Large-holed pearls

[Luann Udell]

Okay, I'm seeing more and more fashion mags and catalog jewelry with pearls strung on.....leather cord!

Occasionally I find a source for very simple pearls with larger holes, "larger" being a relative term.  Usually these are large enough to accomodate a regular 20-21 gauge sterling silver headpin (as opposed to a light 22-24 gauge headpin....)

But these newer jewelry designs feature fancy pearls--dyed fashion colors, coin pearls, stick pearls, etc.--strung on leather cord!  That's got to be a 1mm to 2mm hole!  (and yes, they are real pearls, not glass imitations.)

I've seen instructions for enlarging holes in pearls, and know it's tedious work and can result in lots of breakage, too.  Plus people can't be doing their own hand drilling for these pieces, not at the (relatively) modest prices they're charging.

So what's up with these pearls, R&T staff?  Do you have suppliers who offer fashion pearls drilled with larger holes?  Are they reasonably priced or outrageous???

Thank you,
Luann

[marym]

It's a secret!!  Ok ok I'll tell you- (but only because you're my favorite poster on the forum).

Larger hole pearls are in demand, and some suppliers are "trying" harder to accommodate- but IMHO- I think the trend is due more to the advent of cheap (and by cheap I mean inexpensive) battery operated bead reamers.  

With a battery powered reamer, hole enlarging takes about 2 to 5 min a bead, depending on the bead size (and how adept you get at using the tool).  It's quick, it's easy- and all you need is a cup of water and a pair of nylon jaw bead tweezers to hold your pearl under water while you ream the hole.

At $15 bucks and some change, R&T's power Bead Reamer became a staff favorite right away.

-And there you go!!

Mary

P.S. Remember when you told us to stop getting stuff you just HAD to buy...  Bwahahahaha!!  {{That was my best attempt at an evil beaders laugh}}.

[Luann Udell]

THANKS MARY!!!!  I just snagged one.....
Can't wait!  

ooohh....when you quick-post, you lose the ability to use moving emoticons.  Please imagine a "you rule!" bowing banana emoticon....   :^D
Luann
p.s. and I'm blushing about the nice comment, too.  8^}

[marym]

{{currently imagining a "you rule!" bowing banana emoticon....}}  '>

[Luann Udell]

Mary, I just have to thank you in big letters
THAAAAAAANK YOOOOOOOU!!!!
for telling me about the electric bead reamer.  I've been playing with it for two days now and I am hooked.
I've drilled pearls, turquoise and something sold to me as either apatite or aventurine chunky chips, and the reamer does an excellent job with them.  I'm wearing my first test bracelet, a double strand of leather cord with freshwater pearls in cream, olive and sage green, with the apatite/aventurine chunks and turquoise, with nugget-style silver heishi and knots in between.  Lovely!
thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!!!

It's really opened up new possibilities for my jewelry.

[Luann Udell]

Hey!  What's that new box for, "member rating"...
Can I put a gold star in yours?

[marym]

Yay!!  I'm glad you're happy with the reamer- it really is an awesome little tool.  (And that bracelet sounds gorgeous)!

I'm not sure what the member rating box is for- or how you change anything in it.  Todd?? Web guru Super Nova??? Anyone... ?? Can I have my gold star now?  Pretty please...?