Mikimoto loose pearls to be restrung ... But i'm in africa !!!

[winkerclan]

Hi, I inherited my grandmother's Mikimoto pearl necklace - double strand, graduated from 5mm to about 8-8.5mm.

From research on this forum, I think the pearls date back to either 1940's or 1950's. When I got them in 1986, the strings and the holes of the pearls were very stained (clearly from perfume, tobacco, etc). At the time, I took them to a Pearl specialist here to see if they could be restrung, and the store did not want to risk touching them, saying that they were too valuable (?). They advised me to clean the pearls myself with nothing but steam and a soft cloth. So after hours of burnt fingers, I managed to clean the pearls beautifully and I removed the discolored, knotted string. The Pearl specialist then closed down, and I've had these loose pearls with the Mikimoto clasp locked in my safe all these years.

Now it's my daughter's wedding at the end of the year and I want to give her the restrung pearls as her "something old" gift, which I know will be very special to her. But I cannot find anyone in South Africa who I can trust to restring the pearls without swopping them out, and there are no Mikimoto dealers here. Would you suggest I send it directly to Mikimoto in Japan or even UK? (I have to also consider the exchange rate - at the moment our currency is 24 to one UK pound (yikes). I would also like an appraisal as I never received any papers with the pearls. I know they are genuine Mikimoto, as my grandmother gave them to me while she was still alive (therefore, one owner). They also came in a red velvet envelope-type pouch with the Mikimoto logo, but the pouch was so worn and old at the time, that I threw it away (regrettably).

I would appreciate any advice on the safest way for me to get these pearls restrung. Thanks so much.

 

[amti]

Why not string them yourself? It isn't as hard as you think it would be. There are some easy ways to knot as long as you have the right threads. Many of us here recommend Beader's Secret or Power Pro (I like BS because it is easier on your hands) because of the way the knots can be pushed down to where the pearl lays so there are no gaps. Plus it is stronger than regular silk so it will last longer. In addition, you don't have to worry about anyone swapping the pearls because they will never leave your sight! There are many tutorials on youtube and also lots of guidance here in the lowly beader's forum. I learned here, as did many other ladies. If we did it, you can too!

If you are still reluctant to do so, you may want to check with some of our professionals.

 

[Happy Huku]

You could always try a call to a reputable auction house like Stephan Welz & Co, they have offices in JHB and CT.
I'm sure they can do a valuation or at least suggest someone who can. They would also know people who repair/restring etc.
Before handing them over for re-stringing, count and measure them and take photos, that would help with potential swopping.
It would be sad not to have them ready for your daughter's wedding...

 

[pearlescence]

Most jewellers will have a stringer. Go to a high end shop and ask. If they don't, the next one along will. Then you will be covered by the shop's repair items insurance too. (If you are particularly nervous about swapping etc then check this and make sure the jeweller writes a proper full receipt. But, while these pearls are valuable, a high end jewellers will have lots of high end stuff around.So don't get paranoid)

 

[BWeaves]

When they were originally strung, did they have knots between the pearls? Sometimes, the old graduated strands were not knotted between each pearl. If that was the case, then restringing will be very easy. I also recommend Beader's Secret for stringing.

I think the hardest part is that these are graduated pearls, and are currently unstrung, and a double strand.
If you can get a towel or better yet a necklace board, to start laying out the pearls and try to get them in order.
Then temporary string them without knots, attach to the loops of the clasp with a bow you can undo, and try them on.
Keep moving pearls between strands, until they nest the way you want.
Then string them yourself, either with or without knots. Knots will make the necklace an inch longer roughly.
It really is quite easy.

 

[GemGeek]

Great advice so far. Are some of the pearls missing? It doesn't look to me like there are enough for a double strand, so laying them out is a good idea. Good luck.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

My vintage graduated strand (5-8mm) that I re-strung is 18 inches long and has 77 pearls. You have 127 pearls there in that photo. There are not enough pearls for a double strand of the usual length. Was this originally a choker? My late MIL had a pearl necklace that was 14 inches long, so that is possible. Could your daughter wear it that way? Would it fit her neck and her dress?

You could turn it into a single strand necklace but then the Miki clasp won't work for it, being a double clasp, and you would need to buy a new clasp. This would affect the strand's value down the line.

If you do decide to make a standard length necklace out of it, you could use some of the leftover pearls for a matching bracelet or dangle earrings. This would require getting more findings.

I think you could take it to a jeweler in Jo'burg, but restringing it yourself is definitely an option also. Absolutely lay them out first. Assume each knot would be about 0.4mm and add that to the total when estimating how long the strand would come out.

 

[BWeaves]

There's no reason you couldn't string these to a single strand AND use the existing clasp. My grandmother's pearls that I inherited had loops for 3 strands of pearls and she only ever wore it with one strand of pearls. I currently have 2 strands of pearls on it, with 1 set of loops unused.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Here's an idea: How about turning it into a two-strand bracelet, with extra pearls for dangle earrings?

 

[lisa c]

I like that idea PD! because it looks like the smallest pearls of a graduated double strand are missing.

This is my favorite way to wear a graduated vintage necklace.

 

[lisa c]

Yes, you recognize it!; that's why I think her smallest pearls are missing - unless Mikimoto commonly had larger pearls for their smallest?

the smallest pearl on this necklace is just about 3.5mm, the largest 7.5mm.
The small pearls on the side strands, touching the largest center pearl, are just under 4mm.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

But Lisa, they were not all that small. My other graduated akoya strand doesn't have any pearls smaller than 5mm. The OP didn't say she lost any pearls (but maybe she did.)

 

[lisa c]

Aha, There you have it! That's why my title says Perpetual Pearl Student.

I thought the convention was roughly double the size of the smallest Pearl for the largest. How big is the biggest pearl on that graduated strand of yours?

eta - no, I'm the oops. I see you already posted, 5-8mm

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Edit: whoops, read that wrong.

The largest is 8mm.

 

[lisa c]

Ok, btw I assume the long-time posters here are correct, so I went to (ahem) 2006, Pearls by Elizabeth Strack to find the pages, just to reinforce my learning. I need that. Frequently.

Pg. 326 The Nineteen Fifties
..."The necklaces were almost all still graded and the diameter of the pearls ranged from 3mm to 5mm, while the centre pearl was 7mm. The trade called these necklaces "3.5 momme graduates", as they usually had a weight of 3.5 momme."...

Pg. 327 The Nineteen Sixties
..."The average size of pearls increased and soon sizes of up to 9mm were produced."...

 

[lisa c]

This is just for fun, because I love graduated strands.

top strand 3.97mm to 8mm
middle strand just under 3mm to 7.5mm
bottom strand just under 3mm to 7.0mm (nacre worn off - too much lovin'; worn every day for at least 10 years)

Thanks for indulging me here.

 

[lisa c]

Reading your post again winkerclan, you don't mention the strands being broken, or pearls missing when you received it. Was it a double-strand choker? or a nestled-together double-strand necklace?