Eleanor of Toledo collar

Relive the glamour of the Renaissance with the Eleanor of Toledo! A few months ago, a friend sent me this picture of Eleanor of Toledo, the 16th century Duchess of Florence, and asked me if I could recreate the collar she's wearing. It's a detachable piece called a partlet, which Renaissance women used to fill in the low square necks of their gowns. Rich women would have many, and hers in this portrait is embroidered or netted with pearls. 
Hers is either net over gauze, or embroidered on fabric, and mine is chainmail done in a netted pattern.  I really wanted to figure out how to do the netted pearl centres, in a piece that clearly has Renaissance inspiration but is a slightly different shape and wearable in two or three different ways. And I love it. It's luscious, isn't it? Mine is made in gold-plated steel with freshwater pearl centres, and closes with a lobster clasp.  The collar measures 18in around with 4 in of extension chain, and closes with a lobster clasp. 
Photo of Eleanor of Toledo courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC.