Sweet Father-in-law bought my mother-in-law her an akoya necklace as a first anniversary gift...She took them to a jeweler for restringing in Alaska in the 90's...he told her to forget it. Wasn't worth restringing...broke her heart..she just put them away... Somehow I never mentioned I restring peals and have for years....I just have better string (thanks Pattye!) and I am better & faster now. All these years later she wants an easier clasp. I am thinking one touch kind? (They might be 5mm pearls) Would magnetic be better? I worry the magnetic would slide to the front among other issues. Thoughts?
Restringing Mother-In-Laws, Best clasps for elderly...
- Thread starter A Breaker
- Start date
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
Bean-type clasps are easy to use. I strung one of my husband's Tahitians with one of those. They are one-touch.
That is the type I was thinking of.
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
Do you think she has the dexterity to operate it?
Is this the same clasp as the "pinch" clasp? I think it is one of the easiest ones to use. Being able to restring pearls and beads for family and friends is a lovely gift, A Breaker! It's my pleasure to make "better string" available for pearl enthusiasts and designers.
I am not exactly sure what a pinch clasp is. She hates the fiddly traditional fish hook clasps & even the "one touch" bean with a tiny poke in pin.
I am so happy to do this for her... It has been years since she wore it...somehow we never talked about my restringing skills??? But I stopped when I had babies...now those babies tower over me!
I am so happy to do this for her... It has been years since she wore it...somehow we never talked about my restringing skills??? But I stopped when I had babies...now those babies tower over me!
Oops, "one touch" bean = pinch clasp. Maybe the best option would be to add additional contrasting pearls, or gems, like birthstones of family members or her birthstone and make it long enough for her to slip over her head (no clasp).
I'm still looking for that "perfect" clasp, too!
I'm still looking for that "perfect" clasp, too!
I am thinking the long hook similar to BWeaves. Matching her 15" is going to be hard! But she wants it like she remembers it...but longer. & easy catch..the hook is almost 1" long...so less pearls of the right color & size. If I have the right color but not the right size...I am hoping I can do a little graduated thing... 1.5" on each side of the hook or even 1" on each side. She is super sweet...but only remembers what she decides....but she will tell me if it isn't right...so I might do a temporary string & get her approval before final.
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
Could she manage a toggle clasp?
I have landed on the big hook or toggle.... I love a toggle, but they do seem to be out of style & they are so different from the typical pearl clasp...I don't know if she would even consider it...we will see. But the big hook is 25mm which adds an 1" so less pearls to match too!
