Mathilde Loisel wants to be part of high society but cannot afford to due to her status. She borrows a necklace from her friend to wear to a party. However, she loses the necklace and must work for 10 years with her husband to replace it. They eventually pay off the debt, but Mathilde has aged greatly from the stress. It is then revealed the original necklace was only worth 500 francs, not the 36,000 francs they paid to replace it.