Pure Pearls Glossary
Stringing
The thread a strand is built on, and the craft of assembling it.
Traditional stringing uses silk, which drapes beautifully and stretches gently. Modern alternatives use nylon or coated wire, which last longer but hang more stiffly.
The thread runs doubled through each pearl, and the strand ends are finished with a bullion or French wire that protects the thread where it turns at the clasp.
Hyderabad and Chennai both have long-established pearl stringing trades, and hand stringing remains a specialist skill.
When you are buying
Silk gives the best drape and needs restringing every year or two with regular wear. Nylon lasts longer and hangs stiffer. Choose by how often the piece will actually be worn.
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Knotting
A knot tied between each pearl on the thread. It stops pearls rubbing and limits a break to a single lost pearl.
Restringing
Replacing the thread a strand is built on. Routine maintenance, not repair, and overdue on most pearl necklaces.
Clasp
The fastening that closes a necklace or bracelet. The most common point of failure and the most overlooked part of a purchase.
Taar Mala
A necklace of many fine parallel strands gathered into one clasp. Traditional Hyderabadi pearl work.
Not sure what you are being sold?
Paste any pearl description — another shop’s listing, a message from a jeweller, an old certificate — and we will break it down term by term.