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Step 1
Examine the variety of pearls available to you to select the ones you will use when you design your own pearl necklace. While some pearls are natural, most affordable freshwater pearls on the market are dyed. Cultured freshwater pearls come in colors ranging from pure white to midnight blue. As the technology of culturing pearls has evolved to include seeding pearls with non-traditional inorganic shapes, jewelry designers are seeing more pearls in free-form shapes, as well as stick pearls and coin pearls (flat pearls in circular, square, triangular or other shapes).
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Step 2
Select your other beads with practicality in mind, taking into account how pearls differ from stone, glass, wood, plastic and other bead types. As organic substances covered by a delicate nacre, or iridescent layer, pearls are vulnerable to light, water and friction. Set adjacent to rough stones, pearls will get abraded over time. Knot the beading cord between the pearls and other stones to solve this problem.
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Step 3
Select your beading or stringing wire in an equally practical spirit. Pearls are drilled with very fine holes. Use beading wire, silk cord or gold or sterling silver wire that is fine enough to fit the pearls' drill holes, in addition to the drill holes of your other beads. Make sure that the drill holes are the right size for the beading wire when you design your pearl necklace.
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Step 4
Explore contrast in designing the layout of your pearl necklace strand. Pearls stand out when paired with contrasting surface textures, such as those of gemstone beads, sterling silver beads and even bone beads. The delicate pastels, neutrals, and jewel tones of cultured freshwater pearls contrast well with glittering faceted Czech glass, Swarovsky crystals, or garnet, amethyst or other transparent and semi-transparent faceted semiprecious gemstones. Contrast in size and shape is also effective: use seed pearls in place of regular spacer beads, or fashion a small graduated array of stick pearls as an impromptu pendant in the center of your strand.
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Step 5
Lay out the pearls and other beads on a beading board or towel to see how the design looks. Fasten a clasp--and choose a clasp that matches the design in both size and style--only after you're sure the design will work in practice as well as in theory. Sometimes seeing the design of your beaded necklace laid out reveals design flaws.
