QI recently purchased a broken liquid-silver necklace from a jeweler friend who was going to melt the beads down. I just couldn't let him do that with all those gorgeous silver beads. I need to restring the beads, but I am not sure what to string them on. They are very tiny, and I want to make the necklace as strong as possible. Any suggestions? Thanks, Paula Lawrence

AI don't blame you for rescuing these tiny treasures. The appearance and feel of liquid silver is unmistakable, and with a little care, strung liquid-silver beads can be beautiful jewelry for a long time. Liquid-silver beads are sterling silver tubes with small holes and usually range from about 2-10 mm in length. The term liquid silver reflects the way the beads look when they are strung (usually on multistrand necklaces), flowing together as a complete unit. There are also gold-filled and base metal tubes in the same sizes and shapes as the silver, and there are twisted and shaped tubes as well.

To answer your question, I prefer size .010 Soft Touch 7-strand beading wire when stringing liquid-silver beads. It has the strength and drape that you are looking for. You can string liquid-silver beads on regular beading thread, but I like the Soft Touch because you have the versatility to finish the necklace in several different ways. You can use Micro-crimps to finish each individual strand using a multistrand clasp, you can use regular crimps to group the strands together using a single-strand clasp, or you can tie knots in the Soft Touch if you want to use bead tips.

When storing liquid silver, place a tarnish-preventing strip in with the beads. Finished jewelry can be stored in pouches made of tarnish-preventing fabric, or for best results, wear your jewelry often, as this is the best way to keep tarnishing to a minimum.

For a liquid-silver necklace and bracelet project, check out Silver Cascade by Glenda Payseno in the June 2005 issue of Bead&Button magazine.

Anna Elizabeth Draeger
Associate Editor
Bead&Button magazine