This is an authentic vintage saltwater pearls necklace! pearls are RARE GOLDEN shade and are BIG- approx 9-10mm- please see photos! they are near round to drop shape. they have a high luster! it looks like in original condition and never been restrung/repaired! it is in great condition and shows little wear due to age - a couple of pearls show age to nacre near the hole, but overall in great condition! the necklace is approx 24.5" long. clasp is huge- please see photos! made of solid 14k yellow gold! works well! Looks like Art Nouveau (possibly could be, cultivation of pearls started after approx 1920ss), so these are cultured Saltwater South Sea pearls. Natural coloured golden pearls are usually found in South Sea pearls (pinctada maxima) and sometimes Akoya pearls (pinctada fucata) can have a medium yellow color. the necklace is in ready to wear or for a gift condition! comes in a jewelry case! If you want a real untreated pearls - consider buying an antique/vintage item. if buying a new item it could be bleached, dyed or irradiated or light heating! also more possibility that you will get a very thin nacre. smoke free environment! fast free USA shipping in jewelry case! please look at my other items! thank you! some important information about Modern (recent) GOLDEN pearls PRODUCTION !: It is believed that heat treatment on pearls has been going on for some time. The Chinese have pioneered this method, and are responsible for producing some beautiful golden coloured pearls. Golden pearls are usually a result of natural colour in pearls or by dyeing. Natural coloured golden pearls are usually found in South Sea pearls (pinctada maxima) and sometimes Akoya pearls (pinctada fucata) can have a medium yellow colour. Heat treatment is done by placing the pearls for a few days in heating cabinets at a temperature of up to 80C. ? Akoya pearls without treatment are often light yellow in colour. This is not a popular colour thus they are bleached or dyed golden yellow. Heat treatment is done to improve the lustre of pearls which is usually done after cold treatment/bleaching (cold treatment means soaking the pearls in bottles of hydrogen peroxide solution under intense light of about 33C-40C). Pearls that do not undergo cold treatment before bleaching are usually soaked in distilled water to avoid drying out the pearls during heat treatment. Heat treatment in Akoya pearls can make the nacre brittle and thus prone to peeling.