Pair of Regency Period Coral Necklaces with Conjoining Gold Clasps

It is amazing that these two coral necklaces have stayed together for almost 200 years. It is also totally amazing how fine they are, as the coral beads are only about 1.25mm in diameter.

These would've originally been threaded on horse hair, but how on earth did they drill them?

One is 20in long, the other is 18in and the clasps are 18ct gold, sized about 18 x 12mm. The little carved coral rosette inserts on the clasps are a lovely feature, and the gold work is fabulous - look how the gold balls graduate in size on each side of the clasp. At the time these were made, (circa 1830 I think) the clasps would've been all hand fabricated.

They make a wonderfully versatile set, as the two clasps are identical, meaning they can clip into each other to make one long necklace, or they can be worn as two bracelets, or worn as shown in the last pic: Portrait of a lady wearing coral jewellery, by Louis Édouard Rioult (1790 - 1855).