The lariat style necklace of gold links, terminating at either end with a sterling silver chili pepper

METAL: 18k yellow gold and sterling silver
SIGNATURE: Grès, Cartier, marker's mark for Cartier
MARKS: French gaurantee stamp for gold and silver, French assay mark for gold, 925, 158639
SIZE/DIMENSIONS: each chili pepper measurs 7.5 cm length, 0.8 cm at widest point; 90.0 cm length of chains
GROSS WEIGHT: 70.1 grams

The ever mysterious Madame Grès (1903-1993), discreetly reigned for 50 years as one fo the great French fashion designers. She began her career by making toiles for large Parisian fashion houses and opened her first small shop in 1937, where she created dresses through the 1970s. A true fashion pioneer with a keen eye for detail and perfection, Madame Grès was known for her mastery of drapery and incorporating wrapped fabric into her gowns. In 1979, a Grès-Cartier jewellery collection was created, and this necklace is a rare example of the collaboration.