Help untangling MULTI STRAND necklaces

[maeday76]

Yep, it's a pretty bush-league thing to be asking for help with, but I have exhausted the webs and the only answer that ISN'T to do with unknotting chains (or separating a wad of necklaces) is buried 7ft down a Quora page and was helpful in general, but didn't work for this particular piece. 

The advice was to take two strands from the middle of the group of strands and while hanging the necklace vertically, separate them to see what direction the bottom clasp moves toward. The idea being that the "guilty" strands will pull it out of plumb and give you a sense of which parts need to leapfrog each other or have the clasp reversed out through.  

The necklace I'm working with is a 5 strand liquid silver (or silver heishi) piece and the combination of delicate silk thread, age, and the certainty that I will make it worse without guidance brings me here. 

Its not terribly valuable, but it is perfect for the pendant I'm trying to list. 

Anyone who has ideas, even crazy ones, is a welcome voice. 

It seems simple, but it is beyond me. 

@silverstatetreasureboxes @santamonicajeweler 

 

 

 

[silverstatetreasureboxes · Accepted solution]

@maeday76 

Yup happened to me before with liquid silver. A delicate operation indeed, here's what I do. First sit down with a glass of wine, hold the silver cone end cap with your knees, comb the strands toward you evenly till you get to the other end. Then start flipping the end cap in and out all the while drinking your wine and by the time your finished, you'll be happy and want to do it again! Silver

[maeday76]

You've done this? Like more than once? 

Because I have messed up necklaces...

 

A couple of times. 

Haven't tried the stroking it toward me on my lap, though. 

I finally got this Gerda Lyndgaard Monies piece somewhere close to ok, and I quit while ahead. 

So Vodka and thorazine it is. I will keep you posted.

[donsdetour]

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@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

@maeday76 

Yup happened to me before with liquid silver. A delicate operation indeed, here's what I do. First sit down with a glass of wine, hold the silver cone end cap with your knees, comb the strands toward you evenly till you get to the other end. Then start flipping the end cap in and out all the while drinking your wine and by the time your finished, you'll be happy and want to do it again! Silver

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That the way to do it: take time.

Where to turn the end through is what get you.... Can even make a bigger mess.

[maeday76]

I wasn't in a hurry when I messed up my previous attempts. But thanks.

If you've got experience with this, is there any way to "leave breadcrumbs" so I can undo what I have done when it goes off the rails?

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

Usually it's in the middle but take 3 drinks before and start in the middle then a couple more drinks then 4 more drinks..( almost wish I drank, sounds fun!)

[maeday76]

Unless you have a preexisting condition, it's never too late to start. 🍸📿💣💥🤞🤞

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@maeday76 

Lol, you must be doing a little house keeping on the jewelry board! I completely forgot about this wine tasting drinking party!!

[maeday76]

You nailed it. I have a trunk of stuff that I have just gone back through and looking to see if there are any new answers to old questions. Problem is, I am easy to distract and I end up typing as much as I'm reading!

The next question is going to be "do any of you guys have a fix for damaged gold plating on metal?"

Either spot coloring or overall color improvement would be super helpful.