Merrin's necklace was a necklace made for Merrin, a Dathomirian Nightsister of Mother Talzin's clan, by the girl she loved, Ilyana. Merrin compared its appearance to a predator's bared teeth when it had its prey cornered. The necklace consisted of heavy gold "teeth" that were strung on a beaded chain and hung in a crescent shape against her clavicles. Its centerpiece was a triangular tooth overlapping three kite-shaped teeth, followed on either side by one small and one medium triangle. The metal was capable of deflecting a blaster bolt but became hot when struck.
The two Nightsisters resided on their homeworld of Dathomir. Some time after Ilyana received an injury, she had a difficult convalescence while Merrin cared for her. Despite still being weak and shaky at times, Ilyana had crafted the necklace as a silent expression of gratitude while Merrin watched, then pressed it into her hands with a kiss. Ilyana told Merrin to always keep it with her to remember the other girl.
The Nightsisters lived through part of the Clone Wars, which began in 22 BBY, but in 20 BBY, Ilyana was killed when General Grievous and his droid army massacred the Nightsisters on the orders of Separatist leader Count Dooku. Although Merrin lived, she was forced to bury Ilyana and eventually left Dathomir to join the crew of the Stinger Mantis. The Nightsister survivor wore her necklace every day; it was a reminder to Merrin of how trust and love could hurt and painfully end. Sometime between 12 and 12 BBY, its teeth still retained their sharpness and their weight hitting her chest sometimes triggered intrusive memories of her first kiss. During the Stinger Mantis crew's mission outside Murkhana City, the necklace protected Merrin when a Purge Trooper commander aimed a blaster bolt at her chest.