I came relatively late to an appreciation of pearls, but I have since fallen hard. This ring showcases and protects the pearls at the same time. Tasaki was founded in Japan in 1959; I found their corporate message interesting, as I think more people are quietly willing to pay for quality over trend:
With the global economy in recession, Japanese people’s attitudes towards consumption are changing greatly. It is difficult to describe simply why this is happening because it is such a big change, but if I was to put it in just a few words, maybe I could say, “Japanese people are evolving into more mature consumers.” We are moving towards the end of the age when people judge goods and services by value criteria like “it is a good product because everybody says so” or “it must be a good product because everybody has one.” Since its founding, the Company has always provided customers only with products made exclusively from high quality materials and using delicate processing technology.
This ring retails for USD $3,000 from The Webster Miami. It has pearls wrapped with gold, and four diamonds on the top to add some sparkle.
IntoTemptation.....jewellery musings 
Hi there! This is amazing: when you posted the Schoeffel earrings I felt the urge to write to you commenting about Tasaki, then life got in the way and I ended up not writing… In Europe they are almost nonexistent, which is a pity. However, I have been to China, where they have quite a lot of stores and I could fully appreciate the work they are doing. Not only are the pearls beautiful but also the work on the design is also very innovative. Specially the partnerships with Thakoon and Marie Hélène de Taillac have produced jewels that are totally contemporary.
Anecdote: the sales assistants didn’t speak English at the store so I only understood what MHT stood for after the fact! I did take a good look at the line, though… 🙂
I have wanted to write about their partnership with Thakoon, but couldn’t find any photos. Mikimoto does gorgeous thi gs, but their marketing has become synonymous with “pearls” and that’s kind of a shame!
You’re right, finding photos of Tasaki pieces is difficult. I wanted to blog about the Taillac collection – it is clearly a marketing statement, aimed at a younger crowd – but is was also impossible.
Mikimoto is probably the greatest of all… More classic & romantic. I see them as the “Tiffany” in pearls, to Tasaki’s “Dior”. They have stunning pieces, though. And the pearl quality is absolutely amazing.
I am continually frustrated with the lack of photos or information on jewellers’ web sites. The sites are often overdone on the Flash and photos, and underdone on information on materials used, prices, availability, etc. And it seems no different with bigger names than artisans.