Why Knot Pearls?

Restringing a Strand of Pearls

Recently, I was asked to restring a knotted pearl necklace. I learned how to tie knots between pearls years ago, but have not had many opportunities to do so. Restringing pearls is a skill, and I enjoy knotting pearls whenever I get a chance.  This got me pondering the question, why do traditional pearl necklaces have knots between the pearls? Here’s what I found out:

•  Knots separate each pearl from the others, allowing you to see more of their lustrous surface.

• Knots cushion the delicate pearl and avoid wearing the pearl layers.

• Silk thread is used for restringing pearls because it is gentle on delicate pearls.

• If the strand of pearls should break, only one pearl would be lost.  The knots keep you from losing all the pearls.

• If you wear them often or every day, you should restring your pearl necklace every year. This helps to avoid weak or frayed silk. The silk thread can also become dirty.

• Gold worn next to a pearl will cause black marks to appear on the pearl.

 How to attach a clasp to a pearl necklace:

This is done by tying a knot inside a “cup” component, also called a bead tip. This goes between the pearl and the clasp.  French wire, also called bullion, can also be used. French wire is a fine coil of wire that covers the silk as it goes through the clasp. Both techniques avoid wearing the silk thread unnecessarily.

Love Pearls, but want a more unique look?

Here are a few of my untraditional designs: