The DIY sautoir necklace combines elegance and versatility, perfect for any occasion. By combining Miyuki pearls, precise and regular, with freshwater pearls, organic and pearly, you create a luminous and unique piece of jewelry. This tutorial is suitable for all levels, allowing you to adapt the colors and sizes to your own personal taste.
The sautoir necklace is one of those timeless pieces of jewelry that we love for everyday wear as much as for a dressier evening. Its fine lines, elegant fall and characteristic length make it a versatile piece, easy to layer or wear on its own to add a delicate touch to any outfit.
In this tutorial, we invite you to create a DIY sautoir necklace by combining two complementary materials: Miyuki pearls and freshwater pearls. A duo that plays on contrasts - the precision and regularity of the former against the organic, pearly side of the latter - for a result that's both luminous and natural.
Miyuki Rocaille 11/0 pearls are ideal for this type of jewelry. Their miniature size and finesse enable even, uniform stringing, for a necklace that's light and comfortable to wear. Freshwater pearls add character: their slightly irregular shape and pearly lustre create a lovely contrast with the rigor of Miyuki. The result is a piece of handmade jewelry that looks anything but handmade - and that's the whole point.
Of course, you can adapt it to your own taste: play with the Miyuki colors, vary the size of the freshwater pearls or adjust the overall length of the necklace. Our collection of Rocaille Miyuki 11/0 pearls gives you a wide choice of shades to personalize your creation.
This tutorial is accessible to beginners as well as more experienced designers. The techniques covered - threading on wire, using crushable beads, forming loops on nails - are easy to learn and provide a good basis for your future DIY jewelry projects.
Prefer a more assertive version? Check out our selection of Miyuki Rocailles beads in deep pink to give your sautoir a more colorful, peppy character. A simple change of hue is enough to completely transform the spirit of the jewel - from the most discreet to the most assertive, the choice is yours.
Share your creations on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook @PerlesAndCo - we can't wait to see them!
Cut approximately 120 cm of nylon thread (to be adjusted according to the desired length of your collar).
You can refer to this data sheet for help: How to choose the right length for your necklace?
Then thread a bead to be crushed, followed by a wire protector, and thread the wire back through the bead to be crushed. Gently crush the bead with a pair of crush bead pliers. Add a crush bead cover on top, then close it with flat-nose pliers, without applying too much pressure.
Prepare the freshwater pearl charm: thread a palet freshwater pearl (FW-123) onto a nail, then form a loop.
If necessary, you can use this data sheet: Form a loop on a nail or jewelry pin, or use One Step 2.25 mm Looper pliers to cut the nail to size and form a loop.
Attach the freshwater pearl charm to the wire guard with an open ring.
Start threading with pink Rocaille Miyuki pearls (MR11/519), interspersing from time to time 1 gold Rocaille Miyuki pearl (MR11/5101) and 1 freshwater pearl 5 mm (FW-108).
Here
[30 pink pearls + 1 gold pearl ] x 5, then 1 freshwater pearl 5 mm, 1 gold pearl. Repeat the whole sequence 4 times.
And finally: [30 pink pearls + 1 gold pearl ] x 4
Repeat steps 1 and 2 to finalize your creation with the second freshwater pearl charm. Congratulations, your necklace is now complete!
You have a question about this tutorial? Ask it to our team and the people who have already tested it. The Perles & Co community is here to help you!
Credits
Perles & Co, Internet & E-Commerce company [27/04/2026] Any reproduction, representation, adaptation, in any form whatsoever, even partial, is prohibited, except for reproduction for private use not intended for collective use, representation in the family circle (art. L 122-5 CPI) and online publishing on condition that the source is mentioned and a link is included to the corresponding page of our site www.perlesandco.com.
