This 18 carat gold (unmarked but tested) memorial locket is so beautiful and so poignant, it just touches the heart. Under the locket's curved glass bezel is a lovely , dark brown, figure 8 shaped lock of hair. There is a piece of paper inside resting under the hair, and I am told this is a note from the deceased mother. This young woman was only 18 when she died. The back of the locket is beautifully inscribed , in French, as follows: "Cecile Augustine Malassis nee a Paris le 28th Mai 1833 more a Fontenay le 27th Novembre 1851. So beautiful and so sad. Note: The gold on the back is perfectly smooth. Please excuse the tree branch that is showing up in the gold!