If you have ever held two gemstone necklaces side by side, one that pours across your fingers like water and moves with you, and another that feels a little stiff and sits there like it was set in place, you have already felt the difference silk knotting makes, even if nobody ever told you what you were noticing. I have been hand knotting natural gemstone strands for years now, and it took me about five years of practice before I could honestly call myself an expert, so I want to walk you through what silk knotting actually does, what I look for before a single knot is tied, and how you can tell a strand was made with care, whether you are holding it in your hands or looking at it on a screen.
What silk knotting actually does
The simplest way I can describe it is that each knot is a little silk pillow sitting between two stones. That tiny cushion keeps the stones from rubbing against one another and scratching each other over time, it gives each stone room to breathe so the light can pass through and around it, and it is what gives a knotted strand that soft, fluid drape that feels so good against your skin.
There is a safety reason too, and it is one most people never think about until it matters. If a knotted necklace were ever to break, the knots hold everything in place, so you might lose a single bead instead of watching the whole strand scatter across the floor.
I want to be honest here, because not every necklace needs to be knotted. Small, dainty beads can be strung beautifully on wire when you know how to do it so the stones are not constantly grinding against each other, and I have worn one of my own wire strung strands for about five years with every stone still in perfect shape. But when stones are larger and heavier, they simply look and wear better knotted, because the silk gives them space and lets them move the way they were meant to.
How to spot a strand that was rushed
When knotting is done well, every knot sits snug and flush against the stone on either side of it. When it is done in a hurry, you start to see little gaps between the stones and knots that float loose instead of hugging each bead.
The other thing I always look at is the ends. A lot of quickly made necklaces finish with bead tips or little caps where the silk meets the clasp, and while that is faster and easier, the silk eventually rubs against those metal tips until it wears through. It usually means nobody took the time to finish the strand properly, which brings me to the part of a necklace I care about more than any other.
The clasp is where a necklace holds or fails
Even though you wear it at the back of your neck where nobody sees it, the clasp is the most important part of the whole necklace, because every bit of weight pulls on it every single time you put the strand on, take it off, or layer it with other necklaces and chains.
So instead of the easy way, I finish every strand by weaving the silk back through the last three beads and knotting it backwards, which means the strand already runs on a double strand of silk, and at the beginning and the end it is carrying four. Then I attach the clasp and weld the jump rings closed so they can never pull open.
That welded jump ring is something I added because of something I learned. Years ago, before I had a welder in my studio, a client's jump ring slipped open, so I put it back on for her and welded it closed, and now every piece I make gets that same finish. I have never had a strand of mine fail at the clasp since, and it matters to me that a piece not only looks professionally finished but is secure, because that is where your necklace would be most likely to give way.
It starts long before the first knot
Most of the work that goes into a strand happens before I ever pick up the silk. There is sourcing, sorting and culling the stones, drilling by eye depending on the size of the silk, and sometimes trying several silk colors against the stones before I decide anything at all.
Choosing the stones themselves is something I really do by feel, with my hands and my heart. I am paying attention to the glow, the luster, the weight in my palm, and that moment when a strand stops me in my tracks and makes me gasp, because those are the stones I know other people walk right past and the ones I go looking for. I pass on stones with heavy cracks, though natural little imperfections are welcome because they give a stone its character, and I do not buy dyed stones at all.
That difference is not always obvious at first glance. A dyed purple jade strand and a natural lavender quartz can look similar in color in a photo, but in person there is a different glow, a different feel, and a different weight, and once you have held a lot of natural strands you start to notice it right away. I was actually once sent a broken necklace for repair by someone who believed it was one of mine, and when it arrived it was dyed jade that I would never have used, which is a pretty good reminder that not every strand is what it seems.
Right now I have a few strands of Namibian chalcedony on the way, a stone I have worked with before as charms and one that in my experience usually comes untreated. The mix of purple and blue, the glow, and the sheer size of these stones stopped me cold, and with only three strands available I knew I had to take every one of them before anyone else could. Stones like that are a world apart from something like common quartz that you can find almost any time.
Sometimes a strand waits a while for its person. I once had an mixed opal and gemstone piece with four stones grouped together that sat in my shop for a couple of years, and when the right person finally came along, it became her everyday necklace because of the colors, the size, and the length. I have come to believe that my connection to the stones ends up becoming their connection too, once a piece finds the person it was meant for.
Choosing the silk color
Silk color is one of those details most people never notice, and it is also one of my favorite parts of a custom order. Sometimes you want the silk to show as a pop of color and a little expression of your personality, and sometimes you want it to quietly disappear so the stones are the star.
I will often go into a strand with a silk color in mind and find out it does not work at all once I hold it against the stones, which is why I try colors before anything is made. For custom pieces, I send clients videos of different silk colors on their stones so they can see exactly how each one looks before we decide together, and honestly some of my very best pieces have come straight out of a client's own vision.
How to tell a strand was made with care when shopping online
When you cannot hold a necklace in your hands, the best thing you can do is ask the maker. Look for photos of the clasp, and if there are none, ask to see it. A maker who cares about their work should be happy to answer every question without hesitation, and if you ever get the feeling that someone is avoiding a question or not sharing something important, trust that feeling.
Most of my clients message me before they buy, and I love that. I send a personal video for each person, going slowly over the stones and the clasp, showing the strand held in my hands and worn, and filming it in different light, by a window and in direct sunlight, because natural stones are a little like chameleons and can look quite different from one light to the next. If you are wondering about length or size, a try on video is the easiest way to picture it on yourself.
Caring for your silk knotted necklace
You will often read online that a knotted strand needs restringing every six months to two years, and I think that depends almost entirely on how it is worn and cared for. Treat it like the precious piece it is: make it the last thing you put on when you head out the door and the first thing you take off when you come home, and lay it flat on your dresser, on a soft cloth, or in its pouch so nothing scratches it.
Keep it away from perfume, hairspray, setting spray and cleaning products, and take it off before you shower, swim, or work out. Silk is a natural fiber, so with very heavy wear, or with a drill hole that is not perfectly smooth, it can eventually wear through, the same way a car does not stay new forever no matter how much you love it. But with gentle care, a well made strand can last for many years. My great Nana hand knotted a strand that my mom still keeps in her safe, and every knot is still there and intact.
If your strand does need restringing someday, all you have to do is ask. Restringing takes me around three hours and is done for a labor fee, and it is also a lovely chance to switch to a new silk color if you want a fresh look.
Quick answers
Why are there knots between the beads on a necklace? Each knot cushions the stones so they do not rub and scratch each other, gives the strand a soft drape, and keeps beads from scattering if the necklace ever breaks.
How long does a silk knotted necklace last? With gentle care and proper finishing at the clasp, many years. Heavy wear, water, and sprays shorten its life.
Can I wear a silk knotted necklace in the shower? No. Water and products weaken silk over time, so take it off before showering, swimming, or working out.
Can I choose the silk color? Yes, on custom orders I send videos of different silk colors on your stones so you can see each option first.
Finding the stone that is right for you
I hope this leaves you feeling inspired to wear more beads, to look for natural gemstones, and to ask lots of questions about any finished piece so you know it is truly right for you. Asking me something never obligates you to buy anything, and I want you to feel completely safe reaching out, whether you are curious about a strand in my shop or dreaming about a custom piece.
Sourcing stones is honestly one of the most fun parts of what I do, so if you would like me to hunt for something for you, send me a message on Instagram at @brittanymyra or by email and tell me a little about what you love and the budget you have in mind, so I can start looking for the stone that is just right for you.
With love, Brittany
