Which pair has the best luster?

[Seastheday]

Pearl newbie here hoping to get a pair of studs for daily office l wear.

These 4 WSS are from Pearl paradise, smallest is 8.4 mm, largest is 9.8 mm. (I feel like pair 1 aka the 8.4 mm is the best?)



These 3 9mm WSS are from Paspaley and I feel like these are more similar than the PP ones above (I feel like pair 2 below is the best?).




I’m not sure how to compare between the 2 vendors though given the photo light conditions are all different

To make it more complicated, I would ideally like something 8 mm or bigger so also second guessing myself if I should just splurge for a pair of Mikimoto AAA 8 mm instead of focusing more on the larger sized of WSS since it’s still not too hard to get akoyas that are in the 8mm range.

My goal is mirror like luster that the other PSers keep referring to so I’ll borrow the description if that’s okay: does that mean I should go for Akoya instead of WSS?

So confused! I read through all the threads esp those by @yssie whose posts I’ve been quietly enjoying all her lovely photos and wealth of info, but still not sure what to do and feeling as stupid as ever. Feel like I’m going nuts trying to compare the pearls above and maybe seeing things that are not there!

Anyone who owns both WSS and akoya please comment on luster of each and how they compare?

 

[newtojewels]

I don't own any WSSs so I can't help you there but "Gem" ~8.5mm Akoyas from Takahashi or similar vendors probably cost less than these WSSs and have that mirror luster it sounds like you're looking for. If you're looking at AAA Mikimoto or the equivalent, also make sure to reach out to Andrew Moline. Pearl Paradise should also be able to show you their best Akoya pairs next to those WSS pairs.

Here is my 8-8.5mm Takahashi gem pair from a livestream with PP. They were $400 for the loose pearls in April, I don't know how pricing has changed since then:

 

[Civnhasy]

Hi there, I also don't own any WSS but would agree with you that Pair 1 from PP looks the nicest of those, with 4 a close second. I think it's tough (if not impossible) to compare with the Paspaley pearls since they are completely different photos, but they have beautiful luster.

Everyone describes WSS luster as being "silky"...if mirror luster is what you want the most, more than size, then Akoyas might be what you are looking for. Unless you specifically want the Mikimoto brand (and I get that - I have Mikis myself!) I think you can get close, or maybe even better, quality for a bit better price, although it takes a bit of work and patience and confidence in the vendor's grading.

I agree with @newtojewels ' recommendation to look at Takahashi and Andrew Moline, as well as General Pearl (there have been some beautiful Akoyas people here have purchased from them as of late and they seem like a good vendor to work with). As of last week, I think that Pearl Paradise still had some loose gem quality akoya pearls from the livestream they did with Takahashi.

Just to illustrate the point about pearl quality, over the summer, I was actually able to compare one of Andrew Moline's pearls to my own Miki AAAs and his was nicer, IMO! I put some photos in different lighting below. Moline is the loose pearl on the left (and I think it might be an 8 mm...the Mikimoto is a 7.5 I think...I have to check)

EDIT - something went awry with my posting, so apologies for anything weird but hopefully you can still see the loose Moline pearl compared to Mikimoto AAA.

 

[Seastheday]

@newtojewels these look great on you! I’ll go ahead and ask PP for some gem akoyas, and reach out to Takahashi too.

@Civnhasy I’ve admired your Mikis from afar! The moline pearl is impressive and I can see what you mean by its richness of overtones (the most perfect iridescent soap bubble!). I’m not a brand person, but wasn’t sure if I had what it takes to select nice pearls and so the idea of getting Mikis would maybe guarantee some level of standard if I couldn’t tell for myself! (Although, your post made me feel tons better because I can see what you mean re the Molines vs the Miki so maybe I can train my eye after all!)

 

[uwodahikamama]

I agree with newtojewels and civnhasy, I think if you’re looking for mirror luster and a soap bubble effect you’re better off looking at akoya. Plus it will probably be a little less expensive if I had to guess.

I too have had a chance to see Molines pearls in person and have compared them to all other leading brands including Mikimoto. I’m a die hard fan because his is always every bit as good as MM but sometimes a little better even. His exceeded the other retailers I compared them to.

I would say he has an excellent, very high standard he sets for himself and tries to match or exceed whatever MM is doing. I’ve been super pleased. Just be clear about what you’re looking for and I’m certain he can get it. (Also anything he has in stock is returnable with paying for the shipping back, which is great to know!)

He’s had some beautiful WSS too, but as others said it’s a different look to it. More satiny instead of mirror like reflections.

 

[newtojewels]

@newtojewels these look great on you! I’ll go ahead and ask PP for some gem akoyas, and reach out to Takahashi too.

@Civnhasy I’ve admired your Mikis from afar! The moline pearl is impressive and I can see what you mean by its richness of overtones (the most perfect iridescent soap bubble!). I’m not a brand person, but wasn’t sure if I had what it takes to select nice pearls and so the idea of getting Mikis would maybe guarantee some level of standard if I couldn’t tell for myself! (Although, your post made me feel tons better because I can see what you mean re the Molines vs the Miki so maybe I can train my eye after all!)

If you want top quality and don't want to worry about it and aren't a brand person and want to work with someone who is super lovely, Moline is just such a great option. Takahashi is great too as we've seen from so many posters here, but there's the stress of an international purchase that isn't there with Moline. The Takahashi + Pearl Paradise option reduces that stress of course, which is why I went that route, and I'm very happy with my Takahashi earrings and bracelet. But that being said, I plan to primarily work with Moline going forward because he's been so fun to just chat with and he has such beautiful pearls and I personally like supporting a small and exacting vendor. I think it really depends on your priorities Since you don't seem to know for sure what size or kind of pearl you want let alone things like overtones, I feel like you maybe shouldn't order from Takahashi yet unless there's something you like from them that's still at Pearl Paradise and thus is more easily returnable.

Here's a post from Moline showing the quality level he can access and how it compares to Hanadama and Tenyo:

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[yssie]

You know how you go to Home Depot and there are about sixty swatches of "white" paint... That's WSS. They come in a smorgasbord of "whites". With white akoya - yes, there are body and overtone differences still, but the variance is much smaller. Akoya are generally much more uniform in colour.

That's both a positive and negative - on the one hand the variety of WSS colours reflects opportunity of choice, on the other they're that much more difficult to match into pairs!

Of the PP WSS - I agree with you and everyone else, #1 and #4 are most lustrous. But I also agree with you and everyone else on going with akoya over WSS in the 8-9mm range, unless you specifically want south seas: Akoya in this size will definitely be easier to match with excellent luster.

Specific to luster - agree, akoya are going to beat WSS 999/1000 times on contrast at all quality levels. On gloss it's a more level playing field, but most people mean "contrast" when they think "luster". On surface, WSS are more likely to be smooth (unblemished, uncrinkled/unwrinkled) than akoya, but that doesn't really come into play if you're asking for a specific pair - you'd just need to specify that you do want clean surfaces, if that's important to you.

I won't comment on vendors. I've bought from Andrew Moline, Takahashi, Pearl Paradise, Paspaley, and Mikimoto and would happily go back to and recommend all They've all got different specialties.

 

[Brigid]

For WSS pearls I would pick the Paspaley pair (2nd photo) as they have gorgeous lustre, if you decide you’d prefer an Akoya pair I would consider Mikimoto first (as a possible guide) and then look at PP & Takahashi.

 

[dk168]

Given the 4 choices, I would opt for either #4 (preferred) or #1.

However, I concur with the others that in that size, if I were after mirror lustre, then I would opt for Akoyas and not WSS.

I prefer my WSS with a silky sheen personally.

My 8mm and 10mm pearl studs are Freshadamas and Tahitians, all from PP. Don't wear pearl studs often so they will do for me.

DK

 

[Seastheday]

@uwodahikamama and @newtojewels: thanks! I prefer local just in case I need to return an online purchase so I think I’ll try Moline.

@yssie the Home Depot ex is helpful! Understood! Going for akoyas instead

@Brigid Yes that was my thought, maybe have a pair of AAA Mikis to compare against for future purchases and to train my eye

@dk168 interesting you mentioned the Freshadamas! I did see those on PP but wasn’t sure re their luster compared to sea pearls

 

[newtojewels]

@uwodahikamama and @newtojewels: thanks! I prefer local just in case I need to return an online purchase so I think I’ll try Moline.

@yssie the Home Depot ex is helpful! Understood! Going for akoyas instead

@Brigid Yes that was my thought, maybe have a pair of AAA Mikis to compare against for future purchases and to train my eye

@dk168 interesting you mentioned the Freshadamas! I did see those on PP but wasn’t sure re their luster compared to sea pearls

I can't wait to see what you end up with! You have lots of excellent choices