Between the Tides

These are Akoya pearl earrings.
This piece was created as a custom order at a customer’s request. I was given an approximate design, and I selected the chain and the pearls myself.

The pearls used this time have an exceptionally lustrous surface, as if a thin layer of oil had been applied. They give the impression of being glass-coated. Pearls like this do exist in a certain number, but whenever I come across them, it still makes me genuinely happy.

These pearls were selected from what are known as “leftover pearls.” Leftover pearls are pearls that remain one or two at a time during the everyday process of making necklaces and earrings. When a jar fills up, I re-sort them carefully. The pearls used here were found during one of those re-sorting sessions.

When these earrings were first completed, they did not yet have a name. I thought of the name afterward.

Between the Tides
Between one tide and the next.
Between high tide and low tide.

A brief moment when the sea appears to have stopped moving,
yet in reality, it is quietly progressing toward its next motion.
A boundary. A pause. Space.

I felt that the strong presence of the two pearls placed side by side made the space between them stand out even more.

In literary terms, it is like the space between lines.
The silence between dialogue.
Blank space can make words more vivid, and the pauses between spoken lines can give greater weight to what is said.

The blue of these earrings appears to float distinctly. That may be because the pearls have a surface that looks almost glass-coated. I felt that these striking pearls emphasized the empty space between the two pearls even more.

I also really like the chain used here, which I tried for the first time. I do not often use this type of chain, so even I find it somewhat refreshing. It has a twisted—or perhaps deliberately contoured—design. While delicate, it also carries a sense of elegance.

These earrings are already sold out, but it is possible to create a similar piece in either K18 gold or silver. If you are interested, please feel free to send me a message and I will be happy to discuss it with you. Of course, inquiries without any obligation to purchase are always welcome.

By the way, have you already subscribed to the Flower Jem newsletter?
There is a subscription form at the very bottom of the top page. When you enter your email address, you will receive a 30% off coupon. This coupon can be used not only for pearl jewelry on this site, but also for items sold on Etsy. There is no limit on usage or expiration.

This is an attempt to return value to customers, as the various fees that would normally be charged through Etsy do not apply on the Flower Jem website. The coupon can also be used for products that do not yet exist. It is valid for custom orders as well.

At Flower Jem, pricing is based purely on the cost of sourcing materials. This is a small shop, not a famous brand, so added value is not reflected in the price.

The harvest volume of blue Akoya pearls is less than 0.03% of the total yield at a typical pearl farm. However, personally, I find it quite nonsensical to treat that rarity as a reason to add extra value or increase prices. Perhaps this feeling comes from the fact that blue pearls are, from the perspective of pearl farms, technically considered a failed result.

It is natural that some shops repeatedly promote blue pearls as “rare.” But calling something that was created through failure “rare” feels, to me, like an extreme irony.

In any case, this is a shop without unnecessary added value, which is why coupons can also be used for products that do not yet exist. It may sound self-serving to say this, but I believe I approach pricing with sincerity, just as other honest shops do.

Now then, this turned into a rather long product description.
Please take your time and enjoy.