Baroque Flameball Eariings. New? French wire technique

Jewelry Discussion
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I recently made a pair of very expensive baroque pearl earrings for a client. Thanks to this discussion, I found the pearls via the Pearl Goddess aka Betty Sue, whom I recommend for high quality pearls.
The pearls were beyond beautiful with deep nacre. I found the center point and drilled them underwater in a pearl holder with special pearl bits from Rio.
I read the post from Nancy Hamilton on glue. But…when my client got them, she managed to loosen one of the 18k French wires. These pearls have “big bellies” and they aren’t ears to put on. I retrieved the pearls and took them to a very good bench jeweler and asked for his advice.

He said “ oh you can just put a swivel on the end of the wire inside the pearl.” I said “ that is not in my wheelhouse.”
So John put the swivel in, charged me $60 and the client is now vert happy with her earrings.

My question…have any of you ever heard of this technique…and how did you install and glue in the swivel?

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I think I know what you’re talking about, but without any visuals I can’t be sure. Since you know the jeweler who put the swivel in for you can you ask him how he did it? My guess is that he’d be happy to explain it.

Jeff

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Yes, you are correct. However the guy only work at night. I just caught him at a rare moment when he was in the shop. I think I’ll go back an see if I can meet him again.
I’ve been thinking about how he must have soldered the swivel onto the French wires and then somehow inserted them.

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