"Apparently it has not really taken off, it is an expensive endeavor, and one that has probably been met with a muted response from the industry."
Thanks for finding that Jeremy. it was very helpful to see what else it out there and what the response has been. I suspect the muted response is due in part to the concerns that Amanda expressed, and the perception of a dislike for something that is "man-made". Which is so fascinating since all the Akoya we deal in are absolutely "man-made" in almost every way. The fact that cultured Akoya have been so widely accepted is just another tribute to the marketing genius of Mikimoto so many years ago. It would take a similar marketing genius to gain wide acceptance of any significant post-treatments that would be perceived to alter the surface of pearls.
Do you know any?
