February 26, 2005

I Stand Amazed

Flaming entry Kamoamoa Bench HVO Photo

I stand amazed... at 8pm Woody and I closed the shop door for the last time, on the last customer, a lady who has bought a number of things from us for her high end consignment shop here in Hilo. She had been in earlier in the week and placed about 30 items on hold to buy, then came again and said "What do you have left?" I had a mans wedding band, and peridot ring, one tahitian pearl that was so lovely but mounted in a setting with diamonds that made it very expensive. Some itallian gold earrings, 3 neckchains of varying lengths and a platnum engagement ring... a few other odds and ends for a total of 13 items. She bought it all leaving only one last thing.

In my inventory is a superb strand of graduated 12-16 mm Tahitian black pearls They were the highest priced item in the store and also a bit large for the taste of some. I have had both women and men lust after them but not come up with the 7 big ones to pay for them (the would retail for as much as 20,000 in most stores)

In these final days we spotlighted them placing them in their rosewood display box for a come hither look in the front window... Many looks... one lady got a 11th hour unbelieveable offer from me to sell them to her at 1725.00... she said she'd think about it which was the dumbest answer as it was 4:30 and we close at 5...

Woody took them out and presented them to me and said he was glad that I didnt sacrifice them to her...We have had to make some disagreeable deals and that was just too much. I have earned them and intend to wear them once they are restrung and made into a longer strand by having "rondelles" placed in between the 5 center pearls. These large gold "bead" spacers are often highly decorated and have gems mounted in them> How does white gold and tanzanite sound? Where will I wear it? EVERYWERE!

The Japanese say that the pearl is the "soul" of the oyster. It is born of suffering like we all are and lives close to the heart of its "mother" and later man. Tahitians beleive that the black pearl is the symbol of joy of life... In Europe, a bride is said to shed a tear for every pearl worn or sewn to her gown... (I had hundreds of fake ones,)These huge round gems were the first peice that I handled when I made my initial buy from Steven Lee and I suppose it was ment to be.

A photo below. These are the "upper" strand in this display. The lower one was smaller, less round and also sold this week.

So technically... its all gone. I know it was prayer. Thank you one and all.