6.1 m) high, and used compressed air hover pads for up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) of hover-height movement around the set.[11][13][14] It was then disassembled and shipped to Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, for filming.[10] Today, the Pembroke Dock museum has an exhibit about the project.[10][11]

Along with the full-size mock-up of the Falcon, a new miniature model was created for The Empire Strikes Back to allow ILM to film more intricate in-flight rolls and pitches that were not possible with the five-foot model. This model was able to be mounted on a gimbal that allowed ILM to simulate very difficult maneuvers as the ship attempted to outrun Imperial TIE fighters during the asteroid-field-escape scene from the film.[2] The new model, which measured at approximately 32 inches in length, had several surface features that differed from the five-foot model including updated landing gear and different surface greebles. The 32" model was the version of the Millennium Falcon most depicted in toys, model kits, and promotional materials for the Star Wars universe prior to the release of the sequel trilogy. The model was reused for Return of the Jedi (1983). At the end of this production, the model was destroyed.[15]

As in Star Wars, the location set was changed around the ship set. The only major design change was to add landing gear where the disguised fuel line had been in Star Wars. As this set included the port side, that gave the set seven landing gears. The internal set was slightly refitted from A New Hope and featured a sliding cockpit door, a larger cargo hold, an additional corridor to port, and an equipment room. The cockpit was rebuilt slightly larger to allow more actors to fit comfortably;[16] shots were apparently slightly cropped in later releases of the film to hide this alteration.[17] Two new interior sets were created that are not shown to connect to the rest of the set: a top hatch that Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) uses to rescue Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and the compartment where Luke rests on a bunk.

The 5-foot-long (1.5 m) effects model from Star Wars was modified to reflect the additional landing gear, and several new models were built, including one roughly the size of a U.S. quarter dollar. For the 1997 Special Edition, a CGI model replaced the effects model during the approach and landing on Cloud City.

No new models or sets were created for Return of the Jedi. A portion of the full-scale ship was used for a scene cut from the film in which several characters board the Falcon in a sandstorm on Tatooine. In the scene when Han exacts a promise from Lando not to damage the Falcon, the Falcon is represented by a backdrop painting. It is also in a matte painting of the entire hangar bay.

The internal and external sets were scrapped after filming on Return of the Jedi ended.[13] The effects models were kept by Lucasfilm and some have been on display from time to time.

A digital version of the Falcon appears briefly on Coruscant in Revenge of the Sith (2005).[18] Lucas has confirmed that the ship is the Falcon and not another ship of similar design.[19] A CGI version of the vessel also appears in the Disney attraction Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.

On June 3, 2014, TMZ confirmed that the Falcon would return for Star Wars: The Force Awakens when it leaked a photo from the set of the film, showing a full-scale version of the Falcon being built.[20] An effects shot of the Falcon appears in the teaser trailer for The Force Awakens, released on November 28, 2014. This version of the ship is a digital recreation[21] of the original 1977 five-foot model, with additional detailing reflecting the passage of time. The most noticeable change is the rectangular sensor array above the top hull, which replaces the circular dish from the first three films. [22]

On April 16, 2021, concept artist Phil Saunders shared some abandoned concept art, and explained that the actress Judi Dench could have been the original designer of Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. [23]

Depiction

“You came in that thing? You’re braver than I thought.”

— Leia Organa, A New Hope

Han Solo won the Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian in the card game 'sabacc' several years before the events of the original Star Wars film.[24] In that movie, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) charter the ship in the Mos Eisley cantina to deliver them, C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), and the stolen Death Star plans to Alderaan. When the Falcon is captured by the Death Star, the group conceal themselves in smuggling compartments built into the floor to avoid detection during a search of the ship. Solo later collects his fee for delivering them to the hidden Rebel base and departs under bitter circumstances, but returns to assist Luke in destroying the Death Star.

Solo pilots the Falcon, with Chewbacca, Leia, and C-3PO aboard, to elude the Imperial fleet in The Empire Strikes Back, wherein they take refuge at Cloud City, where Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones) captures Solo. Lando Calrissian helps the others escape and, at the film's end, he departs in the Falcon to track down Solo and his captor, Jabba the Hutt. Calrissian again captains the Falcon during the climax of Return of the Jedi, with Nien Nunb as co-pilot, to destroy the second Death Star. Before the second Death Star is destroyed, Lando accidentally damages the ship by hitting the circular sensor rectenna dish on a random pipe or circuit in the second Death Star. Lando and the others still have success in destroying the Galactic Empire.

In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, set some 30 years after Return of the Jedi, the Falcon is in the possession of a scrap dealer named Unkar Plutt on the desert planet Jakku, having been stolen from Solo and Chewbacca some years prior. Scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) and former stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) steal the Falcon in order to escape from an attack by the First Order, having been targeted for having the droid BB-8 in their possession. They are captured by a smuggling freighter, which turns out to be piloted by Solo and Chewbacca, who reclaim the Falcon. Forced to escape in the Falcon from an ambush by parties to whom Solo is heavily in debt, Solo reluctantly agrees to help Rey and Finn return BB-8 to the Resistance. After Rey is captured by the First Order, Solo agrees to take Finn in the Falcon to the First Order's new Starkiller Base—a planet that has been converted into the next generation of 'Death Star'—by attempting a risky maneuver of bypassing the planet's defences by exiting hyperspace in its atmosphere. When Solo is killed by his son, the rebels escape the destructing Starkiller Base. Later, Rey uses a newly-assembled map to travel to Ahch-To, the site of the first Jedi temple, to make contact with the long-lost Luke Skywalker, travelling in the Falcon in the company of Chewbacca and R2-D2.

The Falcon appears again in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, still on Ahch-To with Rey and Chewbacca. Later in the film, Chewbacca and Rey take the Falcon to the planet Crait, where the Resistance is under attack by the First Order. The Falcon loses its sensor dish for the third time on Crait, after it is shot off by a TIE fighter, but still manages to single-handedly take out most of the First Order's fighters on the planet while Luke distracts Kylo Ren. After the battle, surviving Resistance personnel leave Crait aboard the Falcon.

In The Last Jedi, Rey uses the Falcon's escape pod to board Supreme Leader Snoke's flagship, the Mega-class Star Dreadnought Supremacy. Director Rian Johnson noted that he wanted its design to resemble a coffin, inspired by C.S. Lewis' Perelandra. The escape pod was monogrammed to say "Property of Han Solo".[25] In the film Solo: A Star Wars Story, it is revealed that Lando modified the Falcon by putting an escape pod between the frontal 'mandibles', which Han jettisons to escape a gravity well.[26]

In The Rise of Skywalker the Falcon is piloted by Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca and Wedge Antilles in the final battle of Exegol, leading the entire fleet of free worlds against the Sith Eternal forces.

Kessel Run

In the initial film, Solo brags that the Falcon "made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs".[b] As the parsec is a unit of distance, not time, different explanations have been provided. In the fourth draft of the script, Kenobi "reacts to Solo's stupid attempt to impress them with obvious misinformation."[27] Lucas acknowledged the misnomer in 1977, saying that Han modified "the navigational system to get through hyperspace in the shortest possible distance".[28] On the film's DVD audio commentary, Lucas further explained that in the Star Wars universe, traveling through hyperspace requires careful navigation to avoid stars, planets, asteroids, and other obstacles,[29] and that is because no long-distance journey can be made in a straight line, the "fastest" ship is the one that can plot the "most direct course", thereby traveling the least distance.[29]

In The Force Awakens, Rey references the Kessel Run but describes it as being completed in fourteen parsecs, after which Solo corrects her.

In Solo: A Star Wars Story, Solo's Kessel Run is depicted in detail, providing an explanation for the "twelve parsec" boast. Solo has to make many calculated jumps to avoid killing the crew. After integrating the memory module of Lando's damaged L3 droid into the ship's navigation, Solo is able to take a "shortcut"[28] (which is dangerously close to a black hole). Chewbacca indicates the real distance was closer to 13 parsecs, but Solo insists, "Not if you round down," implying that the claim of "less than twelve parsecs" is slightly exaggerated.

Ownership

The Falcon has been depicted many times in the franchise, and its ownership and command have changed several times.

Prior to A New Hope, the Falcon was in the possession of Lando Calrissian. He lost it to Han Solo in payment of a gambling debt. This is depicted in Solo: A Star Wars Story, as well as the integration of Lando's droid L3-37 with the ship's computer.

After Solo's capture by the Empire in The Empire Strikes Back, Leia, Chewbacca and Lando take possession of the Falcon.

During Return of the Jedi, Solo leaves Tatooine aboard the Millennium Falcon, and on arrival at the rendezvous for the Rebel fleet he lends the Falcon to Calrissian, who pilots it during the Battle of Endor and the destruction of the second Death Star.

After the events of Return of the Jedi, the Falcon is stolen from Solo, ending up on the planet Jakku under the ownership of a scrap dealer, Unkar Plutt, 30 years after the Battle of Endor. In The Force Awakens, Rey and Finn commandeer the ship to escape the planet, only to be found by Solo and Chewbacca, who immediately reclaim the ship.

After the death of Solo, Rey pilots the Falcon, with Chewbacca as her co-pilot. The novelization of The Force Awakens states that Chewbacca willingly abdicates captaincy of the Falcon to Rey.

After the events of The Last Jedi, the ship becomes the base of operations for the remaining members of the Resistance.

After the events of The Rise of Skywalker the Falcon is again piloted by Lando Calrissian with Chewbacca.

Cultural influence

Joss Whedon credits the Millennium Falcon as one of his two primary inspirations for his Firefly television show.[30] The Falcon and the Falcon's distinct shape appear in Star Trek: First Contact,[31] Blade Runner,[32] Spaceballs, and Starship Troopers.[33] The manga series Berserk includes a Millennium Falcon arc.[34]

SpaceX states that their launch vehicles (except Starship) are named after the Millennium Falcon.[35]

Biology

The middle Cambrian arthropod Cambroraster falcatus is named after the Millennium Falcon.[36]

Toys

Hot Wheels Millennium Falcon toy

Kenner,[37] Hasbro,[38][39] Steel Tec,[40] Master Replicas,[41] Code 3 Collectibles and Micro Machines have all released Millennium Falcon toys and puzzles, including a Transformers version of the ship.

Hot Wheels has made a model of the ship for their Star Wars starship line[42] and a version of it as a car.[43] It is also available as a Hot Wheels playset.[44]

Lego has released multiple versions of the Millennium Falcon in varying sizes. The 5,195-piece Lego model (part of the Star Wars "Ultimate Collectors Series") was physically the largest Lego set sold by the company, until it was topped in 2008 by the Lego Taj Mahal.[45][46] In September 2017, Lego released an updated Millennium Falcon set in the Star Wars "Ultimate Collectors Series". With the new interior and more details compared to the 2007 model, the 7,541-piece model is the most expensive commercially available Lego set.[47][48] Lego has also made a version of the Falcon to tie in with Solo: A Star Wars Story. It is called the Kessel Run Millennium Falcon.[49]

Theme park attractions

On May 31, 2019, a full sized replica of the Falcon was opened to the public along with the rest of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, along with a flight simulator attraction, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, in which riders take control of the Falcon from inside its cockpit. An identical version of the attraction opened on August 29, 2019, at Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

A third incarnation of the attraction has been announced for Walt Disney Studios Park at the Disneyland Paris Resort in Marne-la-Vallée, France.

See also

List of Star Wars spacecraft

References

Footnotes

 Later titled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

 In the pre-release novelization, the line is: "less than twelve standard timeparts".

Citations

 "Millennium Falcon Week Begins!". Lucasfilm. October 20, 2008. Archived from the original on October 21, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.

 Star Wars (April 8, 2015), Conversations: Creating A Universe - Making of the Millennium Falcon, retrieved April 28, 2019

 Peterson, Lorne (November 14, 2006). Sculpting A Galaxy - Inside the Star Wars Model Shop. San Rafael, CA: Insight Editions. pp. 2–3. ISBN 1-933784-03-2.

 Bouzereau, Laurent (1997). Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplays. Ballantine Books. p. 53. ISBN 0345409817.

 Rinzler, J. W. (September 1, 2010). The Sounds of Star Wars. Chronicle Books. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-8118-7546-2.

 Cole Horton (February 18, 2014). "From World War to Star Wars: The Millennium Falcon". starwars.com. Retrieved January 30, 2022.

 Alex Hollings (June 15, 2020). "How the B-29 Modernized the U.S. Air Force". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved January 30, 2022.

 Mary S. Henderson (1997). Star Wars: The Magic of Myth. Bantam Books. p. 173. ISBN 9780553102062.

 Stewart, Drew (March 31, 2020). "Disney+ Should Offer the Star Wars Original Cuts—All of Them". Wired. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

 Jones, Carwyn (February 26, 2015). "A long time ago... when Pembroke Dock made the Millennium Falcon". BBC News. Retrieved December 22, 2016.

 "Welsh Memories of 'Millennium Falcon' – Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre". sunderlandtrust.com. September 11, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2016.

 Parry, Nick (May 18, 2005). "Towns secret Star Wars history". BBC. Retrieved May 12, 2010.

 "The Last Corellian Shipyard". Lucasfilm. October 20, 2008. p. 5. Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.

 "The Last Corellian Shipyard". Lucasfilm. October 20, 2008. p. 2. Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.

 Daniels, Anthony (2019). I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story. DK. ISBN 9781465492562.

 Godfrey, Alex (December 1, 2015). "How the Millennium Falcon was rebuilt for The Force Awakens". Wired UK. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

 Hunt, Bill (December 24, 2019). "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – A Visual Guide to Changes, Fixes, and Tweaks in the Disney+ 4K Version". The Digital Bits. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

 "Millennium Falcon". StarWars.com. Retrieved January 3, 2020.

 "Episode III Easter Egg Hunt". Lucasfilm. May 26, 2005. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved November 13, 2011.

 Kevin P. Sullivan (June 3, 2014). "Millennium Falcon First Look In 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Is Worth Getting Excited About". MTV. Retrieved June 3, 2014.

 November 16, 2015, Let's all nerd out about our Millennium Falcon Star Wars cover Wired.com

 Kastrenakes, Jacob (November 28, 2014). "Watch the first trailer for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'". Retrieved January 13, 2015.

 "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Flirted With Including Judi Dench, And Her Role Sounds Wild". April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.

 "Star Wars: Databank: Millennium Falcon (Expanded Universe)". starwars.com. Retrieved June 27, 2007.

 Szostak, Phil (December 15, 2017). The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Abrams Books. p. 94. ISBN 9781419727054.

 Bacon, Thomas (May 25, 2018). "How and Why The Millennium Falcon Keeps Changing So Much". ScreenRant. Retrieved April 16, 2019.

 "Star Wars (Public Version of Fourth Draft) on the Jedi Bendu Script Site". Retrieved December 7, 2014.

 "George Lucas Was Backtracking Han Solo's "Parsec" Mistake In 1977". ScreenRant. March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019. It's a very simple ship, very economical ship, although the modifications he made to it are rather extensive – mostly to the navigational system to get through hyperspace in the shortest possible distance (par-sect) [sic].

 Commentary track on Star Wars DVD

 Joss Whedon (2005). What's in a Firefly.

 Patrizio, Andy. "Star Trek: First Contact - Special Collector's Edition". IGN. Retrieved October 31, 2008.

 Sammon, Paul M. (June 1, 1996). Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner. HarperCollins. pp. 251. ISBN 978-0-06-105314-6. Bill George had been making a replica of the Millennium Falcon [ . . . ] we were so frantic to get more buildings into the cityscape that we grabbed Bill's ship, bristled it with etched brass, and plopped it into different shots. Instant building.

 Aden, Jay. "Starship Troopers: A Studio Modeler Portfolio". Starship Modeler. Retrieved October 31, 2008.

 "Berserk Millennium Falcon Arc ~Seimasenki no Sho~". MobyGames. Retrieved October 31, 2008.

 "SpaceX Selected For Responsive space Launch Demonstration Under DARPA Falcon Program". October 20, 2004. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.

 "The Millennium Falcon look-alike that terrorized the ancient seas : Research Highlights". Nature. 572 (7768): 157. July 30, 2019. doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02317-w. S2CID 199467801. Retrieved August 9, 2019.

 "10 Star Wars Toys You Might Own That Are Now Worth a Fortune". Mental Floss. May 4, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2018.

 "Star Wars: Collecting: Till All Are One Millennium Falcon". starwars.com. March 2, 2006. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2007.

 "The Falcon is Back and Better Than Ever". Lucasfilm. July 9, 2008. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved October 31, 2008.

 "Steel Tec Millennium Falcon". Star Wars Collectors Archive.

 "Millennium Falcon". Lucasfilm. October 22, 2008. p. 4. Retrieved October 31, 2008.

 "HOT WHEELS® STAR WARS™ MILLENNIUM FALCON™ STARSHIP". Hot Wheels.

 "Hot Wheels® Star Wars™ Millennium Falcon Carship Vehicle". Hot Wheels. Retrieved February 7, 2018.

 "Hot Wheels Star Wars Millennium Falcon Playset". Amazon. Retrieved February 7, 2018.

 Lipkowitz, Daniel (2009). The LEGO Book. DK. pp. 144. ISBN 978-0-7566-5623-2.

 "Peeron Lego Database".

 "The new 7,541-piece Lego Millennium Falcon is the biggest and most expensive set ever". The Verge.

 Baldwin, Dave (March 8, 2018). "Lego's 7,500-piece Millennium Falcon is Finally Back in Stock". Fatherly. Retrieved February 18, 2021.

 "The 10 Most Valuable Millennium Falcon Collectibles". Gemr. May 25, 2018.

External links

Millennium Falcon in the StarWars.com Databank

Star Wars's channel on YouTube — Making of the Millennium Falcon, Millennium Falcon and Asteroids, Tour The Millennium Falcon with Donald Glover

ILMVFX's channel on YouTube - Creating Lando's Millennium Falcon for Solo: A Star Wars Story, Behind the Magic of the Kessel Run

Millennium Falcon on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki

Millennium Falcon Notes: information for model builders

How Fast is the Millennium Falcon?: a thought experiment

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Star Wars timeline: Every major event in chronological order

By Richard Edwards Contributions from Molly Edwards published 13 days ago

The hugely complicated Star Wars timeline – from all the canon movies, TV shows, comics, and novels – explained

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COMMENTS

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

(Image credit: IMDb)

Figuring out the Star Wars timeline is getting harder and harder. There's just so much that makes up the galaxy far, far away – movies, TV shows, books, video games, and comics – and working out what goes where is increasingly complicated. But that's where we come in. We've pulled together the ultimate guide to the galaxy's chronology, with every single significant event in order. That means you can get up to speed on Star Wars whether you're a total newcomer to the franchise or a seasoned marathoner in need of a refresh. 

We kick things off with the birth of Yoda, some 900 years before the events of the Star Wars movies, and go all the way up to The Rise of Skywalker, which is currently the endpoint of the galaxy's timeline. So, to find out about every crucial event that happens in between, scroll on and get up to date. This is the guide you're looking for...

WANT TO JUST WATCH THE MOVIES?

(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

Here's how to watch the Star Wars movies in order

Before we go on, we should note that, although this is a comprehensive Star Wars timeline, we have not included absolutely every event. Does anybody really need to know when Dexter Jettster opened his diner on Coruscant? Our timeline deals with all the major events from the movies and shows, and touches upon some of the major comic-books and novels included within the canon. We have also listed which movie/TV show/book each event appears in just in case you want to go back and see The Trade Federation deciding to blockade Naboo…

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As for the calendar, everything in the Star Wars galaxy is dated relative to the Battle of Yavin, where Luke Skywalker blew up the first Death Star. So Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, which takes place 19 years ahead of Star Wars: A New Hope, is set 19 years Before the Battle of Yavin (in 19 BBY). Meanwhile, Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place 34 years After the Battle of Yavin (in 34 ABY). Now that all that's taken care of, let's start with an at-a-glance guide to the Star Wars timeline.

WARNING: Spoilers for every Star Wars movie and TV show released to date.

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Star Wars movies and TV shows in chronological order

The Star Wars timeline contains spoilers

(Image credit: LucasFilm)

The Acolyte 

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace(opens in new tab) 

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones(opens in new tab) 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars 

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith 

Star Wars: The Bad Batch 

Solo: A Star Wars Story(opens in new tab) 

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Star Wars Rebels 

Andor

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(opens in new tab) 

Star Wars: A New Hope 

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back(opens in new tab) 

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi(opens in new tab)

Star Wars Resistance 

The Mandalorian(opens in new tab)

The Book of Boba Fett 

Ahsoka 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi(opens in new tab) (2017)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker(opens in new tab) (2019)

Star Wars timeline

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~900 BBY - Yoda is born, though nobody ever thought to ask what species he belongs to. (Return of the Jedi)

~200 BBY - The Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order are at their zenith. This is the golden age of the Jedi. (The High Republic novels and comic-book series)

Emerging dark-side powers soon take hold within the Jedi, as the Sith come to power. (The Acolyte, Disney Plus series)

41 BBY - Anakin Skywalker is somehow conceived by the Midichlorians and his mother, Shmi. (referenced The Phantom Menace) 

Also around this time, a young Yoda-like creature is born to mystery parents. (referenced in The Mandalorian)

32 BBY - The Trade Federation escalates a scintillating trade dispute by blockading Naboo. C-3PO and R2-D2 meet for the first time. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi discover Force-sensitive Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine and save him from slavery. Yippee! 

Queen Padme Amidala leads the liberation of Naboo, where Obi-Wan slices Darth Maul in two – sending him tumbling to his apparent death. Palpatine is elected Chancellor of the Republic, while Anakin starts his Jedi training. Galaxy watches both their careers with great interest. (The Phantom Menace)

Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas commissions Kaminoan cloners to build an army for the Republic. (mentioned in Attack of the Clones)

Young Grogu trains with the Jedi. (mentioned in The Mandalorian)

22 BBY - Separatists make a couple of attempts on Senator Amidala’s life. Obi-Wan’s investigations into the assassin’s identity lead him to Kamino, where he discovers a fully-fledged Clone Army. Anakin slaughters an entire village of Tusken Raiders (men, women and children) in revenge for the death of his mother. Padme becomes strangely attracted to him.

Naboo Senate Representative Jar Jar Binks calls for Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to be given emergency powers to bring the Clone Army into service – those Clone Troopers subsequently follow the Jedi into action against Separatist forces on Geonosis. Jango Fett killed in the battle. Separatist leader Count Dooku is revealed to be Sith Lord Darth Tyranus, and chops off Anakin’s arm in a lightsaber duel. Geonosian leader Poggle the Lesser hands the Separatists’ Death Star plans to Count Dooku. Anakin and Padme marry in secret. The Clone Wars begin. (Attack of the Clones)

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22 BBY - Anakin takes on Ahsoka Tano as his apprentice. (The Clone Wars)

21 ABY - The young Boba Fett infiltrates a Republic Star Destroyer in an effort to take revenge on Mace Windu for dad Jango’s death. (The Clone Wars)

~21 BBY - Brilliant energy scientist Galen Erso is captured by Separatist forces and subsequently rescued by Orson Krennic (at this point a Republic officer) – it will later turn out Krennic has an ulterior motive involving a certain planet-killing superweapon… (Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel)

20 BBY - Darth Sidious orders Count Dooku to eliminate Asajj Ventress, the Dark Side apprentice Dooku’s been training in secret. Presumed-dead former Sith Lord Darth Maul is discovered – half the man he used to be – by his brother Savage Opress on Lotho Minor. Anakin, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan meet and train future insurgent Saw Gerrera to fight against the Separatists on Onderon. Construction of Death Star begins above Geonosis. (The Clone Wars)

19 BBY - Maul and Opress join forces with criminal gangs and Mandalorian hardliners Death Watch to overthrow and kill Mandalore’s peaceful leader (and Obi-Wan love interest) Duchess Satine Kryze. Darth Sidious clears up the mess, killing Opress and capturing Maul. 

Wrongly framed for murder, Ahsoka quits the Jedi Order and disappears. She later ventures to Mandalore to battle Maul, where the Siege of Mandalore takes place. She manages a lucky escape from Order 66 with the Clone trooper Rex. (The Clone Wars) 

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine kidnapped by Separatist forces, Count Dooku executed by Anakin during the rescue. Obi-Wan kills the Separatists’ cyborg military commander General Grievous. Palpatine is revealed to be Darth Sidious. Anakin seduced by the Dark Side and becomes Darth Vader. Palpatine declares himself Emperor and the Galactic Republic becomes the Galactic Empire. Order 66 prompts the Clone Troopers to turn on the Jedi and all-but wipe them out. Darth Vader slaughters the remaining Separatist leaders on Mustafar. Obi-Wan defeats Vader in a duel, critically injuring him and leaving him dependent on an iconic cybernetic life support suit. Padme dies giving birth to twins. Luke is left with his step-uncle/aunt Owen and Beru Lars on Tatooine, Leia with Senator Bail Organa on Alderaan. Obi-Wan and Yoda go into hiding, on Tatooine and Dagobah, respectively. (Revenge of the Sith)

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Following Order 66, a rogue bunch of defective Clones – called The Bad Batch – are told to hunt down the padawan in training Caleb Dume (later known as Kanan Jarrus). However, the team's leader, Hunter, goes against orders. The Bad Batch are then commanded to kill Saw Gerrera. They refuse to do so and head off on their own adventure. (Star Wars: The Bad Batch)

17 BBY - Galen Erso, forced to work on the Death Star, does a runner with wife Lyra and daughter Jyn from their home on Coruscant, with help from Saw Gerrera. (Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel)

13 BBY - Krennic tracks down Erso family on Lah’mu. Lyra dies, Galen goes back to work on the Death Star, leaving Jyn to get an, er, unconventional upbringing with Saw. (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

Han Solo escapes captivity on Corellia, enlists in the Imperial Navy and bags himself a surname. (Solo: A Star Wars Story)

10 BBY - Han Solo meets hairy BFF Chewbacca, defects from the Empire and joins Tobias Beckett’s criminal gang. Rebellious L3-37 initiates a droid uprising on Kessel. Solo completes a Kessel Run in the Millennium Falcon in a record-breaking 12 parsecs – he’s so impressed he later wins the Falcon from Lando Calrissian in a game of Sabacc. Solo helps out Enfys Nest’s proto-Rebels, but declines to join the cause. Qi’ra assumes day-to-day control of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate, answering directly to Maul. (Solo: A Star Wars Story)

9 BBY - On the orders of the Inquisitor Reva, a young Princess Leia is captured. Obi-Wan Kenobi comes out of hiding on Tatooine to find her, and clashes lightsabers with Darth Vader once more on the planet Mapuzo – though Obi's badly burned in the process. Leia is taken to Fortress Inquisitorius, and with the help of a woman named Tala, Obi-Wan rescues her. After the pair escape, Vader tracks Obi-Wan to a nearby planet and they clash. Reva tracks Luke down on Tatooine, but can't bring herself to kill the Skywalker boy. After departing the Lars homestead, Obi-Wan sees a vision of Qui-Gon Jinn. (Obi-Wan Kenobi).

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5 BBY - Force-sensitive Ezra Bridger joins the crew of Rebel vessel the Ghost. Fugitive Jedi Kanan Jarrus takes him on as his Padawan. (Star Wars Rebels)

4 BBY - Rebel informant Fulcrum revealed to be Ahsoka Tano. Empire commences Siege of Lothal. The Emperor unleashes Darth Vader to sort out growing Rebel problem. Former Clone Troopers Rex, Wolffe and Gregor join Rebel cause. (Star Wars Rebels)

3 BBY - Maul blinds Kanan Jarrus in battle. Ahsoka faces Vader for the first time since she was Anakin’s apprentice. (Star Wars Rebels)

2 BBY - Obi-Wan Kenobi belatedly finishes the job of killing Maul on Tatooine. Mon Mothma resigns from Imperial Senate, and calls for the formation of the Alliance to Restore the Republic (aka Rebel Alliance). Chopper Base on Atollon destroyed by Admiral Thrawn’s forces, forcing the Rebels to relocate to Yavin 4. (Star Wars Rebels)

1 BBY - Kanan Jarrus killed, sacrificing himself to save the rest of the Ghost crew. Ezra Bridger has an audience with the Emperor, before he and Grand Admiral Thrawn go missing in action. Bo-Katan Kryze takes Mandalorian throne, after Sabine Wren gives her the ceremonial Darksaber. (Star Wars Rebels)

0 BBY - Rebels secure their first significant victory over the Empire at Scarif – though in the ultimate downer, everybody involved in recovering the Death Star plans dies. (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

Princess Leia Organa is eventually captured by Darth Vader. Luke Skywalker meets C-3PO and R2-D2, and takes Death Star plans hidden in R2 to Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke begins Jedi training, meets Han Solo and Chewbacca. Alderaan destroyed by Death Star. Leia rescued. Obi-Wan Kenobi dies. The Death Star destroyed. (A New Hope)

0-3 ABY - Darth Vader recruits Boba Fett to help hunt down the Force-sensitive young pilot who blew up the Death Star. (Darth Vader comic)

Rebel Alliance relocates to Echo Base on the distinctly chilly Hoth. (The Empire Strikes Back)

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Han Solo runs into an unknown bounty hunter on Ord Mantell. (referenced in The Empire Strikes Back)

3 ABY - The Rebels evacuate Hoth after the Empire discovers Echo Base. Luke Skywalker begins formal Jedi training with Yoda on Dagobah. Darth Vader captures Han, Leia and Chewbacca at Bespin. Han frozen in Carbonite and taken to Jabba the Hutt by Boba Fett. Luke faces Darth Vader, loses a hand and learns the Sith Lord is his father. Noooooooo! (The Empire Strikes Back)

3-4 ABY - Many Bothans die getting information on Death Star 2. (mentioned in Return of the Jedi)

4 ABY - Han Solo rescued from Jabba the Hutt – with Leia killing Jabba in the process. Boba Fett is thought dead. Yoda dies. Luke learns that Leia is his twin sister – awkward! Imperial forces intercept Rebellion’s secret assault on Endor – it’s a trap! Luke faces Darth Vader again, this time in the presence of the Emperor. Vader turns back to the good side and kills the Emperor. Death Star destroyed – despite Ewok involvement. Yub nub! (Return of the Jedi)

5 ABY - Han Solo helps Chewbacca to liberate Kashyyyk from Imperial rule. The New Republic secures a final victory over the remains of the Empire at the Battle of Jakku. Mon Mothma signs the Galactic Concordance and the Empire is dissolved. A faction of top Imperials, led by Grand Admiral Rae Sloane and General Hux’s dad Brendol, travel through the Unknown Regions to start the First Order. Ben Solo is born. (Star Wars: Aftermath novel trilogy)

5-9 ABY - Boba Fett emerges from the Sarlacc pit after being eaten alive. He is captured by Tusken Raiders, but the bounty hunter wins their favor and is immersed in their culture. The Tuskens are eventually wiped out by a rival biker gang. He meets and helps the injured Fennec Shand. Together, they search for whoever took Boba's armor from the Sarlacc.

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9 ABY - A lone gunfighter – Din Djarin – makes his way through the outer reaches of the galaxy where he stumbles upon a young-ish green creature. The warrior goes on the run, hoping to keep the creature away from harm, and ends up adopting the young creature as his own. 

Din hopes to reunite the creature with the Jedi. He eventually meets Ahsoka Tano, who is on the hunt for General Thrawn. She tells Din to head to Tython and use a special stone to call to any Jedi who may be out there. Ahsoka also reveals the creature's real name: Grogu.

Grogu calls to the Jedi but is then captured by the evil Moff Gideon, who holds the Darksaber blade. Din is helped by Boba Fett – who is on the search for his armor – and the former heiress of Mandalore, Bo-Katan to beat Moff Gideon. They almost succeed, when a battalion of Dark Trooper droids arrive. Grogu's call to the Jedi is heard and Luke Skywalker saves the day. Skywalker then takes Grogu away to be trained as a Jedi. (The Mandalorian)

Boba Fett heads back to Tatooine with Fennec Shand to take over the planet's criminal underworld. Their plans are thwarted by Tatooine's mayor, the Hutt twins, and the Pyke Syndicate. Boba assembles a team – including Din Djarin – to take on his enemies. Cobb Vanth is shot in a showdown with Cad Bane. 

Luke Skywalker is training Grogu and trying to establish a new Jedi temple. He gives Grogu a choice between remaining a Padawan and becoming Skywalker's first student, or returning to the Mandalorian. Grogu chooses to go back to Djarin, so the Jedi sends him to Tatooine, where the Child and Mando are reunited.

Fett kills Bane and defeats the Pykes and the other crime syndicates to regain control of Mos Espa. Vanth spends time in a bacta tank to heal from his clash with Bane. (The Book of Boba Fett)

21 ABY - The First Order starts using crime syndicates to fund its increasing military activities. (Star Wars: Bloodline novel)

28 ABY - The truth about Leia’s Sithy parentage is leaked by political enemies, engulfing her in a scandal that forces her to resign from the Senate. Sensing the threat of an increasingly active First Order, she forms the Resistance to keep them in check. (Star Wars: Bloodline novel)

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28 ABY-34 ABY - Ben Solo is persuaded by Supreme Leader Snoke to turn to the Dark Side. He trashes Luke Skywalker’s new Jedi school, kills most of his fellow students (unknown whether Grogu is here), and renames himself Kylo Ren. Luke goes into exile on Ahch-To and switches himself off from the Force. (Mentioned in The Force Awakens)

Kazuda Xiono goes undercover as a Resistance spy at the Colossus outpost. (Star Wars Resistance)

34 ABY - Poe Dameron finds map containing details of Luke Skywalker’s whereabouts. Trooper FN-2187, AKA Finn, defects from First Order, gets Poe’s jacket and meets Rey on Jakku. The pair steal the Millennium Falcon, and hook up with Han Solo and Chewbacca. The First Order uses Starkiller base to destroy the entire Hosnian system, wiping out the whole of the New Republic’s government. Kylo Ren kills Han Solo. Starkiller base destroyed. Rey tracks down Luke on Ahch-To. (The Force Awakens)

The Resistance evacuate their base on D’Qar and go on the run from the First Order. Kylo Ren kills Supreme Leader Snoke and declares himself Supreme Leader. First Order flagship the Supremacy destroyed when Vice-Admiral Holdo pilots the Raddus through it at hyperspace. Luke creates a Force projection of himself to face Kylo Ren and dies in the effort. The last few survivors of the Resistance escape on the Millennium Falcon. (The Last Jedi)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

(Image credit: Disney)

35 ABY - With Snoke vanquished, an old evil returns... Palpatine. The Emperor has been building a huge Sith army all these years, and they have been awoken on Exegol, a Sith stronghold in the uncharted area of the galaxy. 

The Resistance has made some headway in their fight back against the First Order, who have now rebranded themselves the Final Order under Palpatine's leadership. Kylo goes on the hunt for Rey, the granddaughter of Palpatine. When they meet, Rey stabs Kylo with a lightsaber but uses the Force to keep him alive. General Leia passes as she helps keep Kylo, her son, alive. 

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After Rey discovers the location of Exegol, she travels there in Luke Skywalker's old X-Wing. She lays trackers so that the Resistance can follow her there. She then confronts her grandfather, while the Resistance, who – with the help of Lando – have brought together an army filled with people who despise the Final Order.

Palpatine soon has the upper hand on Rey, wanting her to "strike him down" so the Sith can live on in her. However, Kylo Ren comes to help, and the pair attack Palpatine. The Emperor overpowers them and takes their life-force. All the fallen Jedi then come to Rey and help her overthrow Palpatine, and he is disintegrated.

The galaxy celebrates victory over the Final Order. Rey buries Luke and Leia's lightsabers on Tatooine. The two suns set. Balance is restored. (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker)

What comes next?

While what comes next in the Star Wars timeline remains unconfirmed, it's believed that the upcoming (but delayed) movie, Rogue Squadron, could take place after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. For all the latest, you can read our article on all the upcoming Star Wars movies(opens in new tab) and TV shows.

If you want to catch up with the Star Wars story so far, getting a Disney Plus sign-up is the easiest way (all the films and canon TV shows are available there). Because the Disney Plus free trial is no longer available, don't forget to check out the Disney Plus bundles in your area.

ring, circular band of gold, silver, or some other precious or decorative material that is worn on the finger. Rings are worn not only on the fingers but also on toes, the ears (see earring), and through the nose. Besides serving to adorn the body, rings have functioned as symbols of authority, fidelity, or social status.

Basically, a ring consists of three parts: the circle, or hoop; the shoulders; and the bezel. The circle can have a circular, semicircular, or square cross-section, or it can be shaped as a flat band. The shoulders consist of a thickening or enlargement of the circle wide enough to support the bezel. The bezel is the top part of a ring; it may simply be a flat table, or it may be designed to hold a gem or some other ornament.

The earliest existing rings are those found in the tombs of ancient Egypt. The Egyptians primarily used signet, or seal, rings, in which a seal engraved on the bezel can be used to authenticate documents by the wearer. Egyptian seal rings typically had the name and titles of the owner deeply sunk in hieroglyphic characters on an oblong gold bezel. The ancient Greeks were more prone to use rings simply for decoration, and in the Hellenistic period the bezel began to be used to hold individual cabochon stones, such as carnelians and garnets, or vitreous pastes. In Rome rings were an important symbol of social status. In the early centuries of the Roman Republic, most rings were of iron, and the wearing of gold rings was restricted to certain classes, such as patricians who had held high office. But by the 3rd century BC the privilege of wearing rings had been extended to the class of knights, or equites, and by the 3rd century AD, during the Roman Empire, practically any person except a slave was allowed to wear a gold ring. The Romans are also thought to have originated the custom of betrothal rings, or engagement rings, symbolizing a promise of marriage to a member of the opposite sex.

Throughout the European Middle Ages the signet ring was of great importance in religious, legal, and commercial transactions. The Roman Catholic church conferred episcopal rings upon newly appointed bishops, and so-called papal rings were given by popes to cardinals. An enormous papal ring called the Fisherman’s Ring—made of gilded bronze and bearing the image of St. Peter fishing—is traditionally used by the pope as a seal for pontifical documents. Besides these types, there were memorial rings, upon which were engraved the name, date of death, or even the effigy of a deceased person; posy rings, upon which were engraved an inscription or a few lines of verse; occult rings, which functioned as talismans or amulets and were supposed to have magical powers; and poison rings, whose hollow bezels contained a poison for purposes of suicide or homicide. Rings with bezels that opened may also have held sentimental keepsakes in miniature.

Necklace

Diamond and garnet necklace

A necklace is an article of jewellery that is worn around the neck. Necklaces may have been one of the earliest types of adornment worn by humans.[1] They often serve ceremonial, religious, magical, or funerary purposes and are also used as symbols of wealth and status, given that they are commonly made of precious metals and stones.

The main component of a necklace is the band, chain, or cord that wraps around the neck. These are most often rendered in precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum. Necklaces often have additional attachments suspended or inset into the necklace itself. These attachments typically include pendants, lockets, amulets, crosses, and precious and semi-precious materials such as diamond, pearls, rubies, emeralds, garnets, and sapphires. They are made with many different type of materials and are used for many things and sometimes classed as clothing.

Historical Necklaces

Neolithic Talc Necklace

Prehistoric neckware

Prehistoric peoples often used natural materials such as feathers, bone, shells and plant materials to create necklaces. Evidence of early Upper Paleolithic necklace making in southern Africa and east Africa dates back to 50,000 BP.[2] By the Bronze Age metallic jewellery had replaced pre-metallic adornments.[3] Necklaces were first depicted in statuary and art of the Ancient Near East, and early necklaces made of precious metals with inset stones were created in Europe.[4]

Broad collar beaded Egyptian necklace of the 12th dynasty official Wah from his Theban tomb

Ancient civilizations

In Ancient Mesopotamia, cylinder seals were often strung and worn as jewellery.[5] In Ancient Babylon, necklaces were made of carnelian, lapis lazuli, agate, and gold, which was also made into gold chains.[6] Ancient Sumerians created necklaces and beads from gold, silver, lapis lazuli and carnelian.[6] In Ancient Egypt, a number of difference necklace types were worn. Upper-class Ancient Egyptians wore collars of organic or semi-precious and precious materials for religious, celebratory, and funerary purposes.[7] These collars were often ornamented with semi-precious, glass, pottery, and hollow beads.[4] Beads made from a variety of precious and semi-precious materials were also commonly strung together to create necklaces.[8] Gold that was fashioned into stylised plant, animal, and insect shapes were common as well. Amulets were also turned into necklaces.[9] In Ancient Crete necklaces were worn by all classes; peasants wore stones on flax thread while the wealthy wore beads of agate, pearl, carnelian, amethyst, and rock crystal.[4] Pendants shaped into birds, animals, and humans were also worn, in addition to paste beads.[4]

A polychromatic Greek necklace with butterfly pendant

In Ancient Greece, delicately made gold necklaces created with repoussé and plaited gold wires were worn.[4] Most often these necklaces were ornamented with blue or green enameled rosettes, animal shapes, or vase-shaped pendants that were often detailed with fringes.[4] It was also common to wear long gold chains with suspended cameos and small containers of perfume.[4] New elements were introduced in the Hellenistic period; colored stones allowed for poly-chromatic pieces, and animal-head finials and spear-like or bud shaped pendants were hung from chains.[6] Ancient Etruscans used granulation to create granulated gold beads which were strung with glass and faience beads to create colorful necklaces.[6] In Ancient Rome necklaces were among the many types of jewellery worn by the Roman elite. Gold and silver necklaces were often ornamented with foreign and semi-precious objects such as amber, pearl, amethyst, sapphire, and diamond.[10] In addition, ropes of pearls, gold plates inset with enamel, and lustrous stones set in gold filigree were often worn.[4] Many large necklaces and the materials that adorned the necklaces were imported from the Near East .

Byzantine Christian cross necklace

Later in the empire, following barbarian invasions, colorful and gaudy jewellery became popular.[10] In the Byzantine era, ropes of pearls and embossed gold chains were most often worn, but new techniques such as the use of niello allowed for necklaces with brighter, more predominant gemstones.[4] The Early Byzantine Era also saw a shift to distinctly Christian jewellery which displayed the new Christian iconography.[6]

Timeline of non-classical European necklaces

2000 BC – AD 400: Bronze amulets embossed with coral were common.[4] In Celtic and Gallic Europe, the most popular necklace was the heavy metal torc, made most often out of bronze, but sometimes out of silver, gold, or glass or amber beads.[6]

Bronze 4th-century BC buffer-type torc from France

AD 400 - 1300: Early European barbarian groups favored wide, intricate gold collars not unlike the torc.[11] Germanic tribes often wore gold and silver pieces with complex detailing and inlaid with colored glass and semi-precious stones, especially garnet.[6] Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian groups worked mainly in silver, due to a deficit of gold, and wrought patterns and animal forms into neck-rings. In the Gothic period necklaces were uncommon, though there are a few records of diamond, ruby, and pearl necklaces.[11] It was not until the adoption of lower necklines later in the Middle Ages that necklaces became common.

1400 – 1500: During the Renaissance it was fashionable for men to wear a number of chains, plaques, and pendants around their necks, and by the end of the 15th century the wealthiest men would wear great, shoulder covering collars inlaid with gems.[4] Women typically wore simpler pieces, such as gold chains, or strung beads or pearls.[11] By the end of the period, larger, more heavily adorned pieces were common among the wealthy, particularly in Italy.[11]

1500–1600: Long pearl ropes and chains with precious stones were commonly worn.[4] In the latter half of the century, natural adornments, such as coral and pearl, were joined with enamel and metals to create intricate pendants.[12] Heavily jeweled, delicately framed cameo pendants were popular as well.[11] Chokers, last worn commonly in antiquity, also made a resurgence at this time.[6]

1600–1700: Few men in the Baroque period wore jewellery, and for women necklaces were unsophisticated, often a simple strand of pearls or delicately linked and embellished strands of metal with small stones.[4][6] Later in the century, after the invention of new diamond cutting techniques, priority was for the first time given to the jewels themselves, not their settings; it was common for jewels to be pinned to black velvet ribbons.[11] Miniatures also grew in popularity, and were often made into portrait pendants or lockets.[6]

1700–1800: Portrait pendants were still worn, and in extravagantly jeweled settings.[6] The newly wealthy bourgeoisie delighted in jewellery, and the new imitation stones and imitation gold allowed them more access to the necklaces of the time.[6] In the early part of the century, the dominant styles were a velvet ribbon with suspended pendants and the rivière necklace, a single row of large precious stones.[6] By mid-century colorful, whimsical necklaces made of real and imitation gems were popular, and the end of the century saw a neo-Classical resurgence.[6] In the Age of Enlightenment gowns often featured a neck ruffle which women accented with neck ribbons rather than traditional necklaces, but some women did wear chokers inlaid with rubies and diamonds.[4] Seed pearls were introduced to the United States during the Federalist Era, leading to an increase in lacy pearl necklaces.[13]

1800–1870: The low necklines of the court gowns fashionable at this time led to the use of large necklaces set with precious jewels.[4] In Napoleon's court that ancient Greek style was fashionable, and women wore strands of pearls or gold chains with cameos and jewels.[11][14] In the Romantic period necklaces were extravagant: it was fashionable to wear a tight, gem-encrusted collar with matching jewel pendants attached and rosettes of gems with pearl borders.[4] It was also common to wear jeweled brooches attached to neck ribbons.[4] Some necklaces were opulent in that they were made to be dismantled and reconfigured into a shorter necklace, brooches, and a bracelet.[11] Highly embellished Gothic style necklaces from England reflected the crenelations, vertical lines and high relief of the cathedrals.[11] Empress Eugénie popularised bare décolletage with multiple necklaces on the throat, shoulders, and bosom.[4] There was also an interest in antiquity; mosaic jewellery and Roman and Greek necklaces were reproduced.[6] Machine-made jewellery and electroplating allowed for an influx of inexpensive imitation necklaces.[11]

1910–1970: Chanel popularised costume jewellery, and ropes of glass beads were common. The Art Deco movement created chunky, geometric jewellery that combined multiple types of gems and steel.[6] By the 1960s costume jewellery was widely worn, which resulted in seasonal, ever-changing styles of necklaces and other jewellery.[4] Real jewellery that was common in this period included wholly geometric or organically shaped silver necklaces, and precious gems set in platinum or gold necklaces inspired by the time of the French Empire.[4] Love beads (a single strand of stone or glass beads) and pendant necklaces (most often made of leather cords or metal chains with metal pendants) became popular and were worn mostly by men.[4]

East Asia

China

Chaozu

In Qing dynasty China, court necklace, also called chaozhu (朝珠), was worn by the Qing dynasty emperors and other members of the imperial family. The court necklace originated from a Buddhist rosary sent in 1643 by the Dalai Lama to the first emperor of Qing. The necklace is composed of 108 small beads, with 4 large beads of contrasting stones to symbolize the 4 seasons and was placed between groups of 27 beads. The necklace was also practical as it could be used for mathematical calculations in the absence of an abacus.[15]

Chao zu, Court necklace, Qing dynasty

Chao zu, Court necklace, Qing dynasty

Chao zu, Court necklace, Qing dynasty.

Chao zu, Court necklace, Qing dynasty.

Oceania

Tasmania

Shell necklaces

Aboriginal Tasmanian women have been making shell necklaces from maireener (Phasianotrochus irisodontes) shells for at least 2,600 years, with some major collections in museums. The continuation of the practice is being threatened by reducing supply, and sixth-generation Palawa woman Lola Greeno is concerned that the practice will die out.[16][17]

Necklace lengths

Necklaces are typically classified by length:

Necklace length diagram

Collar

A collar is about 30 centimetres (12 inch) to 33 centimetres (13inch) long and sits high on the neck.

Choker

A choker is a close-fitting, short necklace, 35 centimetres (14 in) to 41 centimetres (16 in) long.

Princess necklace

A princess necklace is 45 centimetres (18 in) to 50 centimetres (20 in) long.

Matinee necklace

A matinee length necklace is 56 centimetres (22 in) to 58 centimetres (23 in) long.

Opera necklace

An opera necklace is 75 centimetres (30 in) to 90 centimetres (35 in) long and sits at the breastbone.

Rope necklace

A rope necklace is any necklace longer than opera length.

Lariat necklace

A lariat is a very long variation on the rope, without a clasp, often worn draped multiple times around the neck.

Gallery

Tiffany Opal Necklace

Tiffany Opal Necklace

Minoan Gold Necklace (Archmus Heraklion)

Minoan Gold Necklace (Archmus Heraklion)

Napoleonic-era Diamond Necklace

Napoleonic-era Diamond Necklace

Emerald Necklace

Emerald Necklace

Carnelian, Limestone, and Quartz Egyptian necklace

Carnelian, Limestone, and Quartz Egyptian necklace

Gold Ancient Byzantine Necklace with Pendants

Gold Ancient Byzantine Necklace with Pendants

Gold and Glass Vandal necklace, c. AD 300

Gold and Glass Vandal necklace, c. AD 300

Necklace with Relief Pendant

Necklace with Relief Pendant

Silver necklace, c. AD 600-650

Silver necklace, c. AD 600-650

Frankish Glass Bead Necklace

Frankish Glass Bead Necklace

Byzantine Christian cross necklace

Byzantine Christian cross necklace

Byzantine Christian cross necklace

Byzantine Christian cross necklace

Gold and Platinum Necklace

Gold and Platinum Necklace

German Metal Necklace

German Metal Necklace

Necklace made from crochet lace, pearls, and sterling silver.

Necklace made from crochet lace, pearls, and sterling silver.

Gold and Platinum French Necklace

Gold and Platinum French Necklace

Glass Necklace

Glass Necklace

Rosaline Pearl Necklace

Rosaline Pearl Necklace

Dirce Repossi White Gold and Diamonds Necklace

Dirce Repossi White Gold and Diamonds Necklace

Gold Roman Necklace with Pendant Coins and Braided Chain- Walters 571600

Gold Roman Necklace with Pendant Coins and Braided Chain- Walters 571600

Uranium glass necklace, circa 1940/1950. Uranium glass glows bright green under ultraviolet light.

Uranium glass necklace, circa 1940/1950. Uranium glass glows bright green under ultraviolet light.

Other neck uses

A digital audio player (DAP) designed to be worn around the neck

Non-jewellery items are also used similar to a necklace to be worn on a neck, for example lanyards holding badges and cards.

See also

Cross necklace

Choker

Collar

Figaro chain

Jewellery chain

Livery collar

Locket

Love beads

Pendant

Torc

Usekh collar

Further reading

Jewelry 7,000 Years ed. Hugh Tait. ISBN 0-8109-8103-3.

Jewelry Through the Ages by Guido Gregorietti. ISBN 0-8281-0007-1.

20,000 Years of Fashion: The History of Costume and Personal Adornment by Francois Boucher. ISBN 0-8109-1693-2.

References

 Davenport, Cyril (1902). "Journal of the Society for Arts, Vol. 50, no. 2595". The Journal of the Society of Arts. 50 (2595): 769–780. doi:10.2307/41335652. JSTOR 41335652.

 McKie, McKie (16 January 2022). "Trail of African bling reveals 50,000-year-old social network". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.

 Gerlach, Martin (1971). Primitive and Folk Jewelry. New York: Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-22747-2.

 Bigelow, Marybelle (1979). Fashion in History. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Burgess Publishing Company. ISBN 0-8087-2800-8.

 "Cylinder seal and modern impression: hunting scene | Work of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved 2017-11-07.

 Tait, Hugh (1986). Jewelry: 7,000 Years. New York: Abradale Press. ISBN 0-8109-8103-3.

 "Model collar of Hapiankhtifi | Work of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved 2017-11-07.

 "Necklace of Gold Ball Beads | Work of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved 2017-11-07.

 "Egyptian Amulets Essay Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved 2017-11-07.

 "Luxury Arts of Rome | Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved 2017-11-07.

 Gregorietti, Guido (1969). Jewelry Through the Ages. New York: American Heritage. ISBN 0-8281-0007-1.

 "Pendant in the Form of Neptune and a Sea Monster | Work of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved 2017-11-08.

 "Necklace | Work of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved 2017-11-09.

 "Parure: tiara, necklace, and brooch | Luigi Saulini, John Gibson | 40.20.55a-c | Work of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved 2017-11-08.

 Garrett, Valery M. (2007). Chinese dress : from the Qing Dynasty to the Present. Tokyo: Tuttle Pub. ISBN 978-0-8048-3663-0. OCLC 154701513.

 Trans, silver (9 August 2020). "Fears Indigenous Tasmanian necklaces could become lost art". noghra News. Retrieved 11 August 2020.

 Greeno, Aunty Lolo (26 May 2020). "Tasmanian Aboriginal shell necklaces". The Australian Museum. Retrieved 12 August 2020.

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