IF IT NEEDS REPAIR
Restringing pearls
A clear description of how an item is to be repaired is essential.
Pay close attention when the repair is being explained and make
sure everything is well documented using descriptions and
drawings so that the repair will be done to your satisfaction.
Before you take in a piece of jewellery, take a close up photo so
as to avoid any doubt.
Similarly, pearls, which are usually strung on silk, will need
restringing every few years. This is a skilled job and your pearls
will be sent out for restringing to an expert. Photo the necklace,
measure it - remembering that old silk will have stretched and a
few millimetres out is normal, then count the pearls. Your
jeweller should do all of this in any case. If the pearls are strung
in a gradient of sizes, they should come back exactly the same
way. If you've lost a pearl, then be aware that the nished repair
will be a pearl short. Pearls are strung with a knot in between
each one for two reasons. Firstly, this gives space to each pearl
so it doesn't rub and wear against its neighbours when worn,
and secondly to ensure that if the silk breaks, the least number
of pearls will be lost.
Get recommendations
Friends and relatives are a good place to start. Most businesses
now, even the more traditional trades, such as jewellers, have a
web site. Take a look, are there any reviews?
