ARVENIER
To restring a beaded bracelet, lay the beads out in order, cut a new piece of stretch cord about 10 cm longer than your wrist, pre-stretch it, thread the beads, then tie a tight surgeon's knot and secure it with a small dab of jewellery glue. Slide the knot inside a bead with a larger hole to hide it. The whole job takes about fifteen minutes.
What do you need to restring a bracelet?
- Clear stretch cord, 0.8 mm for 6 mm beads or 1 mm for 8–10 mm beads.
- A beading needle or a twisted piece of thin wire (optional but helpful).
- Sharp scissors.
- A towel, bead tray or plate so beads cannot roll away.
- Jewellery glue with a fine tip, or clear nail varnish.
- A clip or tape to stop beads sliding off the cord end.
How to restring a beaded bracelet, step by step
- Lay the old bracelet flat and cut it on a towel, keeping the beads in their original order.
- Cut 30 cm of new cord and pre-stretch it by pulling gently several times; this stops it stretching later.
- Clip one end so beads cannot slide off.
- Thread the beads in order, finishing with the bead that has the largest hole, if there is one.
- Check the fit around your wrist; add or remove a bead if needed.
- Tie a surgeon's knot: cross the ends, wrap one end through twice, pull tight, then repeat once more.
- Add a tiny dab of glue to the knot and let it dry for a few minutes.
- Trim the ends to about 2 mm and slide the knot inside the large-hole bead.
Common restringing mistakes
- Skipping the pre-stretch, so the bracelet loosens within a week.
- Using cord that is too thin for heavy stone beads.
- Too much glue, which hardens the cord and makes it snap at the knot.
- Cutting the ends flush with the knot, which lets it slip open.
How to make the new cord last longer
Roll stretch bracelets on and off over your hand instead of pulling them wide. Take them off for bathing, swimming and sleeping. Restring every year or so if you wear the bracelet daily; cord weakens long before stones wear.
When to take it to a jeweller instead
Restringing stretch bracelets is an easy home job, but take valuable or knotted pieces — such as pearl strands knotted between each pearl, or bracelets with metal clasps and crimps — to a jeweller. They have the right silk thread, wire and crimping tools, and the cost is usually small.
Frequently asked questions
What cord is best for stone bead bracelets?
Clear elastic stretch cord of 0.8–1 mm. Use the thickest cord that still passes through the beads twice.
Can I restring a bracelet without glue?
Yes, but a double surgeon's knot with a little glue is much less likely to slip open.
How do I restring a bracelet with a clasp?
Clasped bracelets use beading wire and crimp beads instead of stretch cord; a jeweller can do this quickly if you have no crimping tool.