How to Rebead a Necklace

Rebeading can salvage broken or out-of-style necklaces.

Rebeading is useful to repair necklaces that have fallen apart, or are simply out of fashion. You can breathe new life into necklaces with mismatched beads or broken strands by taking the necklace apart and adding new beads. Rebeading is a delicate process that might require one to create an entirely new necklace using strands or beads from the old necklace. Rebeading is a hobby among vintage jewelry enthusiasts, who sell the restored jewelry in craft shops and thrift stores.

Things You'll Need

• Beads
• Wire or string
• Clasp
• Scissors or wire cutter
• Bead crimper

Instructions

1. Cut the necklace at one end of the clasp with a pair of scissors (string) or wire cutters. Remove any string or wire from the clasp, and place the clasp aside for reuse.

2. Remove the beads carefully, placing them in a container for storage. If only a few beads need replacing, remove the broken or unwanted beads, saving only the beads to be reused.

3. Thread the new beads onto the wire or string, arranging them in the desired pattern. Leave enough slack at the end of the necklace to retie the clasp.

4. Thread the clasp through the slack in the string or wire, and slide a crimper bead along the slack. Crimp the slack using the bead crimpers on the crimper bead. If no crimper is available, tie the clasp using an end knot, adding a dab of glue to protect the knot against breakage.

Tips & Warnings

• If the beads are on a metal chain, instead of cutting the clasp, simply remove the links between the beads that need replacing.

• Using scissors to cut wire will dull the scissors and fray the wire. Always use wire cutters to cut wire.

References

• Beadage.net - Making a Simple Beaded Necklace
• BeadingNecklace.com - Tips for Beginners: Cutting Beading Wire