How confident are you in that bit of silk?

Pearl Restringing in Tunbridge Wells



Pearls can last for generations. The thread holding them together usually won’t last nearly as long.

If your pearl necklace has broken, started to stretch, the knots are fraying or you simply no longer trust the thread, send me a photograph. I can inspect the strand, tell you what it needs and give you a clear price before any work goes ahead.

Single-row knotted pearl restringing typically costs around £120–£130, depending on length, condition and any clasp work required.

Fix my pearls
Cultured baroque pearl necklace with silver clasp


Image: W.carter / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 4.0. Cropped.

Missing a pearl? We can replace it.

Lost or damaged pearls can often be matched and replaced as part of the restringing. Matching is about more than size — I look at colour, lustre, shape and overall quality so that the replacement sits naturally within the existing strand.

Replacement pearls vary considerably in price, so I’ll give you a clear quote once I’ve seen the necklace and know exactly what is required.

The boring but useful bit: price.

Most single-row pearl necklaces requiring hand knotting cost around £120–£130 to restring.

The final price depends on the length of the necklace, number of pearls and whether anything else needs attention. Missing pearls, worn clasps or replacement fittings are priced separately once I have seen the piece.

Bring the necklace in and I’ll inspect it properly, check the clasp and fittings and talk you through what I think it needs. There is no charge for this consultation and no obligation to proceed. I’ll give you a clear price before any work is authorised, so even if you decide not to go ahead, you leave with professional advice about the condition of your pearls and what should be done.

WHAT PROPER RESTRINGING INVOLVES

The important bits are mostly invisible.

A good restring should look simple when it is finished. Most of the work is in the details you barely notice.

When your pearls come in, I check the clasp, attachment rings and fittings first. The strand is then restrung by hand in Hatton Garden using the cord most appropriate to the piece. For pearl necklaces, I specify individual knotting between the pearls. This prevents the pearls rubbing against one another and greatly reduces the chance of losing the whole strand if the thread ever breaks.

At the clasp ends, new French wire — also called gimp — protects the cord where it passes through the metal fittings. The thread is finished back within the strand rather than simply being tied off at the clasp.

If the clasp is worn, difficult to use or you simply want to change it, I can talk you through the options before work begins. With signed or important vintage strands, the original clasp may form part of the necklace's identity and provenance; if it is replaced, I return it to you and recommend keeping it with the piece.

None of this makes the necklace look dramatically different. That is rather the point. The pearls will outlive their thread many times over. A proper restring simply prepares them for the next part of their life.

Broken graduated pearl necklace with detached clasp before restringing repair

FAQs

Yes. Broken strands are very common. I can replace any missing pearls and either recreate the original length or alter it while the necklace is being restrung — for example, shortening a 20-inch strand to 18 inches.

I also check the clasp while the necklace is with me. Worn clasps can sometimes be repaired quite simply, and if a stone is missing from a decorative clasp it can often be replaced to match the existing cut and quality. The old stretched thread is discarded completely and the necklace is restrung from scratch.

Yes. Lost or damaged pearls can be matched and replaced as part of the restringing.

Matching is based on more than diameter alone. I look at the size, colour, shape, lustre and overall quality of the existing strand so that the replacement sits naturally with the other pearls rather than looking obviously new or out of place.

The price varies depending on what is required, so I will quote for any replacement pearl once I have seen the necklace.

Yes. I normally offer oval clasps, lobster clasps and traditional fish-hook pearl clasps in a range of sizes.

If you want something more decorative — such as a box or tube clasp — I’ll discuss the options with you first. Availability varies much more with these styles because I only want to use good-quality fittings from suppliers I trust, so the choice can be more limited from one job to another. That does not necessarily mean they are more expensive.

Yes. A single-strand pearl bracelet is usually around £85 to restring. Multi-strand necklaces are priced according to the number of rows and complexity; as a guide, a three-row necklace is usually around £340, with a small saving per row as the number of strands increases.

I am happy to look at unusual pearl pieces, but sometimes the sensible answer is that the value of the item does not justify professional restringing at jewellery-workshop rates. In those cases, I will say so and may suggest the Tunbridge Wells Repair Café instead.

There is no fixed interval that makes sense for every pearl necklace. Some are worn regularly, others only occasionally, and modern strands may be constructed using different types of cord.

I judge it by condition. I check the French wire or gimp at the clasp for wear, examine the knots and cord for deterioration or movement, and look at the pearls themselves for signs that they have been rubbing against one another. If everything is sound, I see no reason to restring a necklace simply because a certain number of years have passed.

If you are unsure, bring it in and I will check it for you. There is no charge for the inspection.

Yes. Pearls need rather more careful treatment than most jewellery and should not simply be put through the same cleaning process as diamonds or other hard stones.

I offer pearl necklace cleaning as a standalone service, usually around £50 with a one-week turnaround. I will also check the clasp, fittings and condition of the stringing while the necklace is with me and let you know if I spot anything that needs attention.

If your pearls are being restrung, cleaning is included as part of the restringing service.


Most pearl restringing takes around two weeks from drop-off to collection. If a necklace needs an unusual pearl matched or there is particularly complex work involved, I may suggest allowing up to a month, but that is uncommon.

It is best to book before coming in. I am sometimes away from the workshop during normal opening hours, particularly when I am sourcing materials or dealing with an urgent or unusual job.

An appointment means I will definitely be there and can give your pearls a proper inspection rather than simply taking them in at the door.

Yes. Please arrange it with me first so I know when to expect them.
For most pieces, I recommend Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm, with compensation selected to suit the value of the necklace. I can also arrange doorstep collection. For higher-value pieces, I can organise a suitable courier.

Where possible, I still prefer to see the necklace in person. It gives me the chance to inspect the pearls, clasp and fittings properly, talk through any concerns and give you free advice before the piece is booked in.