Search results

Wow, Red, your SoC is gorgeous, and that ring! BAS, your madama strand is something else. Can you tell us which is your favorite?

That's really lovely.

Minimalist cool! What are those stones between the pearls?

Precisely! Since I couldn't afford the SoC mabe necklace–besides, pkinnew beat me to it–I thought this would be my version of it.

Oh, yeah. Here is the original photo.

CathyKeshi, the merchant says the mabe pearls are from saltwater oysters grown in Sulawesi, Indonesia. For opals, he used Australian doublets. That mabe pearls are saltwater make sense, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese figure out how to grow mabe pearls in freshwater mussels.

Mabe pearls and opal on silver Mabe pearls and opal on silver For months, I obsessed about this mabe pearl and opal necklace on Ebay, but I was afraid I wouldn't like it in real life. So when it went on sale last month, I decided to take the plunge. I don't know if the mabe pearls are...

And guess whose expertise Fortune.com used to estimate the cost of Lupita's dress: http://fortune.com/2015/02/23/lupita-nyongo-oscar-dress/

Thanks, Gemgeek and SunSeeker. I have no idea how this compares to gem-grade akoya and freshwater pearls, but when I wear them, I feel like a queen!

BAS, by "asymetrically", I meant close to the way it's set now, except with the metal less visible. The jeweler initially hung the mabe from the pointed end, like a tall Hershey's Kiss, then from the narrowest rounded end, like a heart or a mango. (Filipino metalsmiths abhor irregular shapes...

To begin, it's a wonderful piece. But the product of long-distance collaboration? Bravo!

Thank you, ladies. Every now and then, I second guess myself, especially on the asymmetrical setting. I need to remind myself that the unique shape was what drew me to that particular mabe, and your kind words are a great reassurance.

You're always inspiring us, The Seventh Sphinx. Thanks for the shot of glam in the arm.

Neck shot under the shade

I bought my Soc from Perlas last year, to reward myself during a torturous month at the office. It took me another three months to decide how to have it set. I found a pre-loved drop pendant, set in 14K WG, to which I could attach my SoC. Then when I instructed my jeweler to set the pearl...

You're probably right, Wendy, although the mistake of referring to the pearls in the display case as flameballs could be mine alone, and not the vendor's. Nevertheless, there are baroque SSPs and Tahitians that have a flameball-esque shape. As for the shine, I do have semi-baroque SSPs and...

While I was shopping for my sister's birthday present, I saw this pearl on display with typical white SSP flameballs. I was intrigued by the luster, the ripples on its surface and the gradation of color--like it was a pearl that wanted to be something else but fell short. The vendor suspects it...

Thanks, ladies, for the kind words. Kelluvpearls, it is fun being able to shop for the pearls in person, although the education can be expensive. Each new set of pearls is better than the last, and if you're like me, you are soon in a need for a serious de-stash. The trimmings, though, are...

Honestly, I didn't think I'd buy another white akoya strand so soon, because my lifestyle didn't call for a lot of Jackie O formal occassions. Still when you see a string of 8.5-9mm akoyas with high luster and clean surface, you can't just walk away. Believe me, I tried. So I gave in and took it...

;) We Asians are as flat as pancakes in that area, so we're completely oblivious to such comparisons. So you think I should share the photos with Kimye instead?