What is wax cord? Because there were traditional problems with the traditional leather cords in the jewelry industry, the so-called wax cord came on the market in the 1970s. It is the ultimate product to make beautiful necklaces, it is super strong and virtually unbreakable. In contrast to leather, it also remains beautiful when it gets wet and hardly discolours. Also, sweat does not affect the washing cord. This was a common complaint with leather laces. In short, a really nice product, cheaper than leather and much nicer to use.