RE-STRINGING PEARLS: 5 Tell-Tale Signs Your Pearls Need Re-Stringing

PEARL KNOTTING VIDEO TUTORIAL
https://so-you-want-to-be-a-jewelry-designer.teachable.com/p/pearl-knotting-warren-s-way

PEARL KNOTTING EBOOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09S7S197H

PEARL KNOTTING PRINT SOFT COVER BOOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SBNJTFN

Know When To Restring Your Pearls

Know when to restring your pearls.

There are 5 tell-tale signs:

DIRT

CHIPPING

STRETCH

DETERIORATION

CLASP FAILURE

DIRT. Re-string if the knots between your pearls are looking soiled or discolored. Silk, in particular, absorbs body oils and grime. Pearls are porous. They can absorb dirt and become permanently discolored. Sometimes, if there are no knots between beads, your pearls might adversely be affected by the beads next to them. For example, gold beads can blacken pearls, at the point they come in contact.

CHIPPING. Re-string if your pearls become chipped, scratched or broken. Pearls are soft and can easily scratch, chip and break. Some of your pearls may need to be replaced, before re-stringing. Once the nacre starts to chip, especially at or near the hole, it will set off a chain reaction and start chipping all over the pearl. Be sure to string your natural pearls on silk cord. Nylon cord will cut into the pearl at the hole.

STRETCH. Re-string if your pearls are moving around too freely between the knots. Silk stretches over time. Cord which shows, thus is uncovered, increases the chances it will break. Your necklace also may get longer over time, and that extra length may no longer meet your fashion needs. The hole of a pearl is very sharp. If the pearl moves back and forth between knots because of slack, or rotates too freely around the cord because there is not enough thickness of cord within the hole, the sharp holes will shred the cord, especially if it is silk.

DETERIORATION. Re-string if your stringing material breaks. Silk cord naturally deteriorates in 3–5 years. It breaks easily, and…