From the Conrad Lobby (Reserved)

Akoya pearl earrings.

These earrings were made following a request from a traveler who came to Japan from overseas. Strictly speaking, I was not able to fulfill all of her requests exactly. However, among several pairs of earrings that I made, these were the ones that caught her attention.

I am the kind of person who goes to meet customers from overseas even though I cannot speak English very well. Even when conversation does not go smoothly, it still makes me happy. Since I run my shop almost entirely online, I rarely have the opportunity to meet customers in person. Because of that, I find it very interesting to see how people react to different pearls and which ones catch their eye.

Among the many pearl shops out there, the fact that someone chose Flower Jem is something I cannot fully express in words. This was something I never really understood when I was working as an employee at a pearl company.

Some customers I meet are truly delighted. But there may also be people who think, “This guy can’t speak at all.” When that happens, I will probably rely on the beauty of the pearls.

The pearls will speak in my place, without words.

Pearl: “Hey! You should try a little harder too!”

The name of this piece comes from the place where I met the customer.

It was my first time entering that hotel. I often see the building when I am in Osaka, but I had never gone inside before. It was a wonderful hotel—well, to be precise, I only saw the lobby—but it was still a beautiful place. The view was also very nice.

The night view felt calm and refined, showing the northern side of Osaka. The southern part of Osaka, around Namba and Dotonbori, is much more lively and flashy compared to the north.

Now that I think about it, I forgot to explain the most important part—the pearls themselves.

As you can see in the photos, they are very high-quality pearls.

Pearl processing usually involves several steps after harvest: pre-treatment, stain removal, bleaching, and color adjustment (toning). These pearls have undergone only the pre-treatment and stain removal processes.

At least eighty percent of pearls on the market today are processed through bleaching and color adjustment.

I cannot say which approach is better. But to put it simply, these pearls are like someone who looks beautiful even without makeup.

This expression might be a little questionable depending on the times and social trends, but it is unlikely that this article will influence the global economy, so perhaps that concern is unnecessary.

The chain length is approximately 7 cm. It feels as if the lustrous pearl is gently playing on a small 7 cm swing.

Although the luster is strong, it is not a flashy shine. It has a gentle quality.

These pearls have not been bleached. When pearls are bleached, they often become very white and their luster can appear much stronger.

Because these pearls have not been bleached, about one percent of organic materials such as proteins remain inside the pearl. Those tiny impurities may contribute to the softness of the luster.

The brilliance of diamonds is very attractive.

I love Akoya pearls, but when it comes to brilliance, Akoya pearls cannot compete with diamonds.

However, the luster of Akoya pearls has a certain kindness to it. It is a softer type of glow.

If the brilliance of a diamond is like the intense “100% YES!” sunshine of midsummer, perhaps Akoya pearls are more like the sun on a spring day. Something like, “Hello there, how are you today?”

This is not about which one is better, and of course it depends on personal taste. Some people might even prefer the brief sunlight that appears on a winter afternoon.

I am beginning to lose track of my own metaphor here, so please take it lightly.

In any case, if you have a design in mind that you would like to wear with Akoya pearls, feel free to let me know quietly.