This is a double ring made with 4 mm Natural Blue Baroque Akoya pearls and K18 white gold mirror balls.

I originally made a similar ring in K18 yellow gold as a custom order for a customer. After completing that ring, I made this version using Natural Blue pearls and white gold.

That customer came to Japan from the United States and even traveled to Kobe, where I live, so that we could visit pearl shops together.

She had decided to meet me after reading a PriceScope article written by one of my previous customers. That PriceScope article is nothing less than a treasure to me.

We visited several pearl shops together in Kobe.

Whenever she found a pearl piece she liked but the shop could not change the pearl size to what she wanted, she would turn to me and ask me to make one for her.

Of course, I was very happy to receive the orders.

But I also felt a little awkward in front of the shop staff.

I had brought a customer into their shop, and then, right in front of them, I was happily agreeing to make my own version of their pearl jewelry.

Fortunately, she did not order everything from me. She also purchased several pearl pieces from the shops we visited, which made me feel much better.

If I remember correctly, this was around this time last year.

My English is not very good, so I was extremely nervous.

But even though meeting me was only one part of her trip to Japan, I was genuinely happy that she had come all the way to Kobe to see me.

And this ring is based on one of the custom orders I received that day.

Using my own hand as the model may slightly lower the perceived value of the ring, but unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about that.

Personally, though, I really like this ring.

This short video shows the making process of Kotsubu, from assembling the small natural blue Akoya pearls to completing the double-row ring.

Kotsubu-Video

“Kotsubu” means “small-sized” or “tiny.”

Why I Craft My Own Pearl Settings: A Metalwork Journey

This ring also grew from my continuing journey of learning to make pearl settings by hand.

Why I Craft My Own Pearl Settings: A Metalwork Journey

The True Value of Pearls: Beyond Round vs. Baroque

Baroque pearls may not be perfectly round, but their individuality is exactly where much of their beauty lies.

The True Value of Pearls: Beyond Round vs. Baroque

A Night with Blue Baroque Pearls: Finding the Perfect Pair

Natural blue Akoya pearls come in countless shades, shapes, and expressions, and that variety is part of their charm.

A Night with Blue Baroque Pearls: Finding the Perfect Pair

Related Sister Product: Blue Snow

Blue Snow

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