How is bead restringing different from pearl restringing?
I can restring your beaded necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and even watch bands for you. Bead restringing is very similar to pearl restringing, but there are some differences.
Beading cord color
First, I will use colored beading cord with many bead restringing jobs, whereas I most often use white, black, and occasionally brown with pearls. When restringing colored beads, I will do my best to match the beading cord to your bead color so that your eye is drawn to your beautiful beads, not a contrasting colored beading cord.
Beading cord type
Second, I use more of a variety of cord types to string the beads. Many beaded strands can be quite heavy and/or contain metal beads, both of which are very hard on a silk or nylon cord. In this case, I use a nylon-coated stainless steel wire designed for bead stringing. It is strong yet flexible, making it the perfect choice. Another material that I use often is an elastic cord. It is perfect for the stretchy beaded bracelets that I frequently repair.
Bead tips
Third, I will use bead tips with bead restringing much more frequently than with pearl restringing. Often when stringing beaded jewelry, the beads have quite large drill holes that require a larger diameter stringing material. Using a bead tip at each end is many times the best way to accommodate the larger cord while still making your jewelry look great.
To knot or not to knot
Lastly, it is more common to see bead strands strung unknotted as opposed to knotted. As previously mentioned, beads often have large drill holes that require the knots in between each one to be very large – too large to be aesthetically pleasing. When this is the case, I will restring the strand unknotted to optimize the beauty of your jewelry.