- Joined
- Jul 31, 2014
- Messages
- 19,567
Well friends, buckle up for a saga. Let me preface this by saying that my current (for the past ~5 years) favorite jewelry makers are Van Craeynest and Kataoka. I admire (stalk) their designs often.
Let's rewind to ~10 days ago. It's morning. I'm drinking coffee and perusing TRR, as I do daily. I'm not buying much right now, but I like finding stuff and posting on the antique subforum for others to admire/buy. Scrolling....scrolling.....GASP.
I see this listing: https://www.therealreal.com/products/jewelry/rings/engagement-ring/18k-platinum-diamond-ring-nv21t
I instantly recognize the style, aesthetic, etc, as Kataoka. But no, it can't be. Why would a Kataoka ring be on TRR??? I decide that I don't care and buy immediately on the off chance it's real. TRR gives 2 weeks to return and I decide it's worth the chance.
I wait. I stalk the listing and the Kataoka website.
Ring arrives. I open the box and am quite confident it's authentic but want to be sure. I decide to email Kataoka and see if there's any serial number or makers mark to check for. I figure they'll ignore me since I'm a random who bought a ring 2nd hand. Surprisingly, a very nice employee from the NYC store writes back. He asks for pics under a loupe. I take them, send, and wonder.
He writes back. ITS FREAKING AUTHENTIC! It's this ring: https://www.kataoka-jewelry.com/en/categories/en-rings/diamond-rose-ring-supreme/
You must wonder at this point why i used the word "saga" instead of "joyful coincidence". Well. In my haste to buy this beautiful ring, I didn't look at sizing. It's a 4.5 and I am a 7. This is a problem.
I write back to Kataoka humbly asking if they can resize to my (relatively) enormous finger. I am waiting to see if it's possible. They aren't sure, they're asking the atelier in Japan. I am waiting anxiously.
Please send PS dust. I love love love Kataoka so much and will be sad if I have to return or rehome this amazing ring.
Pics (not good ones because of closet lighting and my fingers being so much bigger than the delicate ring itself).
Let's rewind to ~10 days ago. It's morning. I'm drinking coffee and perusing TRR, as I do daily. I'm not buying much right now, but I like finding stuff and posting on the antique subforum for others to admire/buy. Scrolling....scrolling.....GASP.
I see this listing: https://www.therealreal.com/products/jewelry/rings/engagement-ring/18k-platinum-diamond-ring-nv21t
I instantly recognize the style, aesthetic, etc, as Kataoka. But no, it can't be. Why would a Kataoka ring be on TRR??? I decide that I don't care and buy immediately on the off chance it's real. TRR gives 2 weeks to return and I decide it's worth the chance.
I wait. I stalk the listing and the Kataoka website.
Ring arrives. I open the box and am quite confident it's authentic but want to be sure. I decide to email Kataoka and see if there's any serial number or makers mark to check for. I figure they'll ignore me since I'm a random who bought a ring 2nd hand. Surprisingly, a very nice employee from the NYC store writes back. He asks for pics under a loupe. I take them, send, and wonder.
He writes back. ITS FREAKING AUTHENTIC! It's this ring: https://www.kataoka-jewelry.com/en/categories/en-rings/diamond-rose-ring-supreme/
You must wonder at this point why i used the word "saga" instead of "joyful coincidence". Well. In my haste to buy this beautiful ring, I didn't look at sizing. It's a 4.5 and I am a 7. This is a problem.
I write back to Kataoka humbly asking if they can resize to my (relatively) enormous finger. I am waiting to see if it's possible. They aren't sure, they're asking the atelier in Japan. I am waiting anxiously.
Please send PS dust. I love love love Kataoka so much and will be sad if I have to return or rehome this amazing ring.
Pics (not good ones because of closet lighting and my fingers being so much bigger than the delicate ring itself).
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