The Charming Misfit

Hello, this is Flower Jem.

Let me introduce a new necklace I’ve named “The Charming Misfit.”

Why such a name? Well, I usually use a clip clasp for my necklaces—but this time, I mistakenly attached a clip clasp to both ends. I was planning to fix it right away, but then thought: why not just list it as-is?

I tend to be a bit scatterbrained, and this time it showed up quite clearly. Of course, if you’d prefer the standard clasp, I’m happy to replace it for you.

That said, since there are clips on both ends, you could even attach a pendant or charm to one of them—if you have something on hand. A bit of a stretch, perhaps, but it’s an option!

As for the pearls: they are baroque-shaped with no major wounds, though they do have the characteristic bumps and irregularities. However, their luster is truly exceptional—comparable to top-tier Hanadama pearls.

When I try to offer beautiful pearl necklaces at accessible prices, I look for pieces like this.

In pearl pricing, factors such as roundness, lack of blemishes, nacre thickness, and luster all come into play. But simply choosing baroque pearls over perfectly round ones brings the price down significantly. I use the cost savings to prioritize luster and nacre thickness—what I believe are the true markers of pearl beauty.

This approach is somewhat the opposite of what I often see in retail stores: perfectly round pearls that lack shine and have thinner nacre. Round pearls can be beautiful, but without strong luster, they lose much of their charm as gemstones.

Recently, more people seem to be drawn to the natural look of baroque pearls, and the fact that baroque shapes reduce the price works in favor of baroque lovers.

Of course, low price and inherent beauty don’t always go hand-in-hand. A dull, thin-nacre baroque pearl may be inexpensive, but not necessarily beautiful. But a lustrous baroque pearl with thick nacre? That’s a true gem—even at a lower price.

Many Etsy shoppers are already quite knowledgeable about pearls, so I imagine you understand these nuances. And naturally, each person has their own values when it comes to pearls. What I share here is simply my perspective—but interestingly, many pearl farmers I’ve met feel similarly, even if they don’t say so aloud. After all, it’s round pearls that fetch higher prices, regardless of beauty.

It’s a bit like school: students are recognized for excelling in math, science, or language. But being kind, good at cooking, or socially skilled often doesn’t show up in the report card. A colleague at work might be unremarkable on the job, but a star in their weekend tennis circle.

Just like people, pearls have many sides. What matters most is knowing what you value most in a pearl—and where you’re willing to compromise. If you can define your non-negotiables, you might just find your ideal pearl within your budget.

Now, back to this necklace. I started making it around 9 a.m. on Saturday and finished it in about an hour and a half. Then I rode my motorcycle to my family home to help clean our family grave—preparation for the Bon Festival, when our ancestors are said to return home. It’s a bit like Halloween, I suppose—except we don’t dress up.

When I arrived, our dog Lulu wasn’t in the living room. Instead, my older brother and his dog Korowan had returned home for the same reason. Lulu isn’t a fan of Korowan and had retreated to my father’s room.

When I called her, she came to me hesitantly, clearly still wary of Korowan. Although she’s usually bold, Lulu becomes timid around him.

Korowan has been visiting for nearly five years. He used to stay tied up in the yard, but my brother worked patiently to gradually bring him indoors. He’s now allowed in the living room—good news for Korowan, but maybe not so much for Lulu.

That evening, my brother, mother, nephew, and I cleaned the grave site together. We trimmed overgrown plants, swept the area, and polished the gravestone. The task took about 50 minutes, starting around 4 p.m., when the sun had dipped behind the mountain and the heat had eased.

Though our family grave is less than a kilometer from the house, we now drive there. But I still remember fondly the days we used to walk there together—along a tree-lined path like something out of Anne of Green Gables, past a large pond. Such memories feel especially precious now.

My father no longer joins the cleaning—after a major illness a few years ago, he seems to have handed the duty over to his children. He only says, “I’m not going,” but I think we understand.

Still, he works daily in the rice field and garden. Every morning, Lulu gets “volunteered” to join him, even though she always looks away when he calls her. But he picks her up like you’d grab a newspaper, and off they go. My mother laughs and says, “Poor Lulu,” though she’s clearly amused.

After cleaning, we each showered and then went to a yakiniku restaurant about 20 minutes away. It’s a nostalgic spot from our childhood. Although a newer place opened nearby with better-quality meat, we’ve returned to the original for its calm atmosphere and familiar staff—especially as the newer place has become crowded and, honestly, the service has gotten a bit arrogant.

My mother, ever practical, says she doesn’t care where we eat as long as she doesn’t have to cook. We enjoyed about two hours of meat and drinks, grabbed some ice cream at a convenience store on the way home, and relaxed.

My brother practiced guitar. My nephew was glued to YouTube. My mother went to bed early after chatting with us a bit. I posted to social media while struggling to stay awake—and eventually passed out.

Since my brother’s wife wasn’t with us this time, I slept in the same room as my brother and nephew. During the night, I woke up to a sweltering room. The AC had been set to 30°C. I lowered it to 25°C and went back to sleep—only to find it set back to 30°C again when I woke later. I adjusted it once more and tried to sleep again.

At 5 a.m., my brother and nephew took Korowan for a walk. I slept in. Korowan is a rescue dog, very wary of people, even now. But my brother walks him for up to two hours every morning. Korowan adores him.

My nephew has recently started joining these walks—thanks to a deal my brother made: if he joins the morning walks every day during summer break, he’ll get a Nintendo Switch.

Smart parenting, I’d say. My mother and I both agreed to support them—and if the Switch is earned, we’ll split the cost three ways.

That morning, we did a bit of shopping together while my mother made hamburg steak for lunch. My brother also picked up some watermelon and pumpkin from our mother’s garden. I couldn’t carry any since I was on my motorcycle, but I took home four large hamburg steaks—perfect for weekday bento lunches.

After lunch, I headed back to Kobe, riding through the intense summer heat and arriving home around 3 p.m. I’ve been working on listing this necklace ever since, and now it’s 5:38 p.m.

Tonight, I’ll head back to Osaka around 9 p.m. for my weekday job.

I haven’t been able to focus much on pearl work lately, but I continue creating, one piece at a time—even if mistakes happen along the way.

This necklace is available both on Etsy and on Flower Jem’s own website.

If you subscribe to the newsletter via the form at the bottom of Flower Jem’s homepage, you’ll receive a 30% off coupon.

Etsy takes a 20%+ cut through platform and payment fees. But when you purchase from Flower Jem directly, those fees don’t apply—and I’d rather pass that savings on to you.

Yes, I’d like to sell more through Flower Jem’s own store.
Yes, you can get a better price than on Etsy.

That’s the honest truth.

I hesitate to say this openly, but no matter how I phrase it, I think you’d see through me anyway. So here it is, plainly stated.

Thank you for reading this long post.

Besides Etsy, Flower Jem also runs its own store, a YouTube channel, and an Instagram page—all maintained by me alone.

I’ve worked in the pearl industry for over a decade, from farming and processing to wholesale and retail. Everything I’ve learned, I express through Flower Jem.

Especially when it comes to Akoya pearl farming, I’ve seen things that even many in the pearl business don’t know firsthand.

Since pearls are high-value items, I want to provide detailed information that earns your trust. And just as importantly, I think it’s crucial to know who you’re buying from.

That’s why I also write blog posts and personal essays—so you can know who I really am.

Of course, some people may feel put off by this—but that’s okay. It’s all about compatibility.

I’ll keep sharing, so that you can find the pearls you love, from someone you feel comfortable buying from.

See you next time!