Monofilament

I used to use monofilament for making necklaces. It really does work better than you'd think. People were skeptical about how the knots at the end are made, but I had a huge spool and plenty of practice to get it perfect. I used cord ends, and clamped them over a triple knot in such a way that they don't bite through, and still encapsulate the knot so that it couldn't unravel. Like this:

The hold lasts, it's sturdy, soft enough to be pleasantly flexible, and firm enough to easily string beads on. But the spool is almost gone, and I have started using nylon-coated wire (June). It's pricier, of course, and I have to be more frugal with it, not cutting off lengths so much longer than necessary like I used to do with the other stuff. But I love the cleaner-looking finishes at the end, with the wire and crimp. And buyers don't have to worry about leaving a necklace made with wire getting misshapen if left in their hot car. With the monofilament, when it's a small, lightweight pendant, you have to keep it stored hanging and cool so it stays straight.