Broken Arrow
613 North Aspen Avenue
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
Tue–Fri 10–6 · Sat 10–5
Closed Sunday & Monday
At the Bench
Pearl & Bead Restringing
At J. David Jewelry we restring pearls and beads in house, on fresh silk, knotted between each one, at three Tulsa showrooms in Broken Arrow, South Tulsa and Brookside. Silk stretches and wears with time. If you can see thread between the pearls, or the strand hangs longer than it used to, it is time.
Only as safe as its silk
Pearls tend to arrive with a story. A grandmother's strand, there in every photograph. A wedding gift. The necklace that came out for each occasion that mattered.
The pearls themselves can last for generations. The silk that holds them was never meant to. It stretches. It takes on the oils of the skin and the last of the perfume. And one ordinary evening, it lets go.
What to look for
Hold the strand up and let it hang. Thread showing between the pearls and their knots. Pearls that slide where they used to sit still. Silk gone gray or brown, or frayed near the clasp. A necklace that sits lower than it does in the old photographs.
Any of these means the silk is tired, and tired silk does not give notice.
How it is done
The work is done in house. The strand is laid out and every pearl kept in its order, because a graduated strand has an order and it matters. The old silk comes away. The pearls are wiped clean by hand, gently. They never go into an ultrasonic or a steam cleaner; no pearl should.
Then they are strung on fresh silk, with a knot drawn snug between each one. The knots do two things. They keep the pearls from wearing against each other, and they mean that if the strand ever breaks, one pearl slips free and the rest stay where they are.
New knots take up a little room, so a strand can come back a touch different in length. Tell us how you like it to sit, and we will talk about the length before we begin.
If the clasp has worn, or no longer closes with confidence, we replace it. Allow two to three weeks, and the strand comes home ready for the next occasion that matters.
Between restringings
Pearls go on last and come off first: after the perfume and the hairspray, and before anything else at the end of the night. Wipe them with a soft cloth when you take them off. Keep them lying flat in something soft, away from harder jewelry that would scratch them. Hanging a strand stretches the silk, and if they ever get wet, lay them flat to dry.
A strand worn every week wants new silk about once a year. One that comes out a few times a year can go several. Let the silk tell you.
Come In, or Text Us
Bring Us the Strand.
There are two ways to start, and neither is the wrong one. Bring the strand to any of our three Tulsa showrooms and we look at the silk, the knots and the clasp with you — that is the solid answer, because the strand is in hand. Or text us what you are seeing, and we’ll do our best from there.
What new silk cannot do
Restringing makes a strand safe to wear. It does not change the pearls. A pearl whose surface has worn or peeled will still be worn, and if we see one, we will show you and talk through what can be done before we begin.
Where pearls sit among the gems, and how gently they ask to be worn, is in Birthstones by Month. A strand that needs more than new silk goes to restoration.
Good Questions
The things people actually ask.
How do I know if my pearls need restringing?
Hold the strand up and let it hang. Thread showing between the pearls and their knots, pearls that slide, silk that has gone gray or frayed near the clasp, or a necklace that sits lower than it used to all mean the silk is tired.
How often should pearls be restrung?
A strand worn every week should be restrung about once a year. One worn a few times a year can go several years. Let the silk tell you: if it looks stretched, loose or discolored, it is time, whatever the calendar says.
Why is there a knot between every pearl?
The knots keep the pearls from rubbing against each other, and they hold each pearl in its own place. If a knotted strand ever breaks, one pearl slips free and the rest stay on the silk.
Can pearls go in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner?
No, never. Pearls are soft and layered, and both machines can damage them. Wipe pearls with a soft cloth after each wearing, and bring them to us when they need more than that.
Do you restring beads as well as pearls?
Yes. Bring the strand to any of our three showrooms and we will look at it with you. The weight of the beads and the size of their holes decide the thread.
How long does restringing take?
Two to three weeks. The work is done in house, by our own people.
Can you replace the clasp?
Yes. If a clasp is worn or no longer closes with confidence, we replace it when the strand is restrung.
What does restringing cost?
It depends on the length of the strand, so we do not quote from a description. Bring it in and we will tell you before anything starts. Nothing begins until you say yes.
Visit a Showroom
See it in person.
Three showrooms across Tulsa, one family since 1994. Bring your questions, or just come and look.
South Tulsa
8200 E 101st Street, Suite B
Tulsa, OK 74133
Tue–Fri 10–6 · Sat 10–5
Closed Sunday & Monday
Brookside
3646 S Peoria Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74105
Tue–Fri 10–6 · Sat 10–5
Closed Sunday & Monday
Verified on Google
In Their Own Words.
Every heirloom begins with a story. Hear from the families who let us be a part of theirs.
★★★★★
Trusted by Generations
5,300+ Five-Star Google Reviews
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Katelyn helped me resize and refresh my wedding ring. She was knowledgeable, professional, and incredibly sweet. She made the experience easy and enjoyable, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I highly recommend asking for Katelyn
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Had a fantastic experience at J David! Bought an engagement ring last year and a wedding band this year. Maelei and Susan were especially super helpful and patient with us and found us the perfect matches!
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One big request I had for Hayley was to make sure any leftover gold from the ring was returned to me. Not only did she make sure I got the gold, but Scott even turned it into a small pendant!