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.