<p>I’ve just inherited a 16" strand of white pearls but already have another 16" strand in pink. Any suggestions on how to update the new necklace by adding some other gemstones to it or some yellow or white gold segments? I know, in these times, it’s a wonderful “problem” to have.</p>
<p>No idea! But lucky you. My S bought me a strand of pearls in China, but I haven’t found a good occasion to wear them yet.</p>
<p>My first thought would be to maybe try loosely twisting the two strands together to make a different look sometimes - the pink and white would be a pretty contrast. Or, have the new necklace separated into a double bracelet?</p>
<p>Ooh, I love the bracelet idea! binx, don’t wait for an “occasion” to wear yours. Your S will love seeing them on you. Not that I personally can pull off the preppy look but just think of Ralph Lauren’s models in a man tailored white shirt and jeans with a strand of pearls. You can wear them with khakis and a pullover sweater too. Whatever your style, start enjoying them.</p>
<p>Worrywart, are all the pearls the same size, or graduated? If the former, you have many more options.</p>
<p>And if you really can’t figure out what to do with them, just send them to me. ;)</p>
<p>It depends on the size of the pearls, you can make brooch, earings, rings, and make the second string smaller.
The link will give you some ideas.
[Brooches</a> Sparkling Crystals, Genuine Pearls, Rhinestones, Immitation Pearl, Gold Tone, Silver Tone](<a href=“http://www.fashionjewelryforeveryone.com/OtherProductsMain.html]Brooches”>Brooches Sparkling Crystals, Genuine Pearls, Rhinestones, Immitation Pearl, Gold Tone, Silver Tone)</p>
<p>I also inherited a collection of brooches, pearl strings from my mother. The best gift ever. My girls love them so much that I had to go out and bought another strand because I would be able to leave each one of a strand.</p>
<p>Actually, I haven’t seen them yet but I presume they are all the same size. (And lest anyone think I’m callous about the loss of a loved one, the pearls were left to DH’s sister many years ago before he and I even met. Now, she has decided that rather than let them continue to sit in a drawer, she will pass them along to me.) I’m running out right now but cannot wait to check the link you sent. Thanks!</p>
<p>When I inherited a long strand, my jeweler gave me the option of drilling into a couple of the pearls before restringing and inserting twist-like clasps, that way you can be flexible with the length of the strand depending on what you want to wear them with (shorter with a button-down shirt, longer with a sweater, etc.) I haven’t done it yet…but am thinking of doing it sometime in the future, just a thought…</p>
<p>Jewellry, to my husband’s dismay, is one of my two favorite things! What you can do with one of the strands: have it doubled to make it into a bracelet with and antique diamond (or omit the diamonds) clasp. VERY lovely look. (I had that done with an “extra” strand of pearls) The white strand is more traditional so I might leave that intact…OR…take a look at the David Yurman collection. He does semi-precious stones that hang from sterling necklaces. You could have a space made to buy one (or more) such embellishments and you have a totally different look. Or you could take away the traditional small clasp and have a larger brooch like clasp attached (picture Van Cleef and Arpel’s flower with diamonds) and put that to the front, which would create a simply stunning.</p>
<p>Can you tell that I love jewellry?</p>
<p>create a simply stunning look.</p>
<p>Sorry, my posts went up backwards.</p>
<p>If the necklace has been lying in a drawer for a long time or if the pearls are old, you may need to have it restrung. At that time, you could add gold spacers in an interesting shape between each pearl, or even a small gem. Depending on the stone, your cost would be mostly labor. This would also add length. It would be good to have two strands in different lengths for different necklines. </p>
<p>And never wait for an ‘occasion’ to wear pearls! They will grow dull lying in a drawer. They need the oils from your skin to look lustrous. Wear 'em with jeans and a blouse as they are always chic!</p>
<p>Many years ago my mother wrote a book on pearls. Pearls need to be restrung regularly, as novelisto says, but they also need to be kept clean–skin oils are fine, but perfume, hair spray, etc., is not good for them. My mother washed her pearls with baby shampoo from time to time. </p>
<p>Personally, I would not try to jazz up a classic string of pearls. The standard look of a strand of pearls has become a classic and I think adding stones to it will just make it look dated in a few years.</p>
<p>[How</a> to Care for Fine Pearls](<a href=“http://wedding-resources.com/in/Fine_Jewelry/Care_for_Pearls/]How”>http://wedding-resources.com/in/Fine_Jewelry/Care_for_Pearls/)</p>
<p>I’m with dmd on the classic look. Pearls are all over the place in terms of value. A nice strand of cultured being a whole different thing than the real thing. If yours are nice cultured pearls I would tie them, twist them and just have fun with them. If they are large, natural pearls and you have formal occasions, stringing them with jewels could be very lovely. Natural pearls is shades of pink can be quite valuable and are so beautiful!</p>
<p>Seems like this is a group of posters who know about jewelry–how does one go about finding a jeweler to re-set wedding rings? Long-story: stung by a wasp, finger swelled to twice its size and turned purple, trip to emergency room where the PA spent most of the visit sawing off my platinum (which is apparently much harder to saw through than gold) wedding rings. I got a prescription for an antibiotic and a cortisone shot. Didn’t look at the rings util the next day. They weren’t just cut–they were stretched out. I had two bands with diamonds and a single solitare ring. My H says if I want to add to it I should, but I just don’t know what I want or who could do this. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Bromfield, my sister had a similar problem. Since her ring came from Tifany, that’s where she went, and of course they did a fantastic job.</p>
<p>Assuming your ring isn’t Tifany – find a “good” jeweler. In my neck of the woods, there’s Lux Bond & Green – very pricey and very good. (They have only three or four stores, so I guess they’re not national.) It won’t be cheap, though – expect maybe $1000 for that sort of work.</p>
<p>If you’re near NYC, go to the diamond district on 47th Street, and you’ll have your choice of dozens of places.</p>
<p>remember, that clam/oyster died for you</p>
<p>Any quality jeweler can fix that for you, Bromfield…people of the Bailey-Banks-and-Biddle/Tiffany sort would be happy to discuss it with you. Or if you felt like a reset, that’s easy-peasy because you don’t have to rebuild the old ring, just move the stone(s) to a new setting. Some people are sentimentally attached to the actual ring (I’m on my 1st marriage and 3rd wedding ring so you can tell…that ain’t me! I’m not the same girl I was 20 (cough) years ago…why should I be stuck with her ring?) </p>
<p>If you really felt creative, there are jewelers who will work with you to design something of your very own. Check on-line for artists who work in jewelry. </p>
<p>Rings are replaceable. I’m glad they saved your finger!</p>
<p>My ultra-modest maternal grandmother owned just one piece of fine jewelry (in addition to her plain gold wedding band)–a single-strand white cultured pearl necklace. My grandmother’s simple but elegant pearl necklace was far more attractive than the wardrobe of garish baubles, bangles, and beads worn by her tasteless and tacky exhibitionistic adult daughter.</p>
<p>I agree with dmd77and hmom5. A single strand white pearl necklace is classic. Aside from having the pearls restrung (if necessary), and otherwise maintained to keep them in good condition, leave the necklace as is. Don’t cheapen its classic look with spacers and gems.</p>
<p>There’s something special about a simple white pearl necklace, and about the woman–the lady–who chooses to wear one. Whenever I see a woman wearing a single strand of white pearls, I immediately think of my maternal grandmother, who wore her pearls without compromising her modesty, and who looked beautiful without looking brazen. </p>
<p>Your white pearl necklace is special. Keep it that way. You’ll be glad you did.</p>
<p>Lucky you, worrywart!</p>
<p>If your pearls are the older, classic Mikimoto Akoya, I wouldn’t do anything other than cleaning and restringing. The value is in the brand and quality.
[Pearl</a> Types - Akoya, Black South Sea & Feshwater Cultured Pearls | MIKIMOTO U.S.](<a href=“http://www.mikimotoamerica.com/about_jewelry/pearls/kinds.html]Pearl”>http://www.mikimotoamerica.com/about_jewelry/pearls/kinds.html)</p>
<p>If you don’t know the history of your pearls, you might want to find a local jeweller who specializes in pearls and get an appraisal to find out what you have. Restringing is a must. After that, anything goes. A good jeweller can suggest design possibilities and has access to loose gemstones, clasps, etc. I like ellebud’s suggestions. Browse the internet a bit for pearl jewellery to get design ideas. Good pearls should be worn regularly and restrung every few years.</p>
<p>The important thing about fine pearls is abrasion. Pearls are soft, so don’t wear or store them in a way where they might be scratched, as in dmd’s link.</p>
<p>Bromfield, suggest you find the best local independent jewellers, by reputation, you can. Get a few opinions. (No chain jewellers.) I had inherited a platinum Art Deco ring that was worn and had to be re-sized. I replaced the gemstone (gave the original to my DIL), and the jeweller was able to hand-engrave the original inscription. I was very pleased with the result. The jeweller will give you an appraisal for insurance purposes and probably clean it regularly for you at no charge.</p>
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<p>True…it depends on the pearls. If they are fine or higher quality, then don’t change them except to have them restrung. If they are excellent, you might consider having knots between each pearl to keep them from rubbing together, though this will cost more…all pearl stringing is hand-work. </p>
<p>Since you haven’t seen them, I’m assuming you don’t know if they are large or small. Pearls are measured in millimeters. Most commonly seen necklaces have pearls somewhere between 8 and 11 mm, though I’ve seen some really, really big ones (20+) used this way lately. Natural pearls are more valuable than cultured (for their rarity), though the best quality cultured (Mikimoto, for instance) are quite valuable…price them in the jewelry store, noting materials used in the clasp. Size, roundness, depth of the nacre, luster, all these things add or detract from the value. Matching and appraising pearls is a special talent, different than working with hard stones. </p>
<p>Baroque pearls have unique shapes, not entirely round, and can have great value too…as do the colored pearls. Tahitian has come to mean black or dark tones (blue, blue-green, etc) though white pearls can come from those waters as well. White cultured pearls, esp. those that were not expensive to start with (like a high school grad present from the 50’s) may turn yellow with time. </p>
<p>Mikimoto pearls have a fascinating history. Alas, the pollution in the oceans around Japan are making it more difficult for them to keep up their quality so their value continues to increase. </p>
<p>However, if your new strand is of small or ordinary cultured pearls, then do whatever you want. It’s definitely worthwhile to have more than one strand in different lengths. Changing up looks is fun and you can get just what you like. Classics are that way for a reason but not all of us are into the classics!</p>