Cultured Pearl and Sapphire Cluster Clasp Necklace, 14K Gold, Circa 1970s

Forty-eight cream-colored cultured pearls run the length of this necklace in a single, even strand, each one matched closely enough in size and luster that the strand reads as continuous rather than pieced together. The clasp breaks from convention: instead of disappearing at the back of the neck, it's built as a small cluster of graduated pearls massed together like a cluster of grapes, accented with sculpted gold leaves and four tiny sapphires tucked into the design.

Worn to the side or front, the clasp functions as the necklace's focal point rather than its hardware. Cluster clasps designed to double as a decorative element, rather than hide at the nape, were a popular 1970s solution for dressing up an otherwise classic pearl strand without adding a separate pendant.

The necklace presents in excellent condition, with consistent luster across all pearls and no visible chips, peeling, or looseness in the clasp. Stamped "14K," it measures 18 inches long and weighs 35.46 grams total.