- Joined
- Aug 14, 2009
- Messages
- 27,475
LT: https://loupetroop.com/listings/bra...ma-bracelet-8-8-dot-5mm-with-psl-any-interest
I'm going to end up with an 8.5-9mm Madama bracelet... With very similar colouring... And I can't super justify both...
The short version:
I purchased this in 2018 from Pearl Paradise. Back when Madama-quality blue akoya were more readily available. I'd specified that I wanted "very lustrous pearls" with "strong pink overtone", and I had multiple options shipped out to look at and chose this lineup. That was back when I didn't know all that much about pearls... But I'll go ahead and say that apparently I actually had pretty good pearl eyes even back then
My latest purchase from Takahashi included a 8.5-9mm Madama strand. The nicer of the two nicest Madama strands Takahashi had available. Like, Takahashi explaining that if I decided against purchasing they were going to set it aside internally - that sort of nice.
So I opened my Takahashi parcel last night. And much to my surprise, I discovered that my old Pearl Paradise bracelet is legit as deep in colour, has as strong overtones, and is as lustrous! But... These pearls, they're really nice, but they're not god's gift to mankind. Y'know? To me it's a really strong statement on how far general akoya quality has dropped - the fact that a quality that wasn't uncommon five years ago is now apparently rare enough to make even a supplier pay especial attention. Poor oysters!! And poor us consumers!!
Anyway. The Takahashi strand was for my FIL to give my MIL, but he doesn't wnat the whole strand. I was originally thinking maybe I'd reome the remnant from that strand, because I just assumed that it wouldn't be as deep in colour as my Pearl Paradise. But since it is - I'd rather keep the bigger pearls, and my other half has okayed it even though it's more pricey, so...
Condition:
Excellent. Frequently admired on the bedspread or in its box. Worn occasionally, almost always solo, never stacked with anything other than another pearl bracelet. I do have some pearl bracelets that I keep for stacking with metal, etc. - this isn't one of them!
I'm happy to restring it for anyone who'd like me to. The clasp is high-polish YG - looks shiny still but you'll see some fine surface scratching up close. See closeup photo.
Luster:
Glossy and contrasty. Holds its own with my latest Takahashi.
Colour:
Come to $[insert diety here] time: Blue akoya are flat out impossible to match exactly. I'd call these pearls an 85% colour match. I'd rank the Takahashi a touch better on colour match - let's call it 90%? By my standards. Some pearls have stronger pink overtone, some pearls have stronger green overtone. My photos are true to what I see. If you want all your pearls to match exactly and you know you'll see colour nuances in pearls - blue akoya are not for you, this bracelet included.
Skin/surface:
Some pearls have slight veining/lumps, some have some hammering. Visible on close inspection but not when worn. None are egregiously blemished. Again, my photos are true to what I see. No drilling problems or anything like that to worry about.
Price:
Asking $1355. PayPal F&F or Zelle only. My out of pocket on this piece is $1594, so that's 15% off (of very old pricing - and blue akoya have gone up since). Seems fair given that the pearls aren't brand new. I'll take care of shipping within the US. My price is firm, I'm not looking to take a significant loss on something that's apparently genuinely uncommon, more than I realized myself.
I'm going to end up with an 8.5-9mm Madama bracelet... With very similar colouring... And I can't super justify both...
The short version:
I purchased this in 2018 from Pearl Paradise. Back when Madama-quality blue akoya were more readily available. I'd specified that I wanted "very lustrous pearls" with "strong pink overtone", and I had multiple options shipped out to look at and chose this lineup. That was back when I didn't know all that much about pearls... But I'll go ahead and say that apparently I actually had pretty good pearl eyes even back then
My latest purchase from Takahashi included a 8.5-9mm Madama strand. The nicer of the two nicest Madama strands Takahashi had available. Like, Takahashi explaining that if I decided against purchasing they were going to set it aside internally - that sort of nice.
So I opened my Takahashi parcel last night. And much to my surprise, I discovered that my old Pearl Paradise bracelet is legit as deep in colour, has as strong overtones, and is as lustrous! But... These pearls, they're really nice, but they're not god's gift to mankind. Y'know? To me it's a really strong statement on how far general akoya quality has dropped - the fact that a quality that wasn't uncommon five years ago is now apparently rare enough to make even a supplier pay especial attention. Poor oysters!! And poor us consumers!!
Anyway. The Takahashi strand was for my FIL to give my MIL, but he doesn't wnat the whole strand. I was originally thinking maybe I'd reome the remnant from that strand, because I just assumed that it wouldn't be as deep in colour as my Pearl Paradise. But since it is - I'd rather keep the bigger pearls, and my other half has okayed it even though it's more pricey, so...
Condition:
Excellent. Frequently admired on the bedspread or in its box. Worn occasionally, almost always solo, never stacked with anything other than another pearl bracelet. I do have some pearl bracelets that I keep for stacking with metal, etc. - this isn't one of them!
I'm happy to restring it for anyone who'd like me to. The clasp is high-polish YG - looks shiny still but you'll see some fine surface scratching up close. See closeup photo.
Luster:
Glossy and contrasty. Holds its own with my latest Takahashi.
Colour:
Come to $[insert diety here] time: Blue akoya are flat out impossible to match exactly. I'd call these pearls an 85% colour match. I'd rank the Takahashi a touch better on colour match - let's call it 90%? By my standards. Some pearls have stronger pink overtone, some pearls have stronger green overtone. My photos are true to what I see. If you want all your pearls to match exactly and you know you'll see colour nuances in pearls - blue akoya are not for you, this bracelet included.
Skin/surface:
Some pearls have slight veining/lumps, some have some hammering. Visible on close inspection but not when worn. None are egregiously blemished. Again, my photos are true to what I see. No drilling problems or anything like that to worry about.
Price:
Asking $1355. PayPal F&F or Zelle only. My out of pocket on this piece is $1594, so that's 15% off (of very old pricing - and blue akoya have gone up since). Seems fair given that the pearls aren't brand new. I'll take care of shipping within the US. My price is firm, I'm not looking to take a significant loss on something that's apparently genuinely uncommon, more than I realized myself.
Last edited:
300x240.png)