Stringing large pearls with wire?

[Shani]

Hi everyone! I recently bought some purple chonker pearls (between 11 - 14mm) and the strand is aprox 16-17 inches. I would like to keep it that length and would rather not remove pearls if possible. Would wire work with this? Have any of you done this?

Or am I better off using serafil to create a knot to protect the pearls from chafing each other and remove a couple?

Otherwise what would you recommend (if wiring) to use as a gentle buffer between the beads? Or just don't use anything?

Advice is much appreciated! Thank you!

 

[jeg]

There are small rubber or silicone buffers but I think anything you use will add to the length just like knotting. I have used serafil on a few strands and not added knots. I’m not overly concerned about rubbing, but if you have any concern about the wear on your pearls, I would personally choose string over wire. Or remove a few pearls to get the length you want and use them for earrings.

 

[Shani]

There are small rubber or silicone buffers but I think anything you use will add to the length just like knotting. I have used serafil on a few strands and not added knots. I’m not overly concerned about rubbing, but if you have any concern about the wear on your pearls, I would personally choose string over wire. Or remove a few pearls to get the length you want and use them for earrings.

Yeah I kind of figured it would be something like what you just said. Anything other than just plain wiring will add to the length.

Have you ever serafil strung larger pearls without knotting? What was your feeling on that strand? Did you like it or did you regret the look and knot them anyways? What made you go with just stringing vice adding knots for those strands?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I have an 11mm-14mm mixed strand that I strung on wire with silicone bumpers. The holes were irregular in size and I needed to use bumpers instead of knots. I don't find that these tiny bumpers add much length. About the same as a small knot. I used screw type crimps beads. See firemountaingems.

Edited to add: The larger the pearls, the fewer pearls for any length of necklace. You would not need so many bumpers. But you would need to have some sort of crimp beads,

 

[BWeaves]

Have you seen how they store pearls in giant plastic bags and buckets all rubbing up against each other? I wouldn't worry about a strung strand having the pearls up against each other.

The Japanese string their pearls without knots. They prefer the look of no knots, although there may be a couple of knots near the clasp. I've strung without knots when I wanted the look.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

The knots/bumpers add a bit of flexibility, though this is less important with a short strand.

 

[Shani]

I have an 11mm-14mm mixed strand that I strung on wire with silicone bumpers. The holes were irregular in size and I needed to use bumpers instead of knots. I don't find that these tiny bumpers add much length. About the same as a small knot. I used screw type crimps beads. See firemountaingems.

Edited to add: The larger the pearls, the fewer pearls for any length of necklace. You would not need so many bumpers. But you would need to have some sort of crimp beads,


View attachment 475839

Day did you mean by... The larger the pearls, the fewer pearls for any length of necklace"?

 

[Shani]

Have you seen how they store pearls in giant plastic bags and buckets all rubbing up against each other? I wouldn't worry about a strung strand having the pearls up against each other.

The Japanese string their pearls without knots. They prefer the look of no knots, although there may be a couple of knots near the clasp. I've strung without knots when I wanted the look.

Thanks Berna!

 

[BWeaves]

Day did you mean by... The larger the pearls, the fewer pearls for any length of necklace"?

The larger the pearls, the fewer the pearls and also the fewer the knots.

Example. Let's say a 16" strand of 6 mm pearls vs. a 16" strand of 12 mm pearls. I'm totally making up these numbers, but lets say there are 50 pearls in the 6 mm strand and 25 pearls in the 12 mm strand. There are fewer larger pearls for the same length strand. You'll have 49 knots in the 6 mm strand and 24 knots in the 12 mm strand. Knots add length, so the 6 mm strand will come out longer by maybe 1/2 inch than the 12 mm strand. Plus the bigger pearls will sit farther away from your neck, and the smaller pearls will lay closer to your neck, so the bigger pearls will appear to be an even shorter strand because their center holes and the thread going through those holes will be farther away from your neck, a larger circumference.

 

[pattye]

Excellent discussion! It really is a personal choice. Although I haven't tried bumpers, they do come in black, white, gold, silver and clear, offering color options and flexibility just as knotting does. Imo, flexibility is the most important reason for knotting between each pearl.

 

[A Breaker]

Shani...pop a photo in...many people here can tell if the string is getting old...that has been my concern. It is horrible to have the necklace break & lose or ruin pearls with a fall. I do have a couple of wired pearl necklaces... I like the plastic wrapped wire...Soft Flex...hangs well. But I also have huge pearls on very thick thread.

 

[Shani]

Shani...pop a photo in...many people here can tell if the string is getting old...that has been my concern. It is horrible to have the necklace break & lose or ruin pearls with a fall. I do have a couple of wired pearl necklaces... I like the plastic wrapped wire...Soft Flex...hangs well. But I also have huge pearls on very thick thread.

Ahh sorry, they were just strung on a "sales" strand. I ended up stringing them with Patye's Serafil in Violet, I had to double the string, but they suit them to a T. I put the image in the "show us your pearls in action" forum!

 

[pattye]

Shani, your Wilma Flintstone Purples are gorgeous and I'm very glad the Violet thread worked out!