Remember, at the Mikimoto store you are not just paying for the pearls; there is the 'experience' and the mystique of the name as well... There are very nice pearls other places, but they lack the atmosphere. Myself, I'd rather spend my money just on the pearls, and have the fun of searching them out. I guess it's the excitement of the hunt, which for me is more fun than the atmosphere of a fancy store.