Pearl Paradise may be able to show you a single Akoya pearl that has high, high luster and "perfection" equal to or even better than Hanadama quality.
Hanadama is just a certification. PP can show you how they compare.
With some of the "early" toggles, the bar was not long enough to prevent it from accidently slipping out of it's ring, causing them to loose favor. Now attractive artisan-made toggles with improved engineering are available in bronze and sterling silver and gold-finished, so that could be an...
A Breaker, I'm leaning toward saltwater also. How long is the strand? Many of the dyed pearls I have show more dark blue/purple where these pearls seem to be more gray/green. Also I see the "fish bites" typically seen on Tahitians.
Looking forward to comments from others ~
Oops, "one touch" bean = pinch clasp. Maybe the best option would be to add additional contrasting pearls, or gems, like birthstones of family members or her birthstone and make it long enough for her to slip over her head (no clasp).
I'm still looking for that "perfect" clasp, too!
Is this the same clasp as the "pinch" clasp? I think it is one of the easiest ones to use. Being able to restring pearls and beads for family and friends is a lovely gift, A Breaker! It's my pleasure to make "better string" available for pearl enthusiasts and designers.
Yes, good job, Izzie! What a good size to create memorial jewelry, Leslie! The pearls appear off round, indicating they are tissue nucleated, not bead nucleated.
Welcome, Wendi! That's certainly a worthy career path. Unfortunately, I don't know of an opportunity like you seek. Did you see the account of a recent Akoya Farm Tour from BWeaves? Here