Blue Icicle

This is an Akoya pearl necklace.

This necklace was originally created and listed for sale in August 2024.

At one point, I received an inquiry from a customer asking:

“Would it be possible to purchase only the baroque pearl at the tip?”

I gladly accepted the request.

After that, this necklace remained on the bench for quite a long time.

Now, I have finally found another large baroque pearl to replace it, so the necklace is returning once again.

For that reason, the article below is the original text that was posted in August 2024.

It seems I wrote it rather seriously at the time.

The pearls have a thick nacre layer and a strong, captivating luster. When it comes to blue pearls, those with a thin nacre layer can appear extremely pale under strong light. However, these blue pearls have an exceptionally thick nacre, giving them a deep blue color from within. This ensures that they maintain their beautiful blue even under intense light.

Whether it’s a blue pearl or a white one, one of the charming aspects is the blush-like reddish hue called “sakura-iro「Cherry Blossom」.” Pearls with this reddish tint, whether they are white-pink or blue, are incredibly charming. Many pearl farmers strive to achieve this reddish hue. In fact, in the evaluation standards of Japan’s National Pearl Exhibition, whether a pearl has a slight reddish tint is a crucial criterion. Even if a white-pink pearl is beautiful, with a thick nacre and a strong luster, it won’t be chosen as Japan’s best pearl if it lacks this reddish hue. Nowadays, more men are wearing makeup, and this reddish tint in pearls can be compared to the effect of blush.

So, how can this reddish tint be brought out in pearls? The characteristics of a pearl are determined by the Akoya oyster and the “mantle tissue” that is inserted along with the nucleus. Just like racehorses, Akoya oysters come in various types, and so do the mantle tissues. These mantle tissues are taken from the “mantle” of the Akoya oyster. Each has its own characteristics: some produce a thick nacre, some have a lower mortality rate, some grow steadily, while others don’t secrete much nacre but tend to produce round white pearls. The compatibility between the Akoya oyster and the mantle tissue is also crucial. If mismatched, the resulting pearls won’t be of high quality.

It takes pearl farmers one to two years to determine the best combination, constantly experimenting with which Akoya oysters to use and how to combine them. In the case of industrial products, once a successful model is found, it can be mass-produced. But since Akoya oysters are living creatures, what worked this year might not work next year. Pearl farmers often say, “Every year is a gamble,” yet they continue to make the best choices each year. There are aspects that can’t be easily put into words—years of experience, intuition, and the daily interactions with Akoya oysters that inform their decisions.

While I wanted to highlight the charm of the faint reddish tint in blue pearls, I may have strayed a bit from the topic. I love all-knot pearl necklaces, but this time I used K18 mirror balls. I also like this combination of pearls and mirror balls. While not formal, it appears to have a refined casual elegance. The sparkling mirror balls enhance the sophistication of the pearls. The mirror balls are small, just 2mm, so they don’t shine too brightly. It feels as though the pearls and mirror balls coexist, respecting each other. If the mirror balls were 2.5mm, the impression would change entirely. If they were 2.5mm or larger, it would be possible to use much cheaper silver 925 mirror balls. However, at 2.5mm, they would lose the sense of elegance, so I chose not to use them.

The pearl at the end is a rather large Akoya pearl, ranging from 9.5mm to 11.5mm. Pearl farmers didn’t intend to cultivate such a large pearl, but about 0.0001% of the time, these unusually large pearls occur. It’s not a mutation, but rather a sign that the Akoya oyster was very healthy. When such a large pearl is found during harvest, the sorting room is filled with exclamations of “Oh…!” Although large, most pearls with such thick nacre become baroque. These very unique pearls are often used for rings. I am currently practicing metalworking, and I hope to create rings using such pearls in the future.

The other day, I showed this blue pearl to a pearl dealer. He remarked, “This is a deep blue… It’s been a while since I’ve seen a pearl this dark,” and then said with a wry smile, “If you show me a pearl this dark, it makes it hard for me to recommend my own blue pearls to you.” I am always looking for deeply colored blue pearls, and he knows this. Some pearl dealers inform me when they have deep blue pearls in stock. However, some dealers look troubled when I already have a deep blue pearl because “my blue pearls aren’t that dark.” Of course, pale blue pearls also have their charm. But I don’t like blue pearls that resemble stains. Many pearls are blue only on the surface, but whether pale or deep, I prefer pearls with color that emanates from within. I want my customers to own pearls that are praised by pearl farmers. There are still many pearl retailers in Japan who are not familiar with blue pearls. Some stores recommend pearls that are simply round with few blemishes, even if the nacre is thin and the luster is weak. But I believe that doesn’t quite capture the true allure of pearls. I want to recommend pearls that pearl farmers would say are “good pearls.”

Everyone has their own values and preferences when it comes to pearls, and I respect that. However, if you’re unsure where to focus when purchasing pearls, I encourage you to look at my website and product descriptions for guidance. Ideally, you would be able to see and choose pearls in a jewelry store in your town. If that’s not possible, I will do my best to assist you.

I hope you find a pearl that truly speaks to your heart.