Question for the experts

[JerseyPearl]

Greetings all...I have a question for the wonderful beading experts....I found a wonderful 4 strand sapphire rondelle necklace at my local pawn shop (it was $50, couldn't pass that up!) There are a lot of teeny sapphire rondelles, but the center 5" of each strand has 4-5mm stones which I plan to repurpose into a necklace with Tahitian drops. Questions I have is on what medium should I string the sapphires with pearls? Beader's Secret? Wire? or Nylon thread? I plan to use the smaller rondelle beads for earring loops on wire and a Tahitian drop dangling down from the center, framed by the sapphires. But for a necklace, what stringing medium would work best? Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I recommend you use nylon coated beading wire-- it can stand up to the rough edges of the sapphires, which would cut through thread.

The higher the ply count, the more flexible-- but 49 ply might not pass through those tiny holes. You might need to go to 19 ply.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Wire is good for the little gemstones but it may not knot well (the one I have doesn't). I would try monofilament, as it is resistant to cutting, and the Spectra lines (Power pro). But I am still experiment with this myself.

 

[Katbran]

I use the finest and highest grade (49strand) beading wire on small stones. Some of those stones will have sharpish edges and you don't want them to cut through and have everything go flying. The down side to wire..is that it does seem to have a tendency to catch the hair at the back of your neck..something that Power pro doesn't do. I have used a high strength Power pro on things as well.. and you can knot that so if it does cut through at least everything won't go .

That was a lucky find !! 50$ is a good deal

 

[Marianne]

What a wonderful find! Looking forward to seeing what you create Seems like the stringing material you choose will depend on the size and condition of the drill holes. If they are really small, SoftTouch wire works nicely. I think it has the best drape for design wire. Good luck!

 

[pinkjewel]

What a wonderful find! Looking forward to seeing what you create Seems like the stringing material you choose will depend on the size and condition of the drill holes. If they are really small, SoftTouch wire works nicely. I think it has the best drape for design wire. Good luck!

I was also going to recommend Soft Touch if you go with beading wire because it drapes the best.

Hisano and I went through this same discussion when she made my black spinel and tahitian pearl necklace. Unfortunately, I can't remember what she decided to use- but I know it wasn't beading wire. The spinels are strung on whatever she used and then the pearls are knotted on both sides- that way if it breaks anywhere- only a few spinels will slide off.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Katbran, I recently made a necklace with heshi style labradorites and, yes, the pinching has been annoying. I wasn't sure what was causing it - the shape of the beads, that they were strung on too tight or whatever. Thanks!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

The pinching might be from the crimps. I like Twisted Tornado crimps for their holding power and their appearance, but they have square corners, and I find I have to be careful to align the crimp just right before flattening it, or I end up feeling those corners.

I also have used Soft Touch before and liked its flexibility, although I usually use Beadalon.

 

[Marianne]

If you use crimp covers and close them very carefully, you get a very smooth finish.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Marianne, I looked for some large enough to cover the Twisted Tornadoes but I don't think they come in that size or shape. They seem to be for the type of crimp that folds in half.

 

[JerseyPearl]

You guys are all so helpful!! I have never worked with beading wire so I will need to figure out how to attach the crimps to the ends of the wire. This necklace was a find...it has a 14k white gold 4 strand clasp and is currently strung on thread with the longest strand at 22" and the shortest at 17". There are a lot of beads, far too many to count. I will post a photo later today.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

The clasp is at the front, so no crimps at the back. It feels almost like those epilators, so I imagining that the fuzz is getting trapped between the beads.

 

[JerseyPearl]

I would love to see a photo LadyD.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

You guys are all so helpful!! I have never worked with beading wire so I will need to figure out how to attach the crimps to the ends of the wire....

String the crimp tube on just like a bead, pass the wire through the clasp, then back through the crimp, then flatten the crimp so that it grips both ends of the wire.

There are different kinds of crimps. The ones I use (Twisted Tornado) are simply pressed flat with pliers. The plain crimp tubes can either be pressed flat the same way, or you can use a crimping tool that has a two step process. The first position of the tool squeezes the area between the two wires, and the second position rounds the crimp so it looks more like a bead.

Crimp tubes come in different sizes; choose the best size for the size of wire you are using. Too small and the wire won't pass through twice; too large and it won't grip the wire sufficiently.

 

[pinkjewel]

Great directions Pearl Dreams!! The only thing I would add is it's really nice if after you've pulled the wire back thru the crimp bead (after the clasp) that you can thread it back thru a few beads. Sometimes the holes are too small to allow it to pass thru double. If so, many times I've added one or two smallish beads (gold or silver depending on what you're working with) to allow the wire to pass thru twice. Try to leave the end of the wire inside the bead. I don't like to clip the wire right after the crimping bead. It can get scratchy for my neck that way and looks a bit neater if the end is inside a bead. Also, I use a crimping tool. Press down with crimp tool first-that will make the crimping bead have a furrow down the center. I then take my flat jewelry pliers and flatten the edges to make sure it's really clamped down on the wire-tug gently to make sure. Last thing you want is it to release when you're wearing it. Then I use the other part of the crimping tool to fold it over and make it rounded instead of flat. Does all that make sense? I'm used to doing it, but not explaining it. I used to wholesale and sell lots of beaded and glass jewelry at one time-lots of local shows, too. I haven't done much for awhile except for myself and gifts for friends. But it's like riding a bike- you don't forget how to do it... Now, if I just had the patience to learn to knot pearls now-lol

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I also thread the wire through a bead before trimming it, sometimes using a 3mm gold filled (or sterling silver) ball bead for the purpose as these have a wide enough hole to double back through.

You definitely don't want the bare end of the cut wire exposed, as it is indeed scratchy. On the end you start on, this is easy enough-- trim the wire and then pop a ball bead over the cut end of the wire and then string the rest of the beads on.

But on the finishing end it is tricky, since you have to snug up the wire and clasp and not leave gaps. What I do to ensure the cut end of the wire is inside the ball bead is that I pull the wire loop tighter against the clasp than I actually want it. I then lay the necklace flat on the table and trim the wire right next to the ball bead opening before tightening the crimp. Then I very carefully pull the clasp a teeny bit so that the loop of wire is the right length. Doing this draws the cut end of the wire back into the ball bead. I then quickly flatten the crimp. **It is really easy to screw this up so if you are going to try doing this, you have to take exquisite care not to pull the clasp out too far, or the wire will come completely out of the ball bead.

 

[JerseyPearl]

I have the rough lay out for the necklace done...it took me half a day to do! I need to balance the stones a bit better, and I need to play with the pearl placements...but here are the 4 strands next to one another, how I hope to add them to the clasp. I have to really practice on the crimping before I attach the strands to the clasp (it has four rings on each side and is a bayonet style)

 

[Pearl Dreams]

That is lovely!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

That is looking great!

 

[Marianne]

Wow, that was fast! So pretty