Takahashi x Pearl Paradise Livestream!

[Chasiu]

Something about the simplicity of the diamond dew really speaks to me Any chance I could see a picture of your Tahitian drop with the diamond dew?

I also like the fan shaped finding though, it’s also very simple in its own right! Simple but with a touch of bling.

Sure! My Tahitian drop is 10.6mm x 8.6mm and I chose the rose gold Diamond Dew. I previously posted them in this thread.

 

[clockworkreader]

Sure! My Tahitian drop is 10.6mm x 8.6mm and I chose the rose gold Diamond Dew. I previously posted them in this thread.

The rose gold really brings out the cherry overtones of your tahitian drop! Your pearl is the perfect drop ratio too.

And look at the matching on your earrings... the colours and shapes are matched perfectly!

 

[concun]

Do you pay duty fee/import tax if purchasing via the livestream?

Takahashi just let me know that they don’t have gem Akoya in stock for the original sizes I was looking for (9-9.5 or 9.5-10). Are these sizes rare in gem quality?

 

[Snowdrop13]

Do you pay duty fee/import tax if purchasing via the livestream?

Certainly would do if buying outside the US, not sure if prices have factored that in for within the US.

 

[clockworkreader]

Do you pay duty fee/import tax if purchasing via the livestream?

Takahashi just let me know that they don’t have gem Akoya in stock for the original sizes I was looking for (9-9.5 or 9.5-10). Are these sizes rare in gem quality?

Very rare, especially 9.5-10. Akoya start becoming rare past 9mm, and high quality ones exceedingly so. Out of pure curiosity, I asked Mikimoto in HK if they had any 9.5-10mm Akoya pairs in AAA quality, and even they said no.

 

[clockworkreader]

I joined late and waited for a pair of gem Akoya 9-9.5 but didn’t see it. After the show, Takahashi quoted via Insta 1k-1.2k range and they will find me a match on Monday. My caliper just came and I measured the ones my Mom gifted me, they are around 9.8m but they look small on my earlobes , so if I get a pair, they would need to be 10-10.5 or 10.5-11, I suppose it will be a huge price jump. Does any of you have any clue what the price range would be? I am lucky to have 13 and 15mm SS studs but I am in love with Akoya more. TIA.

I’m not sure you’d be able to get a high quality pair of 10-10.5 or 10.5-11mm akoya even if you had an unlimited budget. This size + quality isn’t just rare, it’s almost unheard of

 

[concun]

Very rare, especially 9.5-10. Akoya start becoming rare past 9mm, and high quality ones exceedingly so. Out of pure curiosity, I asked Mikimoto in HK if they had any 9.5-10mm Akoya pairs in AAA quality, and even they said no.

Thanks for your reply. At the end of the livestream, there was 9-9.5 gem akoya strand so I assume the size is not that rare. I’d better cherish my studs. Comparing to pictures of Takahashi’s gem, mine is lack of luster so I did not reach for them. I was hoping to acquire a nicer pairs in the same or bigger size but look like it won’t happen.

 

[yssie]

Do you pay duty fee/import tax if purchasing via the livestream?

One of the advantages of buying through Pearl Paradise is that they'll handle the import requirements and they also offer a return policy! Even if they pass those costs on to customers - you get to avoid all the hassle of an import gone awry (and it really can be such a hassle! )

 

[yssie]

Thanks for your reply. At the end of the livestream, there was 9-9.5 gem akoya strand so I assume the size is not that rare. I’d better cherish my studs. Comparing to pictures of Takahashi’s gem, mine is lack of luster so I did not reach for them. I was hoping to acquire a nicer pairs in the same or bigger size but look like it won’t happen.

I’m not sure you’d be able to get a high quality pair of 10-10.5 or 10.5-11mm akoya even if you had an unlimited budget. This size + quality isn’t just rare, it’s almost unheard of

@concun - this, unfortunately! Even 9-9.5 is genuinely very rare in the tippy top qualities.

Akoya oysters keep growing and getting bigger throughout their lives - farmers will implant a smaller nucleus into a young oyster, and then after 12-18 months they'll open the oyster up and remove the pearl, and carefully implant a second bigger nucleus into it. So the thing with the bigger pearl sizes is that they can only be made by older (bigger) second-harvest oysters... And it's more rare for older oysters to create high-lustre pearls. Younger oysters make higher quality nacre, in general. Add both the akoya plague and global warming to the equation and the pool of "applicants" even available for second implantation is so so so much smaller! That's why there's such a drop-off of availability in these bigger sizes - a first-timer oyster wouldn't survive the implant needed for a 9mm pearl.

The best of the best of the best in any size range are reserved for earrings. Gem quality for earrings is going to be even more stringent than gem quality for strands. I'd recommend having Takahashi keep watch for you in the 9-9.5mm range - a pair will show up eventually!

 

[NY_Resonant]

Do you pay duty fee/import tax if purchasing via the livestream?

Takahashi just let me know that they don’t have gem Akoya in stock for the original sizes I was looking for (9-9.5 or 9.5-10). Are these sizes rare in gem quality?

Quite rare at this level of quality since Takahashi is very stringent on the pearl grading. I spent 3-4 months waiting for a 9mm+ "high" gem pair to become available last year with Takahashi and one never arrived so I eventually bought a 8.9mm pair.

Here is a 9mm+ pair that looks very beautiful at the Takahashi competitor General Pearl. Note that the right pearl has a bit more green overtone (@yssie you are our color expert, is this difference minor enough to pass muster with you?) but it looks matched well enough to work for me anyhow.

【テリ評価100点満点・大珠9mmサイズにして最高評価の美しさ】越物花珠真珠イヤリング・ピアス用ペア珠 | GENERAL PEARL

Note: I cannot comment on the quality difference between General Pearl grading of 100 luster/top 2 surface to Takahashi Gem Grade... @lovedogs I believe has purchased from both vendors and may be able to opine?

 

[lovedogs]

Quite rare at this level of quality since Takahashi is very stringent on the pearl grading. I spent 3-4 months waiting for a 9mm+ "high" gem pair to become available last year with Takahashi and one never arrived so I eventually bought a 8.9mm pair.

Here is a 9mm+ pair that looks very beautiful at the Takahashi competitor General Pearl. Note that the right pearl has a bit more green overtone (@yssie you are our color expert, is this difference minor enough to pass muster with you?) but it looks matched well enough to work for me anyhow.

【テリ評価100点満点・大珠9mmサイズにして最高評価の美しさ】越物花珠真珠イヤリング・ピアス用ペア珠 | GENERAL PEARL

Note: I cannot comment on the quality difference between General Pearl grading of 100 luster/top 2 surface to Takahashi Gem Grade... @lovedogs I believe has purchased from both vendors and may be able to opine?

I'm not 100% sure I have any T "gem" pearls--I know I don't have any strands from them. But it's possible that the small pearls I got for my bracelet were "gem luster" or similar. I have been really happy with both vendors for what it's worth! If i have something specific in mind I typically ask both of them and see what options they have and then go from there.

 

[concun]

I don’t know what got me but suddenly I am interested in Pearl again. I dusted my 7.5x8 strand and wore it last Sunday, then I had trouble to unlock it and now it broke .
I have been insta Takahashi and they have a 8.5x9 natural white gem with minor flaw, comparing to 9x9.5 gem shown in the live stream, the 9x9.5 is pinker. I always look for white because that is all I know but I wonder if the rosy tone will actually be nice too. Then I rewatched the first day live stream and saw 9.5-10 AAA strand. Now I am torn. All three strands are available. Which one is your preference and why? I can still get #2 and #3 via PP.
#1 8.5x9 natural white gem with minor (1st pic)
#2 9x9.5 regular white gem (1st pic)
#3 9.5x10 AAA white (2nd pic - screen shot)

 

[yssie]

Quite rare at this level of quality since Takahashi is very stringent on the pearl grading. I spent 3-4 months waiting for a 9mm+ "high" gem pair to become available last year with Takahashi and one never arrived so I eventually bought a 8.9mm pair.

Here is a 9mm+ pair that looks very beautiful at the Takahashi competitor General Pearl. Note that the right pearl has a bit more green overtone (@yssie you are our color expert, is this difference minor enough to pass muster with you?) but it looks matched well enough to work for me anyhow.

【テリ評価100点満点・大珠9mmサイズにして最高評価の美しさ】越物花珠真珠イヤリング・ピアス用ペア珠 | GENERAL PEARL

Note: I cannot comment on the quality difference between General Pearl grading of 100 luster/top 2 surface to Takahashi Gem Grade... @lovedogs I believe has purchased from both vendors and may be able to opine?

Dang those are nicely matched and what a price For that size!! Even with shipping and import and use tax - that's a heck of a price!!

I know that even within their 100/100 terri eval there can be differences in luster, but when I wrote in to ask about some strands several months ago General Pearl was so forthright about that, and so willing to share where specific strands fell in their estimation - I'd personally be very comfortable taking them at their word on quality. I'm not in the market but if I was, um, I'd be drafting an email...

 

[NY_Resonant]

Dang those are nicely matched and what a price For that size!! Even with shipping and import and use tax - that's a heck of a price!!

I know that even within their 100/100 terri eval there can be differences in luster, but when I wrote in to ask about some strands several months ago General Pearl was so forthright about that, and so willing to share where specific strands fell in their estimation - I'd personally be very comfortable taking them at their word on quality. I'm not in the market but if I was, um, I'd be drafting an email...

Haha, I had to fight the same impulse before posting about that pair! But i’m on ban island from having just replaced/upgraded the wife’s wedding band/ER… So gotta sit on my hands.

 

[Chasiu]

Finally received a picture of my Takahashi gem akoya pairs! I'm too impatient to have them sent back and forth for inspection, so I'm asking PP to set them first. The smaller 5-5.5mm pair will be set with 14k YG studs for my daughter, but still unsure what to do with the 8-8.5mm natural white pair for myself.



I already have a 7-7.5mm pinked hanadama pair of studs, so was thinking of doing a drop or a dangle for these guys. I had previously asked PP to send me some photos of the Solid Eternal and Diamond Bar settings, but I have since had another pair of blue Akoyas set with the Solid Eternal (which are currently on the way to me!!) so don't want to repeat that.



I think the Diamond Bar would be really cute, but I also like the idea of pearl charms to go with diamond huggies I already own. My fear though is that there is potential for the pearl to accidentally scratch against the diamonds. I know PP has some other styles where the pearl charm is on a jump ring that is welded to the huggie itself, but I don't really want to buy another pair of huggies just for this. I made a really crude mock up here pasting the pearls on top of my spinel Spring Gulch charms (ignore the yellow gold halo lol).



Does anyone have any experience with pearl dangles on diamond huggies? Any thoughts to share about the potential for scratching?

 

[newtojewels]

Finally received a picture of my Takahashi gem akoya pairs! I'm too impatient to have them sent back and forth for inspection, so I'm asking PP to set them first. The smaller 5-5.5mm pair will be set with 14k YG studs for my daughter, but still unsure what to do with the 8-8.5mm natural white pair for myself.



I already have a 7-7.5mm pinked hanadama pair of studs, so was thinking of doing a drop or a dangle for these guys. I had previously asked PP to send me some photos of the Solid Eternal and Diamond Bar settings, but I have since had another pair of blue Akoyas set with the Solid Eternal (which are currently on the way to me!!) so don't want to repeat that.



I think the Diamond Bar would be really cute, but I also like the idea of pearl charms to go with diamond huggies I already own. My fear though is that there is potential for the pearl to accidentally scratch against the diamonds. I know PP has some other styles where the pearl charm is on a jump ring that is welded to the huggie itself, but I don't really want to buy another pair of huggies just for this. I made a really crude mock up here pasting the pearls on top of my spinel Spring Gulch charms (ignore the yellow gold halo lol).



Does anyone have any experience with pearl dangles on diamond huggies? Any thoughts to share about the potential for scratching?

I don't think it would scratch unless you were doing CrossFit wearing these earrings or didn't store them carefully. Tagging @dk168 who I believe has pearl drops on diamond huggies.

 

[dk168]

Thanks for the tag!

Here are the interchangeable drops I have to be worn with my tiny diamond huggies, the wire-wrapped ones I made myself for the Tahitian and mis-matched pair, the eye pins in the WSS pair as well as the pearls were sourced by @katbran via her shop.









To minimise the risk of scratching, I store the pearl drops and other drops in pairs separately from the diamond huggies.

Hope that helps.

DK

 

[molinePDG]

For education purposes: One pair of 10-10.5mm Akoya studs next to a 7.5mm pearl for scale.

They definitely can and do exist. They're very rare (that's an understatement), and the price tags that come with them tend to make little sense.

But they do exist.

 

[uwodahikamama]

For education purposes: One pair of 10-10.5mm Akoya studs next to a 7.5mm pearl for scale.

They definitely can and do exist. They're very rare (that's an understatement), and the price tags that come with them tend to make little sense.

But they do exist.

I was just scrolling this thread reading the comments, saw this picture and did a double take WOW what a pearl!!

 

[clockworkreader]

For education purposes: One pair of 10-10.5mm Akoya studs next to a 7.5mm pearl for scale.

They definitely can and do exist. They're very rare (that's an understatement), and the price tags that come with them tend to make little sense.

But they do exist.

Absolutely incredible! Where would these fall under the Moline scale (both the 7.5 and 10-10.5)?

 

[molinePDG]

Absolutely incredible! Where would these fall under the Moline scale (both the 7.5 and 10-10.5)?

As a pair the 10-10.5, probably AA if you nitpick. The color is a tiny bit different on each stud (one has more white-pink and the other is more white-pink-silver) and also even tho the luster is very sharp it's not quite as deeply contrasted as a "better" pair.

The 7-7.5 is of a gem pair. Spotlight like what I used for that photo is great for attention grabbing and showing colors and overtone but is not great for comparison. The gem pair is "punchier" in daylight. The way I describe them sounds like they are worlds apart but the large pair is still lovely, in particular when pickings of that kind of size range from very slim to non-existent

I don't want to derail anything but you're always welcome to reach out on IG or email and I'm definitely happy to answer anything pearl education wise

 

[NY_Resonant]

As a pair the 10-10.5, probably AA if you nitpick. The color is a tiny bit different on each stud (one has more white-pink and the other is more white-pink-silver) and also even tho the luster is very sharp it's not quite as deeply contrasted as a "better" pair.

The 7-7.5 is of a gem pair. Spotlight like what I used for that photo is great for attention grabbing and showing colors and overtone but is not great for comparison. The gem pair is "punchier" in daylight. The way I describe them sounds like they are worlds apart but the large pair is still lovely, in particular when pickings of that kind of size range from very slim to non-existent

I don't want to derail anything but you're always welcome to reach out on IG or email and I'm definitely happy to answer anything pearl education wise

Would a 9mm+ Moline gem pair have a lower luster threshold than a 7.5mm moline gem or do you disregard size in your grading thresholds?

 

[molinePDG]

Would a 9mm+ Moline gem pair have a lower luster threshold than a 7.5mm moline gem or do you disregard size in your grading thresholds?

As far as putting an actual listed grade to something, size is a non-factor for how I look. Obviously every grade band has to have some kind of range and in addition I'll happily remark on something's rarity relative to size.

But I will admit it sure makes it extra difficult when you get in those larger sizes and have no good side by side of the same size band to look at. Especially because you'll get so much less practice looking at those large sizes due to availability and by virtue of being bigger or smaller it's going to impact in some ways how a pearl will reflect or absorb light, the surface area it has to do so... that's where it gets tricky. I have a lot of pearls I've gotten from lots of different respected places both wholesale and retail to make sure I keep on track for my system (and that's a whole other can of worms because there's no universal). And this is where PriceScope members have been invaluable. There are trusted folks here who own lots of various brands, too, and have very generously offered to give me their opinions and comparison thoughts when I've asked-- either between pieces or at their local luxury boutiques. But in grading at least for me I'm always happy to tell folks if I think something is an in between and if I'm really stuck between two I kick it downward.

Now would you all get back to bragging about cool Pearl Paradise/Takahashi things in this thread--I'm reachable lots of ways if you have any questions for Moline-specific stuff, grading, etc but I truly don't want to be seen as derailing of the topic, which is about the two aforementioned, not-anything-me businesses! I just wanted to make my initial post to show the top echelon stuff in mongo size can exist

 

[clockworkreader]

As far as putting an actual listed grade to something, size is a non-factor for how I look. Obviously every grade band has to have some kind of range and in addition I'll happily remark on something's rarity relative to size.

But I will admit it sure makes it extra difficult when you get in those larger sizes and have no good side by side of the same size band to look at. Especially because you'll get so much less practice looking at those large sizes due to availability and by virtue of being bigger or smaller it's going to impact in some ways how a pearl will reflect or absorb light, the surface area it has to do so... that's where it gets tricky. I have a lot of pearls I've gotten from lots of different respected places both wholesale and retail to make sure I keep on track for my system (and that's a whole other can of worms because there's no universal). And this is where PriceScope members have been invaluable. There are trusted folks here who own lots of various brands, too, and have very generously offered to give me their opinions and comparison thoughts when I've asked-- either between pieces or at their local luxury boutiques. But in grading at least for me I'm always happy to tell folks if I think something is an in between and if I'm really stuck between two I kick it downward.

Now would you all get back to bragging about cool Pearl Paradise/Takahashi things in this thread--I'm reachable lots of ways if you have any questions for Moline-specific stuff, grading, etc but I truly don't want to be seen as derailing of the topic, which is about the two aforementioned, not-anything-me businesses! I just wanted to make my initial post to show the top echelon stuff in mongo size can exist

Andrew, I’m not sure if I have any “right” to say this but since this is my thread, you’re more than welcome to derail as much as you’d like! Not that I consider this going off-topic at all. As always, you are an invaluable source of information to us.

Thank you so much for your informative replies and for the eye candy.

 

[Chasiu]

As far as putting an actual listed grade to something, size is a non-factor for how I look. Obviously every grade band has to have some kind of range and in addition I'll happily remark on something's rarity relative to size.

But I will admit it sure makes it extra difficult when you get in those larger sizes and have no good side by side of the same size band to look at. Especially because you'll get so much less practice looking at those large sizes due to availability and by virtue of being bigger or smaller it's going to impact in some ways how a pearl will reflect or absorb light, the surface area it has to do so... that's where it gets tricky. I have a lot of pearls I've gotten from lots of different respected places both wholesale and retail to make sure I keep on track for my system (and that's a whole other can of worms because there's no universal). And this is where PriceScope members have been invaluable. There are trusted folks here who own lots of various brands, too, and have very generously offered to give me their opinions and comparison thoughts when I've asked-- either between pieces or at their local luxury boutiques. But in grading at least for me I'm always happy to tell folks if I think something is an in between and if I'm really stuck between two I kick it downward.

Now would you all get back to bragging about cool Pearl Paradise/Takahashi things in this thread--I'm reachable lots of ways if you have any questions for Moline-specific stuff, grading, etc but I truly don't want to be seen as derailing of the topic, which is about the two aforementioned, not-anything-me businesses! I just wanted to make my initial post to show the top echelon stuff in mongo size can exist

I always love to read about and see pictures comparing pearls of various sizes and quality, it is truly so invaluable to be equipped with knowledge that doesn't just come from an in-store salesperson. And I will never turn down looking at more pearls haha.

I don't think it would scratch unless you were doing CrossFit wearing these earrings or didn't store them carefully. Tagging @dk168 who I believe has pearl drops on diamond huggies.

Thanks for the tag!

Here are the interchangeable drops I have to be worn with my tiny diamond huggies, the wire-wrapped ones I made myself for the Tahitian and mis-matched pair, the eye pins in the WSS pair as well as the pearls were sourced by @katbran via her shop.









To minimise the risk of scratching, I store the pearl drops and other drops in pairs separately from the diamond huggies.

Hope that helps.

DK

@newtojewels @dk168 Thanks so much for chiming in! Really appreciate the photos of your pearl charms so I can better visualize how they sit and the size. I definitely would store the pearl charms in their own compartment away from the huggies when not being worn, but would want to be careful with making sudden / jerky head movements while wearing the charms. I suppose I already do that when wearing my other dangle pearl earrings so maybe I am just overthinking it. On my hanadama studs, there is a tiny scratch toward the back of one pearl, and I can't figure out if it was always there or I scratched it with a diamond ring while fixing my hair. It has bothered me for years

The more I think of it, the more I am leaning toward the charms because I really love wearing the huggies. Asked PP about a charm setting last night, so we'll see. Hopefully I will have a finished product to share soon!

 

[dk168]

@Chasiu my wild dancing on the table days are over!

DK

 

[katbran]

Excellent information Andrew. It's easy for people to forget that within each grade there is a range of quality. As you said the grade sets the low bar.