The 9MM South Sea pearl earrings were unblemished, well-shaped and well matched, but were less lustrous than expected. The packaging for gifting is exceptional. Originally, I was looking at a smaller size, but reading reviews convinced me to go larger, and I am glad I did. The 9MM size, while perhaps at or slightly beyond the upper-end of the size range for Akoya pearls, is not large enough that it is obvious that these are South Sea Pearls. For a 9MM or smaller size, in hindsight, I would go with the Hanadama Akoya in hopes of higher lustre, or if the "big-pearl" look of South Sea pearls is your goal, I think going with a larger than 9MM size would be better. My purchase arrived quickly and there was good communication regarding delivery/shipping updates sent to me via e-mail.
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