Antique 10-strand seed pearl bracelet

[Caitlin]

That lovely bracelet has a look that can be duplicated with tiny cultured freshwater seed pearls.The fw seed pearls are very tough and can be worn casually. It won't matter if you break a thread, cultured freshwater are quite inexpensive.

Maybe you could even find, or design, a clasp with opals.....That would be 99% of the value.

 

[Monty Hall]

GemGeek and Caitlin,

Your suggestions have set me to thinking about this.

My husband has grown fond of the little bracelet. I caught him examining it with the 10x magnifier this evening. He really thinks I should keep it--he's so blown away by the details. And we both think the little snake has so much personality!

Caitlin, where can I buy a bunch of those "tiny cultured freshwater seed pearls" you mentioned? It would be even neater if there were many more strands of whiter pearls--a fat fat bunch of them.

Also, could someone suggest a good source of whiter/pinker pearls, ~3mm? GemGeek, I like your idea of larger, brighter pearl replacements.

Once iridescence gets under your skin, you're a goner!
CarolK

 

[pattye]

CarolK,

Oh, I hope you do keep it! I was thinking you could stack different color pearl bracelets on the sides when you wore it, that would add some color contrast for now. Perhaps when you restring adding small gem quality opal roundels every 5-7 pearls or so would also add color contrast within the strands themselves. If you added enough, it would also extend the pearls you already have and fatten up the strands. I think Hubby is right on this one!

 

[GemGeek]

Think about strands of 4.5mm pearls, which are easier to get in whiter colors and would make a nice multi-strand bracelet. Here is a link to some photos. You can see that a lot of the truly tiny pearls are a creamy color. Those lavender ones are cool...

https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/pearl-fashion-style/2059-john-tus-pearls.html

 

[waimeamomi]

These are great ideas. I guess it depends on whether you love the bracelet part, the clasp or both. You could use the clasp on pearls/pearl opal/other gems whatever combination that suited your coloring, wrist size and life style. The pearls could be any size or color or strand number. You could use the existing pearls in another way - maybe in a necklace, so you could wear them in a safe way. I've take apart so many pieces to use things in other ways. Just depends on where your heart is on the bracelet - plenty of us out here that will help out!

 

[Monty Hall]

Think about strands of 4.5mm pearls, which are easier to get in whiter colors and would make a nice multi-strand bracelet. Here is a link to some photos. You can see that a lot of the truly tiny pearls are a creamy color. Those lavender ones are cool...

https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/pearl-fashion-style/2059-john-tus-pearls.html

*Many, many thanks,* everyone, for the ideas and encouragement!!!

Actually, I read GemGeek's "John Tu" link earlier today, and just sat at my computer with my jaw hanging down. ***TILT*** After that, I had to go outside and do some weeding to clear my brain. There are far, far more possibilities with pearls than I had ever imagined.

There is a way of harnessing the thread ends of many strands of pearls together into a cord which then looks as though it's wrapped in fine fine gold thread. I need to find a pitcher of what I'm talking about.

I wonder how hard that would be to learn how to make? (Said Wernher Von Braun as he looked up in the sky) Is this the novice envisioning more than they could chew?

I also like the opal roundel idea--any suggestions on where I might be able to find a selection of opal roundels? Googling for opals did not, unfortunately, turn up an "Opal-Guide.com".

Thank you again, everyone!!!
CarolK

 

[Monty Hall]

The right side of the photograph has an example of the type of stringing I would like to learn how to do. See how several strands of tiny pearls are nicely bound together with what looks like fine, metallic thread?

Can anyone explain how this is done?
What equipment do I need to do this?

Thanks!
CarolK

 

[jerin]

It looks to me as the usual "gimp" or French buillion has been used here. As how to get it there: after you have all the pearls on every thread you probably would have to connect the threads together so you get just one and on that you tread the gimp (take the heavy one, as it has the largest diameter) over the needle and down to you combined thread ends, the ring or claspend follows and then you go back through the last pearl so that the gimp forms a loop. Make a knot, glue it or zap it with a thread zapper.

Another type of ending when using more strands would be a cone. That also makes the bracelet look very finished so to speak. As how to do it, I hope someone with more experience can tell us in the "Lowly Beaders?Club".

 

[Caitlin]

That bracelet looks like all the threads go through the gimp. Could you put up a photo of the end of the bracelet?

You could study the method used in your strand. I see some white wrapping after the gimp, so another photo or two may teach us what was done

Maybe someone found some real gold gimp, or at least gold-filled. Mostly we are stuck with using gold plate. We had this discussion before, but I can't remember the thread. Someone else might remember if gold or gold filled gimp is available.

Cones. They need to be the right size and in gold for that bracelet. I'v'e never seen that yet, though someone else may have.
Equipment:
Please read the threads about that, but you'll need needles,
Select the thinnest needles you can find
Gimp
2 gold beads
thread
A thread zapper to melt ends or glue.
A thread cutter.

Several people on this forum have techniques for stringing multi-stranders.