An exceptional late 18th century bracelet with strands of seed pearls threaded to a beautiful and curious clasp. The oblong gold clasp features opaline glass with a gold and enamel decoration inscribed "Fait le Prix". Fait le prix translates from French as "made the price" but this makes no sense on a gold and pearl bracelet from the 18th century. Or does it? What inside joke, line of poetry, or riddle could inspire this? There's a Jean de la Fontaine quote that goes “La rareté du fait donne du prix à la chose.” It means something like “the rarity dictates the price of the thing” which is probably the inspiration for this clever bracelet. "Fait le prix" is a playful clue or prompt whose answer is "rareté" or "rarity".