Show Us Your Pearls In Action!!!

[jeg]

I am back from my travels through Vietnam! Going through the many pics I took and pulled a few out for this morning. These are from a visit to the Citadel in Hue. It’s quite popular to dress for the occasion and walk around the grounds taking photos. I immediately noticed how the women favored layers of “pearls”, especially ropes doubled and tripled.

Large stud earrings, too!

 

[jeg]

Even pearl buttons and dangling from the hair-

 

[linda.wald]

I can’t even begin to tell you how much it pains me to post the first few pics… I have two more days left in my travels through Vietnam and Bunny and the Traveling Pearl were lost a few weeks ago. I am heartbroken

On no! My sympathy and a virtual hug!

 

[jeg]

Thank you, Linda! I was devastated. It was like losing a pet. I have some sister bunnies and will be preparing one of them for future travels.

One of the stops we made was at Legend Pearl in Ha Long Bay. There were three very large facilities/showrooms right in a row in Ha Long Bay. I don’t know why my guide chose this one, but I was happy to see anything with pearls since my friends are not pearl people and I didn’t request a stop. As such, I didn’t look too in depth at anything because I didn’t want to keep everyone waiting and we were on our way to catch a flight. All of the facilities along this area are basically showrooms. The farms are much further out where the water is cleaner. As we entered, we were greeted with some treats and a host to walk us through the informational piece. They are able to farm all types of pearls in Vietnam. I have only seen Vietnamese Akoya advertised as ‘Vietnamese’ in the past, but they also harvest both golden and white SS and black pearls (Tahitians).

 

[jeg]

There were several women at tables lined up to demonstrate the pearl extracting process and grafting.

 

[jeg]

A map of the pearl farms along Ha Long Bay

And the showroom was huge. I snapped these pics when I first entered, then saw all the signs for no photography, so I did not try to take any pics of the display cases. There was a lot to see. Nothing that struck me as gorgeously outstanding, but the prices were not outrageous. I would say everything was priced within reason for a tourist facility. I initially wasn’t enticed to purchase anything, but saw a few pendants with a mix of tiny SS pearls I liked. I did pass on them and ended up with a floating Tahitian on a leather cord. I do not have any floating necklaces and thought this would make a nice souvenir.

 

[SteveM]

Jeg, did you take the Cat Ba Cable Car out to the islands? They were just building that when we were there 6-7 years ago. Farms definitely have to be outside the bay and main tourist areas, the massive number of tourist boats and junks create a complete environmental disaster in the main bay. For those attracted by brochures showing swimming opportunities as part of the boat tour, don't be tempted!

 

[jshepherd]

I can’t even begin to tell you how much it pains me to post the first few pics… I have two more days left in my travels through Vietnam and Bunny and the Traveling Pearl were lost a few weeks ago. I am heartbroken. View attachment 473366

Bunny Pearl! Oh no! I'm so sorry!

 

[eolian pearls]

@PearlyLibrarian love your blues! Dreamy dreamy dreamy

Oh @jeg so sorry to hear about the bunny and travelling pearl! At least they stayed in a beautiful beautiful place! I am surprised about the various pearls being cultivated in Vietnam, it is true that we only hear about akoyas! Must have been such an unexpected treat to see all the different displays! And so fun to have a Vietnamese Tahitian pearl;-)

I have also worn a single Tahitian this weekend. This pearl is from Pearlescence and I just love its colors and luster! One side is more purple, the other has intense hints of blue, I often wear it without any layering as it tends to overshadow my other pearls;-) My 2025 update is the new WG finding with three little diamonds.

 

[ennui]

Thank you for sharing your photos, jeg. Maybe Bunny and the Traveling Pearl found a place they'd like to stay? They should have said something.

 

[Syrie]

Wonderful photos Jeg. The ladies dressed for the Citadel remind me of dressing up for Easter Sunday when I was a child. I suspect that's sacrilege to say, but the photos brought forth the Easter image so strongly, with all the soft pink and white, and the fancy dress and the springlike landscape in the background, that I can't help but make the association. I'm very curious to see Vietnam some day. I'm sorry you lost your familiar. I'm sure it hurts.

 

[CathyKeshi]

Gorgeous photos Jeg; thanks for taking us along! The ladies in their dress up are enchanting; I see PINK predominates

 

[jeg]

Jeremy, it’s true and soooo sad.

Thanks so much, ennui, Syrie and Cathy! I think my guide was amused that I was more enamored taking pics of the beautiful outfits instead of the historic buildings.

Steve, I didn’t see the cable cars around Ha Long Bay. We only went there to cruise around the bay and spend the night on one of the cruise ships.(the ladies rowing boats with snacks were everywhere, too!) My guide surprised me with a stop at Legend Pearl because he knew I liked pearls. I had not planned on any pearl stops on this trip. Ha Long Bay is a very touristy area, and I had opted to spend a few days in Ninh Binh instead of more time in Ha Long Bay. If anyone is following along and might visit Vietnam. Ninh Binh is not well known like Ha Long Bay, but it’s a beautiful setting with the same limestone structures, but jutting out from rice fields in the countryside instead of the bay. I had visited there 5 years ago and was anxious to return.
Ninh Binh-

Traveling Pearl in Ninh Binh

 

[jeg]

Besides the Traveling Pearl, I pretty much only take studs on vacation with me. Traveling Pearl and grey Tahitian studs from PP. Two Akoya studs from Takahashi. Two Tahitian studs from Kojima.

 

[Shani]

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL THAT CELEBRATE IT AND HAPPY DAYS TO EVERYONE.

@PearlyLibrarian Pearl rings are tricky for me as well, I only ever wear mine for shorter outings except for my SoC mabe which obviously is not sticking out too much. Your bypass ring does look beautiful! Hope it really is a sturdier style and you get to enjoy it for longer wears. And I love the circled Ts bar necklace too, sometimes the full pearl necklace just feels too much and this style is much lighter and more casual. All the best for your return to work! Yes! getting to wear more pearls daily is very motivational ;-)

Congratulations @Shani on your knotting and the beautiful CMW bracelet! I really like lighter Tahitian pearls, their subte overtones are quite magical to me.

Introducing my biggest changeover of this year …the Akoya Candy strand…I have actually pulled apart 4 different Akoya necklaces to create it.
When @jeg posted a while back her mixed SSP rope it was love at first sight and then I realized that I actually could recreate this rope akoya-style. It took my 10-11mm Takahashi silver akoya necklace, 7-7,5mm ombre Takahashi and Druzy necklace, 5-6mm Pearlescence Vietnamese akoya necklace and 3-4mm Fine Pearls USA tiny akoya necklace to make this work.
Of course I got quite a few leftovers and ended up making a 2 different akoya and gemstone necklaces and one bracelet too. A win win as I absolutely loved those akoyas before but I hardly ever wore them… I am sure all these new versions will fare better.View attachment 473330View attachment 473331View attachment 473332View attachment 473333

Really lovely!

 

[Shani]

I can’t even begin to tell you how much it pains me to post the first few pics… I have two more days left in my travels through Vietnam and Bunny and the Traveling Pearl were lost a few weeks ago. I am heartbroken. View attachment 473366View attachment 473367

Bunny always wore the original Traveling Pearl. Here I am with Traveling Pearl 2.
View attachment 473368

i bought one new pearl on this trip, a floating Tahitian at one of the large showrooms in Ha Long Bay. I will share more info about the showroom when I return home. View attachment 473369View attachment 473370“

Awww, it really sucks to lose a sentimental treasure. Sorry to hear about bunny.

 

[Shani]

My quest for some blueeeee baroque akoyas has culminated in this lovely pair of studs and a really fun little pendant. I snapped up the “Aya” pendant and the studs from the new batch of blue akoyas from West Pearl. Their colors and shape are so mesmerizing, I’m having such trouble getting good pictures. At first I thought it didn’t make sense to wear the pendant with this color shirt, but I couldn’t wait any longer and it actually really pulls out the pink/purple/almost reddish tones in the pendant. The bail is my favorite style - super minimal to let the pearl really take center stage!

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It's a really beautiful pendant!

 

[jeg]

Thanks, Shani. It’s a real bummer…

Metallic FW studs from a PP Live event, a large FW pendant from Kojima, and the Japan Kasumi pearl that “chose” me at last year’s Pearls By The Bay.

 

[Freshpeachez]

A map of the pearl farms along Ha Long Bay
View attachment 473447

And the showroom was huge. I snapped these pics when I first entered, then saw all the signs for no photography, so I did not try to take any pics of the display cases. There was a lot to see. Nothing that struck me as gorgeously outstanding, but the prices were not outrageous. I would say everything was priced within reason for a tourist facility. I initially wasn’t enticed to purchase anything, but saw a few pendants with a mix of tiny SS pearls I liked. I did pass on them and ended up with a floating Tahitian on a leather cord. I do not have any floating necklaces and thought this would make a nice souvenir.
View attachment 473448View attachment 473449View attachment 473450View attachment 473451View attachment 473452View attachment 473453View attachment 473454

Amazing that you go to see the grafting process right there!

 

[Freshpeachez]

I have to proudly show off my first ever strand of not-thrifted pearls!! A mix of Tahitian, Golden and White South Sea Pearls with a silver clasp. Appraised at $1985 and purchased for $744. Feeling like I won the jack pot with these baroque beauties!

Worn with a simple t-shirt, because pearls go with everything!