Akoya necklace

This necklace features pearls in a deep shade of natural blue, among the darkest in the category of blue pearls. Some of the pearls even exhibit an iridescent rainbow effect. While the deep blue alone makes these pearls highly attractive, the addition of this rainbow iridescence makes them even more captivating.

The pearls have an endearing baroque shape, which softens the typically formal image of a pearl necklace. Combined with the all-knot style, this design transforms the pearl necklace into something more casual and wearable.

Earlier, I was browsing the internet, looking at the types of pearl necklaces Hollywood actresses wear. So far, I haven’t found anyone among them wearing baroque pearls in this deep natural blue shade. Many Akoya pearl enthusiasts initially seek out round pearls in the white-pink range. However, many then develop a strong affinity for blue baroque pearls. Once someone is captivated by blue baroque pearls, it becomes difficult to escape their allure.

White-pink pearls are, for better or worse, featureless. They are all perfectly round. In contrast, blue baroque pearls are full of character, for better or worse. No two baroque-shaped pearls are alike. The shades of blue also vary widely; sometimes, one might want a deep blue, and other times, a softer sky blue. The more you get involved, the harder it becomes to escape this “blue abyss”—just like it has been for me.

In recent years, even men have started to enjoy wearing pearl necklaces. About five years ago, the renowned Mikimoto Pearls launched an ad campaign for men’s necklaces. At the time, many in the pearl industry expressed surprise: “Men wearing necklaces? That’s unthinkable! But if men are buying them, it would certainly help our sales.” When I looked online earlier, I found that some famous men in the USA are now wearing pearl necklaces. I couldn’t help but daydream, imagining one of them wearing an Akoya blue baroque pearl necklace, and how that would turn the blue baroque pearl into a star.

However, blue baroque pearls are already scarce, and if they become a worldwide sensation, they might quickly disappear from the market. Longtime blue baroque fans might not be able to buy their beloved blue pearls anymore. Pearl dealers would also be in trouble if the prices of blue pearls soared and they became scarce. So, I’ve concluded that it might be best for blue baroque pearls to remain a hidden gem, loved by a select group of pearl enthusiasts.

Interestingly, baroque-shaped pearls have become hugely popular in South Sea pearls in recent years. However, Akoya baroque pearls haven’t seen the same level of popularity. Perhaps it’s because South Sea pearls are much larger and more imposing when compared to Akoya pearls. I usually only handle Akoya pearls, but whenever I come across South Sea pearls, I’m always overwhelmed by their size. They’re so large and commanding that any flaws or irregularities in shape don’t matter; their sheer size and luster make them appear incredibly luxurious.

After looking at South Sea pearls, when I turn back to Akoya pearls, I’m often struck by how small they are—almost like babies. Just as there are many different races around the world, I believe Japanese people tend to be on the smaller side. In this way, Akoya pearls are quite similar to the Japanese people in terms of their small size.

Yesterday, while on the train, I noticed a French family of tourists sitting in front of me—a father, mother, son, and daughter. When they stood up at a certain station, I was surprised by how tall they were. Despite their small faces, they were more than a head taller than me. At about 170 cm (around average height for a Japanese person), I couldn’t help but think, “South Sea pearls!” in my mind. On that note, with the weakened yen, Japan seems to be seeing a lot of international tourists.

Kobe, a city in Hyogo Prefecture, just west of Osaka, is famous for its pearls. Kobe opened its port to the world around the end of the samurai era. By “officially,” I mean that during the samurai era, Japan was largely isolated and officially not trading with other countries. However, many regions were secretly trading with various countries, unbeknownst to the authorities. Kobe Port officially opened in 1858, and many foreigners began to settle there. The houses they built at the time still remain and have become a tourist attraction known as the “Ijinkan” (foreigner’s residences), a rather peculiar name. These Western-style houses, built by foreigners over 177 years ago, are now popular sightseeing spots, and it feels strange to see so many tourists peering into what were once people’s homes—sometimes even taking tours inside.

Although Kobe is Japan’s largest pearl city, there aren’t many pearl shops that travelers can visit. In fact, the number of jewelry stores might be similar to that of any other city.

The reason for this is that most of the approximately 150 pearl-related companies in Kobe are wholesalers or manufacturers, not retailers. Because of this, the average traveler might not recognize Kobe as the “city of pearls.”

However, if you visit the “Kitano” district in Kobe and enter any restaurant in the area, you’re sure to find someone involved in the pearl industry. This is because about 150 pearl companies are concentrated in this small area of Kitano. If you casually mention, “I’m interested in pearls,” while dining in Kitano, you’re bound to get a few glances. Those would be the pearl dealers.

Once again, I’ve strayed far from the product description for this necklace. I’ve included this necklace in one of our videos, so if you’re interested, please take a look at Flower Jem’s video:

Happy shopping!