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Caitlin, I wonder why no one seams to talk about the Japanese two strand method. I have had good luck with this method. Knots allways fall in correct. What do your think of the Japanese two strand method. Lloyd

i Have some bead nuked lavenders that look great. They have some blemish in close up examination, but were not expensive. We sell them in our etsy and ebay shops. I cut one in half with a dremel cut off wheel and found that the nacre is quite thick. I separated the nacre from the bead and...

Thanks everyone, This has been very helpful lloyd

Thanks, I know the difference between akoya, and South Sea. i meant to put a comma between the two. So what about pink in Akoya, or South Sea?

What I think I know is that most if not all pink freshwater pearls are dyed or tinted. How about Akoya south sea are any of those natural plink? A lot of internet sellers seem to think they are colored naturally to pink by the mollusk. Thanks for any info on this. I want to tell the truth on...

Sea Urchin, I like to answer any questions I can for folks. The people on this forum have more knowledge, and experience with pearls than I do Incidentally did you know that Barbara Bush's ( US Presidents Bush 41's wife) big pearls that she wore were fakes. It was not a secret. She readily...

Daddies Little pearls asked for some photos about immitations we use at craft shows, and on the internet. The four photos include the stripped shell pearl showing banding. The outside shell which is likely resin or epoxt has been completely removed. Could this have become a south sea if...

yes, I will photo those and the stripped shell pearl to show the inside of a shell pearls within the next two days. Lloyd

We offer two tpes of immitation pearls on our ebay, Zibbet sites, and handmade craft show sites. Shell pearls and swarovskie. In my opinion shell perls are better than swarovskie in the white colors. Swarovskie is better for a wide variety of colors, many of which a self respecting pearl...

Well thanks for everyone's input. My stainless steel idea didn't work out. They came in inexpensive like 144 ear nuts for about $7. Stainless steel had tipical stainless coloring of very slightly greyish. Not a problem in a stud ear post since it is not seen. However, where the bend was...

Great tutorial, I use very similar technique, but leave out the tweezers. This is called the Japanese method by some. You can also as a option (works expecially for placing mulitcolors) put all your beads on one strand before doing the starting bail. Using a bead keeper of some sort to keep...

Thanks everyone for your help. I will try the stainless steel, It is of course hypo - alergenic for sensitive skin, and nickle free. White gold plating is a misnomer slightly, and means rhodium plated. Rhodium is is the plattinum metals group, and is bright and shinney. Rhodium plated is...

I have been using sterling. I figure with earrings it would allow customers to not have to clean tarnish from the sterling. It will also lower customer costs.

I plan to do some stud earrings using stainless steel cup post findings. Stainless is good for sensitive skin. and tarnish free. Sounds great, but I'd welcome some notes from the forum on whether this is a good idea? Any recommendations of best type of ear nuts (bullet type, tension type...

You might try fusion beads. They are good if you just need a few of an item. You can order swarovskie by one bead at a time as an example. Their link is: http://www.fusionbeads.com/ Lloyd Gemologist GIA Certified. http://www.zibbet.com/LloydsJewelry

A quick note. Most pearls including (I'm not sure this is true of Mikimoto) Japanese brands are actually cultured in China. The Japanese are great at color, and luster matching after getting them from China.

doubling power pro doubling power pro I don't like to ream pearls. What a pain that can be. I double 50# only when hole size means I need to. Sometimes doubled 30 # is just right. I just did an undoubled 30# on some 3mm freshwaters. My opinion is that with the great strength of power...

Thanks to Everyone Thanks to Everyone I have decided to go with no gimp and direct stringing based on the helpful comments here. The strength of power pro is just unbelieveable. I use 50# test doubled with larger hole 7 to 10mm pearls. Ii don't think beakage will be a problem at all. Lloyd

Thanks Thanks Thanks for the comments. I was considering french wire as optional. I use with 30# or 50#, doubled when extra thickness is required, and the Japanese method (2strings). We restring our pearl necklaces from the temporary strungs we get at wholesale. Lloyd

I now mostly use power pro to string pearls for craft markets. Anyone have comments on the advantages of french wire vs direct stringing, and or vs my previous favorite - wire guardians? Any experience or thoughts on this greatly appreciated. Lloyd Gemologia GIA certifed