Why we tie a knot between every pearl

A knotted strand takes our stringer about an hour and a half; an unknotted one, ten minutes (sample note).

The knots keep the pearls from rubbing against each other, which slowly wears the nacre. And if the silk ever breaks, only one pearl falls off.

Knots also let a strand hang softly, the way pearls should. That is why we never string on wire or nylon.