# BitterSweets — A Little Less Sweet

 

 

This is a multicolored Japanese Akoya pearl necklace.

The pearls are slightly on the smaller side, measuring 5.5–6.0 mm.

And above all, the combination of colors is simply adorable.

I first came across these pearls when I visited a pearl supplier I regularly work with. They showed me this necklace, and the moment I saw it, I thought, “How cute!”

More than six months have passed since that encounter, and I am finally able to offer this necklace for sale.

 

 

Of course, with such a colorful pearl necklace, choosing the thread for hand-knotting required some thought.

I considered using pink thread, but I felt that might make it a little too cute.

Now, let me change the subject for a moment.

There is a phrase I often hear on television and in advertisements:

“It’s good because it’s not too sweet.”

 

 

You often hear this when someone is describing cakes or chocolates.

Whenever I heard it, I used to think:

“Then why eat something sweet in the first place? Isn’t the sweetness the whole point?”

 

 

But when I was choosing the thread for this necklace, I found myself thinking something rather similar.

“If a necklace is too cute, I might feel a little hesitant to wear it myself. Perhaps I should use a more subdued thread color to tone down the cuteness a little.”

 

 

This is almost exactly the same idea as that phrase, “not too sweet.”

And I am sure that when some people hear me say I wanted to tone down the cuteness, they might think:

“Then why choose such a cute necklace in the first place? Isn’t being cute the whole point?”

Exactly.

 

 

I firmly believe that this textbook example of human contradiction is precisely what makes us human.

Incidentally, although the pearls appear to have strong luster in the photographs, their actual luster is fairly average.

If I were to divide pearl luster into three levels—high, medium, and low—I would place these pearls somewhere in the middle.

I wouldn’t describe their luster as mild. It is perhaps slightly stronger than mild.

 

 

The pearls are almost round in shape. Their nacre is not particularly thick, so they do not have the deep, rich luster that comes with thicker nacre.

And although I won’t go into all the details, making this necklace took me eight hours.

At first, the thread was too thick, making the necklace stiff like a piece of wire, so I had to start over.

Then the needle wouldn’t pass through one of the pearls, forcing me to stop.

 

 

On another attempt, I failed to secure the final knot properly and had to do everything again.

In total, I experimented with four different types of thread before finally completing the necklace.

I livestreamed the entire process, and it was, quite simply, a disaster.

 

 

The needle didn’t break, but my spirit certainly did.

Still, this necklace is so cute that I’ve decided to forgive it.

Just this once.

 

Specifications

Pearls: Japanese Akoya, 5.5–6.0 mm, natural multicolor, untreated, near-round
Luster: Moderate
Length: 48.5 cm / 19.1 inches (adjustable)
Knotting: All-knotted with blue thread
Clasp: Rhodium-plated silver clip clasp

 

Explore the world of Japanese Akoya pearls through these three stories, from the challenges of hand-knotting and the creative process of jewelry making to the fascinating colors and luster of natural blue pearls.

A collection of short stories about All-knot

 

My Journey with Pearls and Metalworking: A Creative Reflection

 

Deep Sea Luster: The Enchanting Blue Akoya

 

 

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