Honey and Lemon and Gem Geek. Thank you. I do love them. Here are a couple more photos that I have not shared previously. While pearls are notoriously difficult to photograph, I think some of these photos show the orient and luster of this strand. Maybe in future I can take better photos. As to Caitlin's "blow them out of the water" comment, I just don't understand how she can compare two strands of akoyas without having them 'in hand'.
And she does this again here:
"Jeweljunke,
Nice pearls, almost flawless to the eye, but look up Gem Geek's untreated hanadama thread. The difference leaves yours, as pretty as it is, in the dust. It is so luminous and has so deep a play of orient, it is visible in photos.
Yours is a typical bleached AAA akoya, and there is nothing wrong with them, they are high quality, but what orient there was, was been destroyed by the bleach, though the ball bearing luster remains."
Now, don't get me wrong. I like and respect Caitlin, always have, but it is obvious she is not an akoya lover, so maybe she should not judge. (I know...this has nothing to do with the topic of Hanadama...)
Ok, I see I have slipped to the third person even though I am sure you do not want anyone else to answer for me. I admit I did not like like akoyas, esp when I first got here. Since then, I have usually mitigated my opinions, but anyone who reads past posts will know where I stand. Of course I don't expect you have had time to get to know me through past posts that far back.
So a synopsis: I detest branding, Mikimoto branding in particular. It is so........ Veblen-esque. Thorstein Veblen, that is. Don't get me started. It is only my opinion, lots of people strive for brand names in everything they buy, but don't expect me to have respect for that mindset. I don't.
I have seen a lot of akoyas- including the ones Mikimoto sends around in its traveling AGTA/CPAA/gem show exhibit. I spent a great deal of time looking at them this year, while Jeremy talked to Bo and a couple of others at that display. Do not get me wrong. These were gorgeous necklaces, better than most people ever see.
I think GemGeek's untreated akoya is far more beautiful with its complex overtones and iridescence than the ones I saw on display. I was just taking a wild guess, but I don't see how any other necklace, hanadama quality or not (I said quality, not certified), could be more beautiful than the ones on display from Miki.
And Blaire's were better than that.
I certainly did not demean your pearls by saying that- that are what they are- very good akoyas- excellent akoyas- but when they are bleached AT ALL, subtleties disappear, leaving pure white perfect orbs with a smashing mirror luster. Which some people prize above all others. Go figure.
I was certainly not insulting your pearls, I was trying to tell you something- that untreated akoyas are far more astounding than treated. We have been spoon-fed the IDEA of perfect white orbs, but the real thing is so much more subtle and better.
I would never buy a hanadama. All I was doing was defending the idea that hanadama grade should be from at least the top half of the harvest and never be awarded to AA quality pearls.
I just saw him sneer down the idea of hanadama, then say any grade pearl could get the certificate, and then he offers AA as handama. Whatever.
Except it is not over, because you thought I insulted your pearls, sight unseen. I hope you will now accept that I did not. Blaire's are just better.
I am sorry, I do not see any orient on your pearls. How do you define orient- before I get into any more trouble, lol!
