Jewelry for my lady

[jerky656]

I'm going to be at kadena AFB for only a couple of months & wanted to ask you forum members about buying some pearls for the misses. I'm not too familiar with where reputable shops are & aren't. Is the PX/BX a good place to find a nice necklace? Is there another legit shop somebody can recommend? I'm leaning towards a black pearl necklace, but it all depends on what else there is to choose from & $$$. It's good to be back on the island, if only for a little while, its still good to be back. Later: Eric

[socalheart]

I highly recommend the Silverchest on both Kadena and Foster in the concession mall. They usually have freshwater pearls with gold settings for a very good price. Sometimes, inside the exchange has a vendor for a mainland Japan pearl company, which also has good prices for Akoya type pearls. Off base has a few good large stores that are reputable, like in the malls, but pricey.

[Sex Wax]

The Mitsukoshi Dept Store in Naha has a good jewelry area as well as a Black Pearl selection. My Dad bought some from there one of the times he was here. They give you a certificate and such.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/AshMiller1972/mitsukoshideptstore.jpg

[Trail]

Jerky,
I personally adore black pearls but that is me. Ever since my mom and dad bought a set in Jamaica, I have loved them and those aren't even lustrous black pearls. IMO, the black pearls go with so much more than what white pearls do.

[jerky656]

Jerky,
I personally adore black pearls but that is me. Ever since my mom and dad bought a set in Jamaica, I have loved them and those aren't even lustrous black pearls. IMO, the black pearls go with so much more than what white pearls do.

We MUST have good taste then! I'm sure the wife will like the black ones. I hope my wallet can learn to like em'

[jerky656]

The Mitsukoshi Dept Store in Naha has a good jewelry area as well as a Black Pearl selection. My Dad bought some from there one of the times he was here. They give you a certificate and such.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/AshMiller1972/mitsukoshideptstore.jpg


Thanks for the map. I'll check that out soon. I am definitely going to be hitting Kokusai Dori a few times while here.

[Old Timer]

Pearl necklaces work.....cheap too. :thumbup1:

[P_chan]

Pearl necklaces work.....cheap too. :thumbup1:

LOL they're such thoughtful gifts:D

[Trail]

We MUST have good taste then! I'm sure the wife will like the black ones. I hope my wallet can learn to like em'

I was told that the blue/green sheen to a black pearl denotes higher quality than the pink/purple sheen. If you compare the two type together, there is a large difference in color. Slate grey with a white sheen are lower quality but can still look very nice in a right setting or strand. Just thought I'd throw what tips I have been told by my jeweler brother-in-law. Oh, ALWAYS go a for a white gold or platinum setting since it never seems to go out of style.

Add:
Look at the clasp setting as well. If it is a high quality, well made clasp, more often than not it will denote the price of the pearls. If it's cheap and look like it will break, your pearls are probably cheap as well.

Never shower, bathe, apply perfume, make up, hair spray etc. after you put your pearls on. All those substances can eat away the lacquer on the pearls making the less lustrous, brittle, and worn. However, natural body oils can help the pearls keep their lacquer and sheen. If you notice them getting dull, have you wife wear the to bed over night. Never apply mineral oil, baby oil, or essential oils to pearls.

When all else fails when trying to judge if the pearls are real or fake, gently bite them. Sounds crazy but a real pearl will feel like another tooth or well, like a hard pearl. Fake will squish or you will feel a glass like feeling.

Salt water pearls > fresh water pearls Try to stay away from fresh water pearls since they do not have nearly the life of salt water pearls. Salt water pearls are harder and better formed than fresh water.

[socalheart]

You may also benefit greatly from buying your pearls directly from the Ryukyu Pearl company. They have an excellent reputation for high quality black pearls. You can buy them directly, but will have to Google the specifics. As someone who worked many years in a jewelry shop, it's my strong recommendation to go direct, since you want pearls of the Mikimoto style.

[jerky656]

The Mitsukoshi Dept Store in Naha has a good jewelry area as well as a Black Pearl selection. My Dad bought some from there one of the times he was here. They give you a certificate and such.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/AshMiller1972/mitsukoshideptstore.jpg

I hit Mitsukoshi yesterday. Thanks a bunch for the tip. You were referring to the jeweley dept. downstairs right? There was a counter that had a nice selection of various pearls. I hope I didn't miss anything else on the upper levels.:scratchchin:

[jerky656]

I was told that the blue/green sheen to a black pearl denotes higher quality than the pink/purple sheen. If you compare the two type together, there is a large difference in color. Slate grey with a white sheen are lower quality but can still look very nice in a right setting or strand. Just thought I'd throw what tips I have been told by my jeweler brother-in-law. Oh, ALWAYS go a for a white gold or platinum setting since it never seems to go out of style.

Add:
Look at the clasp setting as well. If it is a high quality, well made clasp, more often than not it will denote the price of the pearls. If it's cheap and look like it will break, your pearls are probably cheap as well.

Never shower, bathe, apply perfume, make up, hair spray etc. after you put your pearls on. All those substances can eat away the lacquer on the pearls making the less lustrous, brittle, and worn. However, natural body oils can help the pearls keep their lacquer and sheen. If you notice them getting dull, have you wife wear the to bed over night. Never apply mineral oil, baby oil, or essential oils to pearls.

When all else fails when trying to judge if the pearls are real or fake, gently bite them. Sounds crazy but a real pearl will feel like another tooth or well, like a hard pearl. Fake will squish or you will feel a glass like feeling.

Salt water pearls > fresh water pearls Try to stay away from fresh water pearls since they do not have nearly the life of salt water pearls. Salt water pearls are harder and better formed than fresh water.

Thanks for the advice! I'm here on Okinawa & hit Mitsukoshi dept. store yesterday & took a good look at all they had to offer.