Hello, I'm Omori, a designer.
Right now at 440showroom, we are in the midst of our AW2025 new collection launch.
With the intention of creating a "small forest" in the 440showroom in Hanzomon, I've let pearl-crafted birds fly freely.
Each piece of jewelry is one-of-a-kind, with unique expressions and shapes.
My hope is to create jewelry whose radiance leaves a lasting impression on someone's heart.
Today, I'd like to share a story about a pearl earring reform from a customer who empathizes with our vision.
A Pearl Ring That Was a Little Too Large
The customer brought in a large pearl ring, approximately 11mm in size.
She confided, "It's very lovely, but it's too grand for everyday use..."
The customer, who always visits with her two close friends, came in with them that day as well.
One of her friends showed me a picture on her phone, saying, "Oh, I remember seeing these earrings a long time ago and really liking them." That was the catalyst for this reform.
A design decided from a single photo: "This is it!"
The screen showed earrings with a design that looked like pearls boldly "cut in half."
"Interesting!" "These would definitely suit you!"
The excitement quickly built up,
and the direction was decided in no time: "Yes, I'll go with these!"
...However, for me as a designer, this was the start of a somewhat anxious process.
Comparing the customer's pearl ring with the reference earring photo, several concerns crossed my mind.
Cutting a one-of-a-kind pearl in half
First and foremost, it meant that a large, round pearl would have to be "cut in half."
The thought "Isn't that a waste?" also crossed my mind.
However, the customer would likely not wear the current ring very often.
When I heard her wish to "make this pearl truly useful in my current life,"
I felt that boldly changing its shape was "not a wasteful choice."
For commercially available half-sphere pearl earrings,
only "beautiful ones with successful cuts" are carefully selected from many to be made into products.
But this pearl was one-of-a-kind, unique to the customer.
- The cut might not necessarily be clean.
- There would be no way to redo it.
I carefully explained these 2 points to her, taking my time.
Even so,
she directly told me, "Even so, please reborn this pearl into earrings."
So I replied, "Yes, then I will do my best to help you,"
and took the pearl into my care.
The cut was successful. However, there was a difference in thickness between the left and right sides.
The cutting process, which I carried out with tension alongside the artisan.
Although it successfully split into two hemispheres, when actually measured, there was a slight difference in pearl thickness between the left and right sides.
Such "errors" are inevitable with manual work.
So, I temporarily halted production and honestly reported the current situation to the customer.
After that,
I suggested, "How about we adjust for the thickness difference on the platinum base side so it's not noticeable?"
and by carefully sharing the design proposal again, we decided to proceed.
Ingenuity to "embrace the difference" with a platinum base
The key features of these earrings are:
- To fully enjoy the luster (shine) of the half-sphere pearl.
- To pave-set diamonds seamlessly on the flat cut surface.
These two are the main characteristics.
To make the difference in thickness between the left and right sides unnoticeable, the depth of embedding in the platinum base was individually varied in the design.
Visually, both pearls appear to have the same volume.
Subtle adjustments are made discreetly on the back.
In this way, the pearl, platinum, and diamonds each play their part, creating a harmonious balance within a single earring.
Both sides are the star. Reversible design that can be changed to suit your mood.
The completed earrings are "reversible," changing their expression depending on the orientation.
- From the front, the plump half-sphere pearl and the soft sparkle of platinum.
- From the outside (or inside) of the ear, the delicate yet powerful sparkle of the round pearl and densely set pave diamonds.
They are crafted to be enjoyed reversibly.
There are days when "the pearl is the star,"
and days when "I want to show off the sparkle of the diamonds."
It became a one-of-a-kind earring that can be subtly reoriented to match the day's outfit and mood.
The most stressful step, and the customer's comment
The most nerve-wracking part was indeed the process of cutting the customer's irreplaceable, single pearl.
Although the thickness didn't turn out perfectly uniform, by gently accommodating that "individuality" through the platinum design,
the "pearl," "diamond," and "metal"
each harmonized beautifully in the finished earrings, bringing me immense relief.
And then, finally, the day arrived for the customer to see her earrings.
She picked them up repeatedly, comparing the pearl side and the diamond side, turning them over and over,
and happily said, "I'm sorry for making such a difficult request. But thanks to you, I'm truly satisfied with the result."
Later, a matching Evence necklace followed.
Some time later, she acquired the Evence - Harmony Necklace, also featuring pavé settings, to match her earrings.
Although this reform started with some anxiety,
through this craftsmanship, I feel that our skills and expressive possibilities have expanded even further.
Thank you very much.
"The感動 of a single person" leads to the next creation.
Every day, casual conversations with customers and consultations about "I'm actually having trouble with this..." provide us with many hints for jewelry making and triggers for new ideas.
Better today than yesterday, and better tomorrow than today.
We will continue to create things that deeply move a single individual.
Thank you for reading to the end.
Please feel free to consult us about pearl and diamond reforms as well.
Stay tuned for the next blog post.
Pearl Earring Reform
Item: Earrings
Material: Pt
Gems: Approx. 11mm pearl, diamonds
Production Period: Approx. 3 months
Design: Kanae Omori
Consultations for reforms and custom orders are by appointment at the 440showroom in Hanzomon. If you have any concerns or questions before your visit, please feel free to contact us via our official LINE account.
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