I need info on the pearls in the oysters in Japan

[mickeymom629]

Hi. Hoping someone knows what I'm talking about. We have never done this, but DS wants to get a pearl in an oyster and we've heard you can do this in Japan. We saw the candy making lady last time we were there, but not the pearl thing. Anyone?

 

[Feelin' Goofy]

My nephew did this at SW and the pearls in the oyster are cultured - a piece of sand is implanted in the pearl and allowed to grow the value is very low for these. Some times they will have a black pearl worth a little more and all of the oysters will have a pearl.

 

[mickeymom629]

Well, I thought I had heard that you could do this in Epcot at Japan. We won't be going to SW this next trip.

 

[AZKathy]

It is in the big store in Japan at the World Showcase. They sell the pearls for around $13.00. You can pick the oyster out and they open it in front of you with a little ceremony thing with the drum. They size it and you can have it mounted on a necklace or ring afterwards if you want. It takes maybe an hour to do that. My DD has gotten two pearls from this place so far, both sizes over 7mm in size.

 

[BlkBearSuz]

They have a place in the DTD marketplace too. When I was there in October, it was 12.99 for the pearl. It seemed kinda neat to pick out the pearl from the oyster, but the cost to have it set was way too expensive, IMO.

 

[fan_of_wdw]

AK will sometimes have Pearl booth, also.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Originally posted by BlkBearSuz
They have a place in the DTD marketplace too. When I was there in October, it was 12.99 for the pearl. It seemed kinda neat to pick out the pearl from the oyster, but the cost to have it set was way too expensive, IMO.

I thought about getting one there but the people working there are so incredibly pushy ... I was only interested in getting the pearl from the oyster, but the salesperson wanted to sell me everything else (which was more expensive) ... it just turned me right off. It sounds like the CMs make it a fun experience in Japan

 

[pintrader]

my friend was just there (Japanese Pavilion) a couple of weeks ago and got a "twin" from one shell 7.5 and 8 mm both silver so she got them made into earrings.

 

[Familymoon]

So it is $12.99 for just the pearl, right?

How much for the settings?

Thanks!

Oh - and when I was little we went to Sea World and DisneyLand - I'm not sure which one it was at, but there was a huge tank and scuba divers would go down (there was plexiglass) and get your oyster (I think they were numbered) to get a pearl. I actually don't remember much from that trip (I was 5 or 6) and that is one of the things I recall.

I might just have to do it for sentimentality

 

[goofy4tink]

MY dd and I did this at Epcot in August. She picked out an oyster with a beautiful silver/grey pearl in it. Very nice size too. I had it put on a chain for her birthday. At home it only cost about $40. I don't know what the cost is in Epcot/Japan. It's funny but while I was going through my mom's jewelry, after she died, I found two nice pearls from a trip to SeaWorld. It must have been quite awhile ago, since I don't remember her going there.

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

When we were there in 2000, I picked an oyster w/pearl at DTD. It was somewhere around 12-14 dollars. I had it made into a ring. Total cost was around 200$. This was my only keep-sake, I'm not into t-shirts and stuff. I don't remember them being that pushy, but if I did it again I would only buy the pearl not the setting (have it set at a local jeweler and take time to think about what you want to do with it-cheaper too). It's something I'll only do once. Later that trip I remember seeing this at the store in Japan and I know it was like 5$ more than DTD. I thought it was worth it because my pearl was huge. I asked if there was a trick to picking and the lady said..."just pick the ugliest oyster"! It's a nice memory.........an "expensive" nice memory!!

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by Familymoon
So it is $12.99 for just the pearl, right?

How much for the settings?

That is the price for the pearl. We got a silver ring setting for DD this summer for around $35.00. I believe we got a post to put another pearl on the year before for a necklace for around $20.00.

I did see the settings higher in price, but since DD was only 8, we did not want to invest in something higher priced because she has not gotten that "responsible" attitude towards jewelry yet and could easily loose it. By the way, she still has it and has taken care of it; guess we misjudged her!!!!

 

[MommaPoohBear]

The settings vary. We spent under $40 for my DD's necklace, including pearl.

There is also a little stand along the walkway between the YC and BC where they have oysters to open and the various settings.

 

[afsi3838]

awww, this sounds like fun. hmmm...may have to add it to my "to do" list. so is it dtd that is cheaper? where in DTD is the place again? i think it would be better there, you know cuz i would already be in the shopping spirit.

 

[AZKathy]

I bet the prices are the same where ever you choose to get a pearl in WDW.

 

[danny1649]

May get one for DW,I wonder if you could pick setting and come back later for it or have them deliver it to your resort.I wouldn't want to wait 1 hour for it,I would like to something else during that hour.

 

[AZKathy]

We walked around the World Showcase some more while we waited. I bet they could send it to your resort, otherwise.

 

[ToddBreakey]

My nephew did this at SW and the pearls in the oyster are cultured - a piece of sand is implanted in the pearl and allowed to grow the value is very low for these

According to a friend of mine who owns a jewelery store here in Raleigh, you cannot get natural pearls anymore as "new" pearls. All of the pearls on the market are cultured. That does not include freshwater pearls, which are not nearly as pretty. Nor does that include pearls that are in "estate" jewelery.

My wife did the pearl in the oyster thing also. The salesman tried to get her to buy one of the pendant settings. She just remembered what the one that she liked looked like and had a jeweler here find a pendant that was similar. Total savings was about $150.

 

[helenm29]

Yes, yes, yes! it's really great fun to see what the tiny little oyster has hiding in it's tummy! My daughter and I do it every time we go to D/W....I've done it 6 times so far and she's done it twice. It's very inexpensive to get the oyster but it can run up in price when you have the pearl set. Just give it a try and have FUN! Helen

 

[mickeymom629]

I knew you all could help. We will probably do the shop in Japan for the "hoopla", but it's nice to know there's one near the BW and YC since we'll be staying at the BWV in Dec. Since it's my DS9 who wants to do it, maybe he won't want to put in into jewelry, but I have a feeling when my DD12 sees this . . .

Familymoon---I remember the pearl divers too from somewhere in my childhood vacation memories