Vintage Mother-of-Pearl Bead Necklace with Gold-Tone Clasp

This item is a vintage necklace, approximately 27 and three-quarter inches in length and weighing 91.89 grams. It features a single strand of what appear to be lustrous irregular button-shaped mother-of-pearl beads. Each bead is approximately 9 to 10 mm in size and exhibits natural variations in shape, surface texture, and iridescence, showcasing a creamy white to slightly off-white color palette with subtle overtone hues of pinkish-purple and green when light reflects. The beads are individually hand-knotted on a white string, likely silk or nylon, suggesting a measure taken to prevent all beads from scattering if the strand were to break, and also protecting the individual beads from rubbing against each other. The necklace is secured by a box clasp mechanism, which appears to be constructed from a gold-tone base metal. One side of the clasp is a simple rectangular box with a push-tab, and the other side ingeniously incorporates a larger, circular mother-of-pearl cabochon, set within a finely detailed gold-tone bezel with a pronounced rope or twisted wire decorative edge. This decorative clasp serves as both a functional closure and an additional ornamental element, hinting at a mid-20th-century aesthetic. The overall condition appears good, with a natural patina on the metal clasp consistent with age; minor wear might be present on the beads but is not readily discernible from the image. The natural variations in the mother-of-pearl indicate genuine shell material rather than imitation pearls. The craftsmanship of the knotting and the decorative clasp suggest a piece of reasonable quality from its period.