The typical lanyard is a length of basic rope, wire, or cloth that is designed to secure a small object. They are often purchased in large quantities and are fairly inexpensive. Many employees wear lanyards around their neck to secure identification badges while on the job.

Beaded lanyards can be as basic as an inexpensive metallic, beaded chain. They can be ordered through most typical lanyard suppliers and feature a variety of hardware attachments to secure small objects. These lanyards are often in several different lengths and an array of colors.

Other beaded lanyards are quite unique and are referred to by some as jewelry. They are designed by skilled artisans and can be extremely expensive depending upon the type of materials used. The cost of a beaded lanyard depends on the type of beads and wire used in its design. Beaded lanyard patterns may consist of colorful patterns of seed beads, glass beads, crystals, or even gemstones.

The most popular beaded lanyards are used to secure eyeglasses or sunglasses around the neck. They attach to the temples of the glasses, allowing them to hang around the neck when not in use. These exquisite neck lanyards are often referred to as eyeglass necklaces or eyeglass holders. They are a fashionable way to keep track of an item that can be easily misplaced or damaged. Beaded lanyards allow the wearer the freedom to easily put on and remove glasses frequently throughout the day.

Many bead artisans also offer jewelry pieces to coordinate with beaded lanyards. The beaded lanyard patterns are often duplicated in a bracelet, anklet, or pair of earrings.

One drawback of the beaded lanyard is that they are often fragile. They may look elegant but also may not have the durability of a nylon or cotton lanyard when worn frequently.