18k yellow gold "Marseillais" necklace featuring a row of gold and dangling pearls strung on a palm link chain, spring clasp secured with a chain. Diameter of pearls: 2.5 to 5.8 mm Length: 36.5 cm Weight : 10 g Note: the "Marseille" necklace is a tradition that dates back to the 18th century. It's a piece of jewelry attributed to the partisanes, market women who specialized in wholesale to retail (e.g. fish), and who were direct competitors to the auctions. Gradually, they invested their savings in gold pearls, first mounted on a wire and then on a gold mesh, which they eventually wore as necklaces. This tradition was later taken up by the Marseilles bourgeoisie. For every birthday, Christmas or communion, young girls were given gold pearls, which, as they came of age, formed the same necklace worn by the partisans of yesteryear.