ekscrunchy

I was hoping that one of the helpful locals could recommend a place that will restring my Chinese "pearls," and add a new clasp...

On a related topic, I can recommend Manhattan Band on West 47th Street for watch bands and for discounts on famous-name watches..

lisettemac

For jewelry repairs, I generally go to Fortunoff's. They do a good job and the price is fine.

MFNYC

You may want to call FOrtunoff first. I went there once for a repair and they told me they only repair jewelry that was pruchased there. I don't know if this is still the case.

sylvia3

restringing pearls might cost more than a simple jewelry repair; it's a lot of knotting!

ekscrunchy

I will check them out, thanks. But I am pretty sure there must be a place on 47th Street, no?? (These are fairly inexpensive freshwater pearls, by the way; I bought them in China last spring. They have a magnetic clasp which has lost its magnetism (!) already..)

offlady

If they were inexpensive, the cost to repair (in the US) may exceed the cost of buying a new one.

ellenem

My boss always goes to this little hole-in-the-wall place called Max Nass on 28th St bet Park and Lex. She's always been very pleased with the result.

ekscrunchy

How much do pearls cost, in general, to restring? I love these and only paid about $40 for the double strand! It is really only the clasp that is the problem...they are still on the original string.

sylvia3

You will pay more than what they are worth to restring them, if they are individually knotted. It would be pretty easy to do yourself, if you just wanted them strung like beads...

ekscrunchy

But don't you need special tools to put the clasp on at the end? Where would you recommend buying the string and the clasp?

ellenem

There's a very novice-friendly jewelry findings store on the east side of Sixth Ave between 35th and 38th--I supect 36th and 37th. It's in the bottom of a modern hi-rise and the sidewalk is a bit setback. It's got a Japanese name since it is an outpost of a store in Tokyo. . . a name something like Toshio . . .

Compared to some other choices in the neighborhood, the items are neatly arranged and it's very easy to browse through the many choices. Lots of findings , csps, beads, strings, chains,and so forth. I suspect you might price the restringing here as well.

The name of the place escapes me . . .

ellenem

csps = clasps

LoriNY1

I always go to Iannelli Diamonds, 45 W 47th Street. I have known Mario and Anthony for years. Although they don't specialize in pearls, I have taken mine to them for restringing - they send them to someone. No problems.

lisettemac

Are they knotted between each pearl? I thought that freshwater pearls are not generally strung that way. If they aren't, I can't imagine it would be expensive to repair.

ellenem

Found it!

Toho Shoji Inc.
990 6th Avenue
New York, NY 10018
(near 37th St.)
212-868-7465

ekscrunchy

You are all great..thanks! You know, Ellen, I think that was the place I passed last spring before I went to China; I was trying to price freshwater pearls before my trip and saw some in their window that I liked. I will head over there within a week or so and also check out Ianelli. Mine are not knotted between the pearls; they were really cheap but they are so pretty..they are grey/silver in color..probably dyed.

Anyway thanks a lot!

ellenem

Toho Shoji has everything you need.

At Christmas my Mom requested a "cheap gold 24-inch chain." She had a pendant but needed chain. She stressed that it shouldn't be real gold, because the pendant wasn't "worth it."

At Toho Shoji they have every kind of fake and real gold chain imaginable on spools, as well as every kind of clasp. I went there and realized they also had pre-made chains with clasps in varying lengths in may different styles. I decided to let her choose and bought her six 24-inch chains--for less than $14.

ekscrunchy

Thanks, Ellenem. I will get myself over there soon.

offlady

The freshwater pearls today come in many different and beautiful colors. A Korean lady told me they inject the dye into the oyster before the pearl is produced so the color is throughout the nacre coating.

ekscrunchy

That is interesting! I bought mine at the Pearl Market in Beijing and was concerned only about how they looked, not whether or not they were "real." Truly if I say so myself, they are beautiful but the magnetic clasp is a washout after only a few months...so I thought I should restring at the same time as I got a new clasp.. They did ask me whether or not I wanted a magnetic clasp and told me that was the way to go now. Apparently not!!