New Stud earrings — GSS 9.1mm and 8.85mm White Akoya pairs from Takahashi

[NY_Resonant]

I must say, Takahashi is wonderful to purchase from. Yy and Kan are both so helpful and forthcoming in describing the product they have accurately. I’ve learned to trust their eyes and that they know what type of pearls I am looking for. I had been waiting over 3 months for them to get a “high ranged/top” gem quality 8.8mm+ sized white Akoya pair and I’m quite excited to see them in person!

I also had been inspired by @yssie with her recent gorgeous GSS purchase from Katbran and it just made sense to save on shipping costs, so when I found out Takahashi had some gorgeous GSS in the size/quality/color I was looking for — how could I resist? The price was very reasonable as well.

I’ll share my own pictures when I get them (Can‘t wait!) but for now here are what I was sent:




An

 

[NY_Resonant]

Here are the GSS pictures. I went with the middle pair after a lot of agonizing between the top and middle pair options. Ultimately I was just drawn by the middle pair more (It was also Yy and Kan‘s pick which held a lot of weight with me since they can see the pearls in person).

Note: All 3 are same price despite quite a wide range in size.

 

[lovedogs]

Ooooo I've been lusting after deep gold GSS. These are amazing

 

[NY_Resonant]

Ooooo I've been lusting after deep gold GSS. These are amazing

Yes i'm super excited.

I've wanted to get a pair ever since I saw one at a Mikimoto retailer (and confirmed it looked good on their skin color). GSS is tricky though, it changes a lot depending on the light and making a purchase over the internet is daunting.

Takahashi was kind enough to provide a video to me which helped but even then, depending on the angle and light, I kept switching between liking the top and middle pair more. These all fall under their 24k color, "very deep gold category", but it is hard to balance the ideal quality balance for GSS.

Middle pair had the best luster.
Top pair was bigger which was a *tiny* positive (I wanted 9-9.5mm and did not want to go larger), had slightly better matching and had a nice green overtone that I liked.

Tough decision!

 

[lovedogs]

Yes i'm super excited.

I've wanted to get a pair ever since I saw one at a Mikimoto retailer (and confirmed it looked good on their skin color). GSS is tricky though, it changes a lot depending on the light and making a purchase over the internet is daunting.

Takahashi was kind enough to provide a video to me which helped but even then, depending on the angle and light, I kept switching between liking the top and middle pair more. These all fall under their 24k color, "very deep gold category", but it is hard to balance the ideal quality balance for GSS.

Middle pair had the best luster.
Top pair was bigger which was a *tiny* positive (I wanted 9-9.5mm and did not want to go larger), had slightly better matching and had a nice green overtone that I liked.

Tough decision!

My favorite is the middle pair you chose!

 

[NY_Resonant]

My favorite is the middle pair you chose!

They shipped!! Can’t wait to see them.

I am a fan of that teal overtone on the Akoya!

 

[lovedogs]

They shipped!! Can’t wait to see them.

I am a fan of that teal overtone on the Akoya!

Love them!

 

[Catmom]

Both are gorgeous! Can't wait for more pics.

 

[Mcgregor]

Stunning……. breathtaking………elegant!

 

[mamong]

They shipped!! Can’t wait to see them.

I am a fan of that teal overtone on the Akoya!

OMG superb, gorgeous pairs you bought! Congratulations !

 

[katbran]

Very pretty !

 

[NY_Resonant]

Very pretty !

Thank you, Kat. I wish your 9.8mm GSS wasn’t a bit bigger than what I was looking for. It’s a very lovely pair, I hope someone from PS snaps it up!

 

[NY_Resonant]

Package arrived and I finally took some pictures to share!

Here is the 9.1mm GSS. Got a couple showing the green overtone.












Picture above shows the new 8.9mm Akoya pair for my mom.

 

[NY_Resonant]

Now for pics on the 8.9mm Akoya pair:









It’s a beautiful pair and the largest I’ve bought from Takahashi at 8.9mm out of 4 pairs purchased. My mom will be very happy with it!

If I had to guess without a direct comparison, this falls somewhere near a AA mikimoto quality pair. My best pair is the smaller 8.65mm used by my fiancée which has a lighter body, more saturation and slightly better luster — but that pair compared very well with a “good” AAA stud at mikimoto that easily beat another AAA pair in the store.

Top two pearls are AAA, middle pair is my 8.6mm and bottom two are AA:


Compared to my 8.9mm (Pearls on left and right…Middle two are the 8.6mm):

Luster/Gloss: Slightly weaker on 8.9mm


8.65mm Lighter body: It’s noticeably smaller than the 8.9mm pair though.


More saturated (8.6mm on left):

 

[NY_Resonant]

GSS is so hard to photograph accurately. Finally got a few pictures in kinda direct sunlight (very Cloudy day). In real life, the color comes across a *little* lighter than in these pictures but color definitely a gorgeous very deep gold.






This one is a decent representation of what my eyes saw in RL:


With regards to matching, one pearl has a sharper luster than the other with darker reflections but the body colors and overtones match decently well. That luster difference is noticeable when they are next to each other for someone who pays attention — That difference should be visible in the last picture above. Thankfully not different enough to bother me and certainly not when on the ear separated by a head. For me personally, body color and overtone is more critical for matching than luster on studs.

I’m sure this would not pass @yssie’s matching standards though!

 

[NY_Resonant]

In decent strength direct sunlight (Finally!!), you can see that one pearl has a *little* more pink showing and one displays a bit more green in the pink/green balance of overtones.

 

[lovedogs]

Love!

 

[Catmom]

Gorgeous!!!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Love them! Deep golds are so luscious

 

[LHethrington]

I must say, Takahashi is wonderful to purchase from. Yy and Kan are both so helpful and forthcoming in describing the product they have accurately. I’ve learned to trust their eyes and that they know what type of pearls I am looking for. I had been waiting over 3 months for them to get a “high ranged/top” gem quality 8.8mm+ sized white Akoya pair and I’m quite excited to see them in person!

I also had been inspired by @yssie with her recent gorgeous GSS purchase from Katbran and it just made sense to save on shipping costs, so when I found out Takahashi had some gorgeous GSS in the size/quality/color I was looking for — how could I resist? The price was very reasonable as well.

I’ll share my own pictures when I get them (Can‘t wait!) but for now here are what I was sent:




An

 

[LHethrington]

absolutely gorgeous pearls !

 

[katbran]

Beautiful ! And I think it's an excellent size .