Inherited pearl necklace ruined by repairers

[WhyCantPeopleBeNice]

I inherited a pearl necklace from my grandmother.
It needed to be repaired as the clasp wasn't attached. I took it to a jewellers who sent it off for repair. It's come back and I am really upset with what they have done. It's been strung so tightly it no longer fits in the original box, doesn't even hang straight and is now an extremely tight chocker.
My husband collected today and I'm so upset, I've called the jewellers who were dismissive told me I have the wrong original box, I explained it isn't because I have the matching earrings.
That these things are always done tight and I need to wear it to soften the silk it's been threaded with.
I've told her I totally disagree, they've destroyed my Nana's necklace and it needs to be redone. She said they'll request it's done loser but it will never fit the box it did when I gave it to them.
I cannot express how snotty she was, telling me I am wrong and they've done it right.
Please look at these pictures, has anyone had similar?
One picture is me holding it from the top so you can see how it curls because it's been done so tight
The other is in the original box so you can see how much has been lost.

Is this to be expected? Are my expectations unrealistic?

Pearls should be knotted between each one to keep them apart from each other so they don't rub the lustre off i believe.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

All cultured pearls are not the same. Some are very valuable

In the first photo where you posted you can see where they have knotted it in groups of 5, it should have been done between each pearl.

They have been lazy.

Take it back and get the money back. If they are a jewelers worth their salt they'll know it's a crap job.

I'm sorry they've messed up for Nana's necklace and hope you get it sorted x

Well from your photo I can count 87 pearls and there might be a couple more under your finger by the clasp.

It looks like 81 after restringing. They have been restrung incorrectly. There should have been a knot between each pearl. I'd insist they restrung them properly or refunded, your money so you could go somewhere more professional. I had a double string restrung at Goldsmiths and they sent them away to a specialist and they did a beautiful job. I had to wait over 2 weeks but it was worth it. I think I paid £157. A single string should obviously be cheaper.

F

All cultured pearls are not the same. Some are very valuable

Very true, @tittybumbum; however it was Lotus specifically I was referring to, and I'm pretty sure they're at the more modest end of things

They are far too tight. The string of pearls shouldn’t be bending like that. I wouldn’t trust them to fix it - get a refund and go elsewhere.

Have you placed it in the box actually fastened? The gap could be because youve not fastened it!

Whoa!

Far far too tight! Pearls are knotted between every pearl, or they will rub on each other and scratch and take off the lovely soft shine!! This is basic Pearl Stringing 101!

They should not be so tight that the strand won't hang straight down when held at one end either.

So this is a crap job and whilst its not ruined as they can be re-strung, leaving them like that and worse, wearing them like that as they have advised, will in a fairly short time frame, damage each pearl that is touching another.

It isn't unusual that they might be knotted with a bigger or smaller gap between them than they were originally, and thus not exactly fit the box, but that difference is shocking and a direct result of them cramming five in a row and knotting so tight they can't move.

Eh?

F = Following. As in following the thread. I’m not sure why people still do that as you can watch a thread without having to comment

As everyone has said, it's a very unprofessional job and they should be embarrassed they're trying to pretend otherwise.

There should be a knot between every pearl.

I have my grandmother's pearls and they are individually knotted to protect them from rubbing and from being lost should the strand break.

Surely if the silk is going to relax / stretch a bit, the every-5-pearl gap will just get bigger?

No those boxes are rigid early plastic - the necklace should fit perfectly around it without stretching. The necklace is clearly too short now to do so.

I was wondering too - maybe you have a photo?

are the pearly just strung together or are there any type spacers in between them?

it does look like a bad job.

I'm a jeweller and it makes me really sad and annoyed that jewellers are often seen as untrustworthy (but understand why when people have had bad experiences)
Stringing pearls is not sonething all jewellers do (I've never strung pearls in 25 years) ...but I wouldn't attempt it at the risk of ruining something, I would simply advise that I'm unable to do that.
Having said that the pearls and the clasp are the main components so while it looks like they've made a bad job of it (I would also expect that it would be knotted between each pearl and that there may be a slight difference in length - if some had been lost or they needed to supply more to make the correct length, that should have been explained) I don't think is unresolvable if done by someone competent .

Those are almost certainly simulated pearls so the idea of the jeweller making off with a few can be discounted. I have handled and seen a lot of pearl necklaces and if they are knotted, then it's each single one. I have never seen them knotted in groups of five, even with simulated pearls they are either not knotted at all or singly knotted. The number of knots affects the length - the more knots, the longer the necklace. I think it's the knotting in groups of five which has reduced the length rather than any missing pearls. I have handled a newly restrung necklace which was stiff and I was told it would soften and it did but probably not as tight as yours. It's not ruined. I'd demand a refund and get them restrung properly with single knotting.

Thanks for everyone's feedback, I have said previously I wouldn't say they have lost/taken pearls partially because I have zero proof but also it's not valuable - I trusted them and wouldn't have thought of counting them before. We live and learn.
I really hope the issue is the knotting every 5 pearls as has been suggested.

They came recommended for repairs they'd done for other people, although to my knowledge it wasn't pearls but other jewelry.

I am going in tomorrow with the intention of allowing them the opportunity to rectify BUT if she looks at it and maintains it's right then I'll be clear I have no belief that they are able to remedy the problem.
They should be embarrassed it's left their shop like this, and if she continues with the attitude I'll request a refund and be prepared for them to cut the silk (so they know I'm not just looking for a free job) and go elsewhere

I agree that they're simulated pearls because real pearls would usually have a gold or platinum clasp. The monetary value isn't important though because they have huge sentimental value. They've done a terrible job with the stringing and you're quite right to take them back.

The snotty attitude you have been met with is appalling. Ask for a refund (with a cut if necessary - like your style!) and then I would be telling everyone in the vicinity what a bloody shoddy job they did and how badly you were treated.

This is the same number of pearls. Knotted vs strung. The length is massively affected.

They've absolutely messed that up and can't know what they're doing. Of course they should've knitted between every one...why would anyone trust incredibly valuable tiny beads on the strength of a piece of silk?! It would be so easy to snag those and see a bunch of pearls go down a drain

Update
Please excuse any typos, im a mix of shaking and crying

so, before I went to the jewellers I went to another in town, asked their opinion as they could see them in person and could tell me if I was being unreasonable. They agreed with everyone here, should have been every pearl knotted and they said whilst it will be tighter until worn which warms and softens the silk the knotting is causing the issues and the kinks

I then go to the jewellers who did it
from the start she had attitude, im wrong shes right - every 5 pearls is fine, thats what I asked for (no, i went there upset asking for them to be restrung for my Nanas funeral, she decided how it would be done)
it went on and on - I said is she even going to send them back to be reknotted every pearl, she said no.
to send them back would be an insult to the repairers!
I said she needed to refund then, I even said you can cut the string and i'll go elsewhere. She laughed and said she would not do that
They arent even real pearls it doesnt matter

I said if they are refusing to rectify the fault and refusing to refund then ill be very public in my reviews and opinions at which point she said id be stupid to do that. I managed to walk out without crying in front of her, got to the first jewellers and promptly burst into tears.

They are going to restring and tie every knot for me. They do it in house, the lady that does it spoke to me and they only charge £35, unlike the £75 the first ones charged

so, Mumsnet
I paid £75, it was paid for on a debit card - what if any recourse do I actually have?
Is my only option name and shame?
They do not have a facebook page with much content, last posting was December, they have 28 likes and 33 followers so a Facebook review isnt the way to go. The website is one page website

or should I simply walk away?

Name and shame on local Facebook groups, Google reviews, Trustpilot etc. Contact your bank and ask if they can do a chargeback on your debit card. If not then take the jeweller to small claims court.