M
mikehrz
Guest
By now some people probably assume that I am some kind of shill for Jeremy Shepherd and Pearl Paradise. Well, if you think that, this post isn't going to change your mind, so you might as well stop reading now. All I am is a very satisfied customer.
When I saw the pictures of the freshadama that were posted on this forum, I decided that I simply had to go see them in person. So I did, at Pearl Paradise's office now located in L.A. They're just moving in, so things were a little chaotic, but Kirsten and Jeremy (indeed, all the staff) were very obliging and my visit was very enjoyable.
When it comes to pearls, there really is nothing quite like seeing them in person. I saw a hanadama strand at the Mikimoto store in Las Vegas that went for $10,200. At Pearl Paradise I compared hanadama strands of equivalent quality to freshadama strands. Although the luster is not quite identical, as freshadamas lack the metallic sheen of the akoyas, the freshadamas have greater depth and orient. I can imagine a synthetic bead being created to look very much like the hanadamas, but I can't imagine a man-made item looking like the freshadamas. If someone bought a hanadama and accidentally recieved a freshadama instead, they wouldn't complain. It's difficult to express exactly how great the freshadamas are; all I could say when I first saw them was "Wow." Actually, I said that several times. Freshadamas really do render akoyas-all of them-irrelevant. When compared to the AA+ quality fw (the lowest Pearl Paradise offers), well, the lower-quality pearls look like chalk. Though certainly very good on their own merit (I bought some last year for a graduation present, and my mother bought some for herself after seeing mine), the AA+ fw simply can't hold a candle to the freshadamas. Those freshadamas are the most beautiful things I've ever held in my hand.
I liked the freshadamas so much I bought a pair of earrings pretty much on the spur of the moment. I figured it didn't make much sense to see some of the world's finest pearls in person and not bring some home with me. Though I was thinking of giving them to someone, I may just keep them for myself so I can look at them from time to time. They're that nice.
I also had wanted to find some dyed fw pearls to make into a tie tack and leather bracelet. Though Tahitians are usually used for such purposes, fw are a much better fit for my budget. The coloration of Tahitians also often tends toward green, one of my least favorite colors. Kirsten and I hunted through a variety of loose pearls and eventually settled on a pair of somewhat bronze-colored dyed fw. She had brought out one of the Tahitian-and-leather necklaces (as seen on Pierce Brosnan et al.) to compare the Tahitian's color to other pearls'. At the time, I was not a big fan of the Tahitian-on-leather necklace. Then I made a big mistake.
I tried one on.
I was wearing a black silk shirt at the time. I loved the way the necklace looked. I thought to myself, "Darn. Now I have to save up more money so I can get one of these." In this particular case, however, fate would intervene...
The dyed fw pearl I had chosen for the bracelet was a very good match for the tie tack. It was also the only one of its kind that we had seen in their inventory. The coloration was definitely not like any of the others that we had seen. While being the drill hole was being enlarged, though, the nacre surrounding the drill hole on one end cracked and a flake, about 3 mm across and .5 mm deep in its largest dimensions, came off. Had I been planning this to be a gift, I would have been really disappointed. Since it was just for myself, though, it didn't bother me too much. (Thank goodness for solid-nacre pearls!) I think it just adds a little more character to the pearl. At least, that's what I can tell my friends who see it.
Jeremy, however, was very kind and gave me a Tahitian-and-leather necklace. The Tahitian pearl was a surprisingly good match for the fw. He also had his art director, Natalie, shoot the bracelet and necklace at my request, since I figured some here on the forum might want to see the pieces. Pics to follow...
Visiting Pearl Paradise was certainly a very unique and very fun experience. What other multi-million dollar business has personnel, much less a company president, who are wiling to give personal attention to a part-time drug-store employee?
When I saw the pictures of the freshadama that were posted on this forum, I decided that I simply had to go see them in person. So I did, at Pearl Paradise's office now located in L.A. They're just moving in, so things were a little chaotic, but Kirsten and Jeremy (indeed, all the staff) were very obliging and my visit was very enjoyable.
When it comes to pearls, there really is nothing quite like seeing them in person. I saw a hanadama strand at the Mikimoto store in Las Vegas that went for $10,200. At Pearl Paradise I compared hanadama strands of equivalent quality to freshadama strands. Although the luster is not quite identical, as freshadamas lack the metallic sheen of the akoyas, the freshadamas have greater depth and orient. I can imagine a synthetic bead being created to look very much like the hanadamas, but I can't imagine a man-made item looking like the freshadamas. If someone bought a hanadama and accidentally recieved a freshadama instead, they wouldn't complain. It's difficult to express exactly how great the freshadamas are; all I could say when I first saw them was "Wow." Actually, I said that several times. Freshadamas really do render akoyas-all of them-irrelevant. When compared to the AA+ quality fw (the lowest Pearl Paradise offers), well, the lower-quality pearls look like chalk. Though certainly very good on their own merit (I bought some last year for a graduation present, and my mother bought some for herself after seeing mine), the AA+ fw simply can't hold a candle to the freshadamas. Those freshadamas are the most beautiful things I've ever held in my hand.
I liked the freshadamas so much I bought a pair of earrings pretty much on the spur of the moment. I figured it didn't make much sense to see some of the world's finest pearls in person and not bring some home with me. Though I was thinking of giving them to someone, I may just keep them for myself so I can look at them from time to time. They're that nice.
I also had wanted to find some dyed fw pearls to make into a tie tack and leather bracelet. Though Tahitians are usually used for such purposes, fw are a much better fit for my budget. The coloration of Tahitians also often tends toward green, one of my least favorite colors. Kirsten and I hunted through a variety of loose pearls and eventually settled on a pair of somewhat bronze-colored dyed fw. She had brought out one of the Tahitian-and-leather necklaces (as seen on Pierce Brosnan et al.) to compare the Tahitian's color to other pearls'. At the time, I was not a big fan of the Tahitian-on-leather necklace. Then I made a big mistake.
I tried one on.
I was wearing a black silk shirt at the time. I loved the way the necklace looked. I thought to myself, "Darn. Now I have to save up more money so I can get one of these." In this particular case, however, fate would intervene...
The dyed fw pearl I had chosen for the bracelet was a very good match for the tie tack. It was also the only one of its kind that we had seen in their inventory. The coloration was definitely not like any of the others that we had seen. While being the drill hole was being enlarged, though, the nacre surrounding the drill hole on one end cracked and a flake, about 3 mm across and .5 mm deep in its largest dimensions, came off. Had I been planning this to be a gift, I would have been really disappointed. Since it was just for myself, though, it didn't bother me too much. (Thank goodness for solid-nacre pearls!) I think it just adds a little more character to the pearl. At least, that's what I can tell my friends who see it.
Jeremy, however, was very kind and gave me a Tahitian-and-leather necklace. The Tahitian pearl was a surprisingly good match for the fw. He also had his art director, Natalie, shoot the bracelet and necklace at my request, since I figured some here on the forum might want to see the pieces. Pics to follow...
Visiting Pearl Paradise was certainly a very unique and very fun experience. What other multi-million dollar business has personnel, much less a company president, who are wiling to give personal attention to a part-time drug-store employee?
and the Tahitian is quite clean and round. Even my brother, who isn't really much of a pearl expert, could immediately see the difference between the slightly off-round fw and the round Tahitian.
