Akoya Ring

This is a ring using Akoya pearls.
This is a ring that one of my customers ordered from me.
Personally, I would not have thought of such a design.
The pearls are Akoya pearls. While Mie Prefecture is well-known for Akoya pearls in Japan,
the origin of these pearls is in the Kyushu region (southern part of Japan).
This dates back quite a long time, but when Kokichi Mikimoto, a pioneer in Akoya pearl farming, succeeded in cultivating pearls, he obtained a patent for Akoya pearl farming.
At that time, many people were experimenting with Akoya pearl farming.
Among them, he was the first to succeed in cultivating pearls.
To be precise, he had a man who was trying to succeed in pearl cultivation become his daughter’s husband.
Anyway, because of such circumstances, since then, thanks to his patent, no one could freely cultivate Akoya pearls.
In the midst of this, one man filed a lawsuit claiming that everyone should have the right to cultivate Akoya pearls. He lost the case twice, but won the third time.
There are various theories about the details of this trial. Some say that it wasn’t Kokichi Mikimoto who was sued, but that he sued other pearl farmers for patent infringement.
However, the general consensus is that it is true that, through the trial, it became possible for anyone to cultivate Akoya pearls. Additionally, I have heard this story many times directly from the grandson of the man who had the trial with Kokichi Mikimoto.
The man who had the trial with Kokichi Mikimoto won the case, but for a while, he was ordered by the court not to cultivate pearls in his local area of Mie Prefecture.
The rias coastline of Mie Prefecture was suitable for pearl cultivation. Mie Prefecture was both Kokichi Mikimoto’s hometown and his own.
While he was pondering where to cultivate pearls, an employee of his pearl farming business said, “Akoya oysters grow naturally in my hometown.”
So, he performed a farewell ceremony with his family and went to a small island far away in the southern part of Japan.
I will write more about this story on another occasion if I have the chance.
The point is, the pearls used in this ring, and many of the pearls handled at my shop, come from that island.

I would like to write more about that island, but since the island has the pearl farm of the company I worked for for ten years, I think it is still too early to use the company’s name for my sales activities.
I will let you know about this when the time is right.

In any case, it is a pearl produced in a historically significant place.

The Akoya pearl used in this ring has a charming blue color, but of course, it is not dyed or colored.
It is naturally produced by the Akoya oyster.
The reason why it turned this color is unknown.
To put it very roughly, it is due to summer fatigue.
When the Akoya oyster’s health deteriorates, it secretes this blue fluid besides nacre.
The process of inserting the nucleus into the Akoya oyster (pearls are formed by layering nacre over a round nucleus made from the shell of a freshwater mussel inserted into the Akoya oyster) takes place from April to December, but blue pearls are more common in September and October. This is a trend observed every year.
The farm manager says it is due to the high water temperatures in summer affecting the Akoya oyster’s health.

These are interesting details, so I will describe them more thoroughly when I have another opportunity. There are also descriptions of these in articles on Flower-jem.com, so if you are interested, please check them out.

Now, back to the ring. Personally, I think it is quite a daring design.
The size can be adjusted to some extent to meet your requirements.
Since it is strung with all knots, there is a little flexibility.
Some people might worry that the pearl might get scratched when it comes into contact with tables or other surfaces.
In daily life, the pearl is unlikely to get scratched.
However, if you were to rub the ring against a road or asphalt, the pearl would get scratched. For household use, it is unlikely that the pearl would get scratched.

In fact, I have been using cufflinks and bracelets daily for over seven years, and they have not gotten scratched at all. I have even accidentally washed them in the washing machine multiple times.
Even then, the pearls did not get scratched. If you handle the pearls gently with the love you have for them, they are even less likely to get scratched.

Additionally, although this ring is made with all knots, we are prepared to accommodate your requests regarding the color of the thread.
If you have any concerns, please feel free to let me know.

Similar to the product listing on Etsy.com, Flower Jem.

Flower Jem ｜ Pearl Bless You
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