Ten-nyo, handamas, grays, and Grace Kelly

[Made in London]

This is the result of this CFWP that was made of solid nacre being rubbed against my keys etc. for 20 years or so.

I wire-wrapped this pearl myself, and the top knot of the eye pin was tight against the pearl.

That's what I was referring to, the metal spacer beads could rub against the surface of the pearl near the drill hole and reduces the thickness of the nacre.



DK

Wow!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

These pearls take my breath away! Look at the overtones!!!

I agree the pearls are so gorgeous in real life!
I reached out to a pearl vendor to source a top tier Tahitian to add as an accent since I do think I will likely remove the gold beads after I restring it in a few months. Also then it will sort of pair and compliment my new Tahitian mother of pearl pendant/pin.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

 

[stracci2000]

 

[katbran]

I love your creations and that you are enjoying playing with your pearls ! I just want to warn you about elastic - if you wear it a lot you should change the elastic and restring every now and then as the metal can wear on it. Not having knots you run the risk of it popping and the pearls going flying. Even pearls on their own can have a sharp edge at the drill hole wear through the elastic cord that is available to most people.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I love your creations and that you are enjoying playing with your pearls ! I just want to warn you about elastic - if you wear it a lot you should change the elastic and restring every now and then as the metal can wear on it. Not having knots you run the risk of it popping and the pearls going flying. Even pearls on their own can have a sharp edge at the drill hole wear through the elastic cord that is available to most people.

Yup I plan to restring it pretty soon. I actually did knit the elastic lol.
Not sure if I will re knot with elastic or silk. There are definitely upsides to the elastic. For example I can stretch it a bit and clean the drill holes that are against the gold beads! It gets dirty in there! Not sure how much is dirt and how much is the gold leaving black marks as prior posts have mentioned. But either way I’m glad I can clean it up intermittently.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

My package from Wen came in.
I asked for the nicest similarly sized freshwater pearls they had. Looked lovely on their own but in contrast to they akoyas: no contest.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I also got a strand of cheapie black potato pearls. 40 inches for 10$. So I made this for fun lol.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I also got this “top tier” Tahitian coming my way to be an accent on the bracelet and tie it more with the pendant which is Tahitian MoP.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Haha I realized you can basically wave hi at Andrew because the luster is so sharp it's like he sent me a selfie surrounded by pearl Hope he doesn't mind the post. Hi Andrew! @molinePDG

 

[molinePDG]

Lol, there's a new trend we can start -- Pearl Selfies.

Thank you for the kind words, @MakingTheGrade -- and, of course, the photo/post are fine! (Though I must disclaim, devalue your pearls by having my face in them at your own risk )

 

[MakingTheGrade]

In my ongoing quest to figure out a chain for my pendant that won’t twist, I did some beading work with then Tahitians and “aaa” fresh water pearls from Wen.

 

[katbran]

Very pretty ! I love that pendant !!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Very pretty ! I love that pendant !!

Thanks! I’m really loving the MoP. Super under utilized material in my opinion. It’s so pretty!

 

[Made in London]

I also got this “top tier” Tahitian coming my way to be an accent on the bracelet and tie it more with the pendant which is Tahitian MoP.

That pearl is mesmerising!

 

[jjdear]

I never thought I was a pearl person but this thread is making me reconsider my position.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

That pearl is mesmerising!

Thanks! Will take more pics in the sunlight tomorrow before I restring and put it in the bracelet!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I never thought I was a pearl person but this thread is making me reconsider my position.

I’ve never been a pearl person either until I saw these top tier akoyas. The satiny freshwater pearls that i see most places just never did it for me. But the luster that akoyas and Tahitians can get. And the overtones! Swooon.

 

[jjdear]

I’ve never been a pearl person either until I saw these top tier akoyas. The satiny freshwater pearls that i see most places just never did it for me. But the luster that akoyas and Tahitians can get. And the overtones! Swooon.

It is mesmerizing in pictures! Between this thread and yssie's pearl posts, I'm tempted to order a pair of akoya studs but I'm resisting the urge until I can get a chance to see some in person..

 

[MakingTheGrade]

It is mesmerizing in pictures! Between this thread and yssie's pearl posts, I'm tempted to order a pair of akoya studs but I'm resisting the urge until I can get a chance to see some in person..

Sadly I think it’d be tough to see gem grade akoyas in person other than mikimoto perhaps. It’s like trying to find top tier jadeite here, there isn’t enough of a market for gem tier goods for people to ship out of China.

 

[jjdear]

Sadly I think it’d be tough to see gem grade akoyas in person other than mikimoto perhaps. It’s like trying to find top tier jadeite here, there isn’t enough of a market for gem tier goods for people to ship out of China.

Uh oh. Well now I'm not sure how long I will be able to hold off since this is giving me mental permission to impulse buy sight unseen.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Uh oh. Well now I'm not sure how long I will be able to hold off since this is giving me mental permission to impulse buy sight unseen.

I will say my interactions with moline pearls has been great and he had a great return policy. I paid for the pearl sight unseen but had the option to return it for credit and further hunting if I wasn’t satisfied with it in person.

 

[jjdear]

I will say my interactions with moline pearls has been great and he had a great return policy. I paid for the pearl sight unseen but had the option to return it for credit and further hunting if I wasn’t satisfied with it in person.

Thanks for the tip! I'm ashamed to admit I sent him an inquiry before this response..

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Thanks for the tip! I'm ashamed to admit I sent him an inquiry before this response..

Hah no shame! Only enabling!
I really do wish the US had enough of a pearl, opal, jadeite etc market to easily find top tier samples in at least the major urban areas. I live in a big urban city but still often have to go to nyc if I want to see high quality gems that aren’t diamonds, sapphires, or rubies.