Excellent to keep this up to date!
Caitlin
How to hand-knot pearls without a tool
My avatar is a Sea of Cortez mabe pearl. One of a pair of Mexican handmade earrings.
Why are south sea / tahitian pearls more?
I think it's easy to learn. Start with Henriettas pearl stringing book. (or something like that)
I checked with 2 jewelers by me and one was 1.50 and and the other was a 1.75 An inch (I am in long Island, NY).
Do you know if they cleaned the pearls as part of the fee? Or am I being really ignorant to even ask that question? I'll apologize ahead of time, ok?
Sigh - I have bought a two-strand Mikimoto necklace recently, unbelievable nacre and freshly restrung ... strangely, though, they rest oddly when worn as though there's a pearl missing from the longer strand, they kind of clash with each other. I purchased them from a reputable dealer, so I'm surprised. Has anyone else struck such a problem? I doubt whether a restringer would have pinched or left off a pearl, so it must be quite an art to get them right. I'm having to investigate whether I can have the longer strand "eased" a little so the shorter one will sit above it properly (realy don't want to pay for a full restringing, or have to lose a pearl from the shorter strand ... ). Having paid full market price for the pearls, I'm a little disappointed!
Why is a Mercedes more expensive to repair than a Daewoo? :-) [or why does my main parachute cost 5 dollars to pack - but the emergency parachute 100 dollars] (That was a hubby comment)
Theres a number of factors - not the least being the "risk" - a problem on a cheap strand is easily and cheaply overcome - on a strand of high end tahitians - not so easily (or cheaply) - Time factors - the better the strand the more time is often consumed in making sure everything is precisely right. Materials - a common strand of pearls may not warrent using expensive thread\gimp - but of course on the better strands you match the better material to the job.
And lastly - Mystery clasps - any strand with those attracts a premium - as time and complexity is far greater then a standard simple clasp.
Mary, It could be that the pearl threader had a grip like a monkey and they are too tight, tension can play a big part when threading.
The threader has to make sure it is balanced before finishing off.
I reckon your pearls will have to be rethreaded.
Hi Mary,
Did the 2 strands nest nicely before you had them restrung? If so and if done by the same stringer, I would certainly count the stones. (if graduated is there an obvious center pearl missing or a gap in the graduation?) Or it could be as Bernadette said, the stringer developed a monkey grip on the longer strand. If that was the case, holding either end of the necklace (by the last few pearls, no the clasp) and giving a few tugs should help it to relax. Good luck!
My Eli says: "Skydivers - sport jumpers - pack their own, nobody else wants the jumper's mess on their conscience. But Israeli paratroops (the soldiers) have their chutes packed by professionals - the lady packers at jump school. When you jump with a weapon and 30 kilo of equipment, you only want the very best. You can bet your life on the work they do. I did."
Nora
Orrrr.....If they were strung on silk, soak the longer strand and gently stretch it bead by bead, when wet. If it won't stretch enough, you will have to get it restrung. And, Bernadette is right there in Australia!Mary, It could be that the pearl threader had a grip like a monkey and they are too tight, tension can play a big part when threading.
The threader has to make sure it is balanced before finishing off.
I reckon your pearls will have to be rethreaded.
Caitlin
How to hand-knot pearls without a tool
My avatar is a Sea of Cortez mabe pearl. One of a pair of Mexican handmade earrings.