Ask the Experts Stringing Q&A

I have 10mm Opal Beads. I'm looking to put a gold spacer bead between them—I want to keep this necklace elegant. What size gold spacer bead would look the best?

You could use a variety of sizes of spacer beads with a 10mm bead. If the bead is flat like a coin, I’d match the spacer bead to the smallest measurement. For example, if the coin size is 10mm x 4mm, I would keep the spacer bead size to 4mm. If you have 10mm round beads you can go a bit larger—possibly to 5mm. Anything larger will look like a main bead instead of a spacer. Both heishis or saucer beads make elegant spacers.

- Patti