Monster fireballs

cyndayco

cyndayco

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Philippines
During an evening stroll through the local pearl market, I saw these strands of Mrs. Flintstone fireballs--which in my mind are more nuggets than conventional comets. With the vendor looking to make a cerrado mano (last sale of the night, a sign of more good things to come), she let me have these huge white-gray pearls for $60.

The smallest measures 17x27mm and the largest is 20x38mm; the strand is 17.5 inches long. There are flashes of pink, green, purple and silver, and the luster goes from good to mirror-like.

The only thing that bothers me is the haphazard stringing; it's single-knotted so the knots slip through the holes. Should I bother to have them double-knotted in a graduated fashion, or leave them random for a more organic look?


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Oh, wow! Those are huge and pretty! I'd recommend using heavier stringing cord so the knots will be slightly larger and stay between the pearls. Sometimes the drill hole doesn't come out right at the end of the pearl, causing the pearls to overlap a little and not sit nicely on the neck.

You might also consider putting a very small pearl or bead in between. Adding a little extra length might be something you'd like, or not, it looks like a good length for you. If you did this (add beads or pearls), there might be an extra pearl to make a cool pendant!

I feel the first and most important reason for knotting between pearls is to make the necklace flexible and drape nicely. Sometimes larger knots will suffice.

This random arrangement seems casual, graduated may seem a bit more elegant!



An excellent purchase! You will turn heads when you wear this necklace!
 
Pattye, the idea of adding small pearls is great. I can repurpose my "young woman's pearls" and have a piece made that's something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue...ish.
 
I took Pattye's advice and had the necklace restrung with dyed freshwater pearls that someone had given me as a gift. (They were lovely but much too small for my frame and age.) Amazing what a few added pearls will do. The small pearls do make the fireballs lay down more neatly, and the fireballs really make the purple overtones of the small ones pop.

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That's a great deal on those pearls.. I'm down to my last 12 'monster flameballs' .. need to gather up another couple of strands..but I don't think I'll get a price as good as you did ! lol
Your necklace turned out great..those big ones just don't seem to sit right on their own..the little pearl spacers was a good idea :)
 
They are gorgeous pearls, and a lovely necklace - the small ones really do set the bigger ones off, a great re-style.
 
Here you go, Elizabeth. I find that the necklace works better with soft casual blouses. I wore it to the office once, and people asked me if I just came back from the beach.

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Yes! I get the beachy/boho connection. I'm amazed at the amount of added length the FW spacers give it. I'm also envisioning it on a back high-neck top. But then, I imagine most any necklace on a black high-neck top.

Elizabeth
 
You got a great deal on those fireballs! If I had a local pearl market I would be in BIG trouble! I love what you did with them - very creative and fun to wear.
 
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