The present necklace originally belonged to Mrs. Katherine de Young, wife of Michael Henry de Young, a journalist and business leader in nineteenth century San Francisco. Mr. de Young was responsible for two icons of San Francisco culture, the San Francisco Chronicle and the de Young Museum. In 1865, along with his brothers, Mr. de Young established the newspaper and it is still in circulation today.

In 1893, following the Chicago World's fair, de Young campaigned to bring the fair to San Francisco. His efforts led to the California Midwinter International Exposition, resulting in the construction of the Fine Arts Building, which later became, after his passing, the de Young Museum. Today, the museum is an integral part of San Francisco and a popular attraction for millions of residents and visitors.