Hi all! I hope you all are well! I've been away for a while (nothing to report) but have a new acquisition to ask about. We just purchased this 33" strand at auction and it needs re-stringing and a replacement pearl for the clasp. Would it be better to send it in to Mikimoto for the repairs or should we have our local jeweler who usually does our stringing take care of it? They are Mikimoto dealers so could the source a replacement pearl? I also wonder about the length as I don't find any 33" strands from them, just 30". Is the fact that they are individually knotted a red flag? Do they look like Miki quality? Please pardon the poor phone pics!
Mikimoto strand
- Thread starter massrog
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CortezPearls
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Can I ask what you had done? Did you have to do it in store? I have 3 strands I would like to send in to be restrung but I’m lazy.
Actually we haven't done anything as of yet (laziness too lol). The store where we have had many things done is also a Mikimoto dealer, so I am planning on asking them if they should send them or if we should do it ourselves. Maybe BWeaves will chime in!
BWeaves
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I actually called Mikimoto America or emailed them, I can't remember which. But I did speak on the phone with their repair department. They kept me informed every step of the way.
I had lost an earring. This was not a stud, but had an 18K gold huggie setting. I mailed my remaining earring to Mikimoto America, and they matched the setting. They could not match my remaining pearl, so they replaced my pearl with a new one. In other words, I got two new pearls and one new earring finding, and they polished my old earring finding. It was done fairly quickly (between 2 to 3 weeks). Like I said, it wasn't cheap since I got two new pearls and one new 18K gold earring. But the pair looks like new, because it practically is.
I'm certainly not an Akoya expert but that doesn't look like Mikimoto knotting .. they might have been restrung at some point, possibly to add in a few pearls to get the extra inches. I't is an odd length. Or someone has used an old Miki clasp and strung some Ahoy strands ? I'd do as BWeaves did, call the Repair Dept and see where that takes you. I'm sure they can give you a quote based on the length and size of the pearls.
pattye
Pearl Scholar
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It looks to me like the necklace was restrung with much heavier thread than the original strand would have had. I think that at this length Miki would have knots between each pearl. The larger knots here are possibly adding as much as 2 inches. I also suggest having restringing and repair done by the Miki dealer or Miki America. Years ago Miki was our fine pearl line when I worked at Nordstrom Fine Jewelry and all strands were individually knotted with this clasp.
Thank you. I want to send a strand in for restringing. I think my SA said I could take off a few pearls. It’s a touch too long for me. Eventually I’d like to sell and buy something else. I read on here that it was pretty pricey so I was hoping to get a general ballpark idea on price.
