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- Aug 14, 2009
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Folks here might recall that for a year and change I've been low-key sort-of-searching for a pair of 9.5-10mm gem akoya. I wanted a really spectacular pair, and it was a passive search because I fully expected that the only way I'd ever get it would be to buy from Mikimoto.
I decided to get my mum a pair of large akoya for Christmas. "With lots of pink". I asked Takahashi for the best they had in their largest size, and Yy said they didn't have anything in the quality I wanted in 10mm+ but there were some 9.5-10mm pairs that might suit.
When I inquired there were only three pairs of this quality available in the 9.5-10mm size bracket. I later learnt that Takahashi had had only three pairs total this season (all of which are now spoken for). I chose my mum's pearls and had them sent to PSL, and PSL designated them Ten-nyo.
When I opened the package I was... Shocked. I had expected very nice pearls. I had not expected pearls that were spotlight matched, and that comfortably sat side-by-side with my Mikimoto AAAs.
I chart my jewellery projects by T-shirt size. XS = $0-$1000, S = $1001-$3000, M = $3001-8000, L = $8001-$15000, and XL > $15001. 9.5mm Mikimoto AAA earrings would have been an "XL" project (they currently retail for $21740 USD). I obviously won't post specifics on Takahashi's pricing, as we all know they're closely tied to market fluctuations, but I can say that this earrings project came in a comfortable "S".
I'm posting this thread as yet another testament to the quality of product that Takahashi offers
they've got genuinely phenomenal pearls at astonishing pricepoints!! I do want to elaborate on a couple of points though:
1. I committed to purchase prior to PSL submission. PSL result wasn't a prerequisite for purchase - I knew that there was some possibility they wouldn't even earn the Hanadama grade, let alone Ten-nyo!! The paperwork was - is - really just a curiosity for me.
2. This quality of pearl is incredibly rare in this size!! When I bought my Mikimoto studs my 9.25s were the only pair available, and there were no 9.5s (the largest that Mikimoto sells in the US) at all. For scale: Yy shared that Takahashi started the season with hundreds, maybe a low thousand white akoya in the 9.5-10mm size. Of that mass Takahashi sorted out around twenty top quality specimens, and the rest went directly for stringing into strands. And from that lot of twenty they made three pairs; the non-paired pearls could be used in pendants and rings. All that to say that availability is always going to be the bottleneck in these large sizes!! These were a lucky find!
I'm SO EXCITED to have 9.5-10mm Mikimoto AAA quality akoya (without the pricetag!) in the family
I decided to get my mum a pair of large akoya for Christmas. "With lots of pink". I asked Takahashi for the best they had in their largest size, and Yy said they didn't have anything in the quality I wanted in 10mm+ but there were some 9.5-10mm pairs that might suit.
When I inquired there were only three pairs of this quality available in the 9.5-10mm size bracket. I later learnt that Takahashi had had only three pairs total this season (all of which are now spoken for). I chose my mum's pearls and had them sent to PSL, and PSL designated them Ten-nyo.
When I opened the package I was... Shocked. I had expected very nice pearls. I had not expected pearls that were spotlight matched, and that comfortably sat side-by-side with my Mikimoto AAAs.
I chart my jewellery projects by T-shirt size. XS = $0-$1000, S = $1001-$3000, M = $3001-8000, L = $8001-$15000, and XL > $15001. 9.5mm Mikimoto AAA earrings would have been an "XL" project (they currently retail for $21740 USD). I obviously won't post specifics on Takahashi's pricing, as we all know they're closely tied to market fluctuations, but I can say that this earrings project came in a comfortable "S".
I'm posting this thread as yet another testament to the quality of product that Takahashi offers
they've got genuinely phenomenal pearls at astonishing pricepoints!! I do want to elaborate on a couple of points though:1. I committed to purchase prior to PSL submission. PSL result wasn't a prerequisite for purchase - I knew that there was some possibility they wouldn't even earn the Hanadama grade, let alone Ten-nyo!! The paperwork was - is - really just a curiosity for me.
2. This quality of pearl is incredibly rare in this size!! When I bought my Mikimoto studs my 9.25s were the only pair available, and there were no 9.5s (the largest that Mikimoto sells in the US) at all. For scale: Yy shared that Takahashi started the season with hundreds, maybe a low thousand white akoya in the 9.5-10mm size. Of that mass Takahashi sorted out around twenty top quality specimens, and the rest went directly for stringing into strands. And from that lot of twenty they made three pairs; the non-paired pearls could be used in pendants and rings. All that to say that availability is always going to be the bottleneck in these large sizes!! These were a lucky find!
I'm SO EXCITED to have 9.5-10mm Mikimoto AAA quality akoya (without the pricetag!) in the family
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