Glass accessories featuring akoya pearls, the jewels of the sea. The story behind the making of the ZUTTO exclusive PEARL series

The Christmas season, the year-end and New Year holidays, New Year's Day itself, casual parties, invitations, graduation ceremonies, entrance ceremonies... women often find themselves with occasions to "dress up just a little." For formal occasions such as weddings and funerals, pearl accessories are the classic choice, but pearls—with their unmistakably formal impression—can sometimes feel out of place at parties where you'd rather look a bit more casual. This time, with the cooperation of HARIO Lampwork Factory, known for their delicate glass accessories, and Yashima Shinju, who handle genuine pearls, we've prepared a special ZUTTO-exclusive accessory line where glass and pearls come together in harmony.

Special accessories where glass meets pearl

Pearls have long been said to suit Japanese women particularly well. Unlike the flashiness of a large diamond, pearls shine with elegance—graceful, yet with a certain quiet strength. Many women buy themselves a pearl necklace with their first paycheck, or receive one as a gift from their mother on the occasion of marriage. Pearls tend to mark life's milestones, worn at turning points along the way—a gem that feels close and familiar. Since pearls flatter skin of any age, many people associate them with formal occasions like weddings, funerals, and parties. Of course, they also look wonderful paired with a simple T-shirt, knit sweater, or denim, but we thought: wouldn't it be nice to have designs that could be worn more casually, opening up even more possibilities for everyday styling? That idea was the starting point for this exclusive collection.

The [Exclusive] PEARL series comes in 3 designs and 3 types

The [Exclusive] PEARL series we've prepared this time comes in three designs—Kobana (small flower), Yuki (snow), and North Tree—each available as pierced earrings, clip-on earrings, or a necklace.

[Exclusive] PEARL Kobana Pierced Earrings / Clip-on Earrings

[Exclusive] PEARL Necklace Kobana

As the name suggests, the [Exclusive] PEARL Necklace Kobana is a charming accessory with a small akoya pearl nestled at the center of a tiny flower. The glass petals, dimensional like a real flower, gently frame the face. This floral motif can be worn year-round regardless of season—understated yet elegant, and perfect for everyday wear.

[Exclusive] PEARL Yuki Pierced Earrings / Clip-on Earrings

[Exclusive] PEARL Necklace Yuki

The [Exclusive] PEARL Yuki features a delicate, swaying snow motif full of seasonal charm. It's the perfect match for a winter knit.

[Exclusive] PEARL North Tree Pierced Earrings / Clip-on Earrings

[Exclusive] PEARL Necklace North Tree

The [Exclusive] PEARL North Tree features a motif evoking a tree standing tall and dignified in a cold region. The plump, rounded shape is wonderfully charming. This earring style can also be worn in two ways.

The unique beauty of genuine pearls x glass motifs, revealed through an interview

To introduce this accessory line combining glass accessories and pearls, we interviewed the ZUTTO staff member in charge of the project. Let's uncover the secret behind pairing glass with pearls.

I had always loved HARIO Lampwork Factory's accessories, and I kept wondering whether we could do some kind of exclusive collaboration with them. We'd previously held an exclusive pierced/clip-on earring event that received a really positive response from customers, so I'd been hoping to introduce something more gift-oriented—simple yet cute pieces that adults could wear, suitable for both casual and formal occasions, the kind of accessory that blends naturally into everyday life. That's when the opportunity came up to collaborate with Yashima Shinju using pearls, and the result was exactly the kind of versatile accessory I'd been hoping for—one that works in so many different settings.

I find myself completely captivated by their delicate glass, the way it catches the sunlight and sparkles, revealing so many different expressions. Glass is something familiar to us, and most pieces are clear and colorless at their core—and I think that "blank space," so to speak, leaves room for each viewer to bring their own impression to it, which is something I really love. Glass items might seem more suited to the warmer months, but they can actually be worn year-round, from midsummer to the depths of winter. In particular, the Yuki and North Tree designs we've prepared this time have distinctly wintry motifs, so I'd love for people to wear them during the cold season, adding a touch of elegance to a knit sweater or scarf.

Yashima Shinju is located in Ise-Shima, Mie Prefecture, the birthplace of pearl cultivation. If you picture a map of Japan, you'll recall the large Ise Bay between Aichi and Mie. In this landscape where sea and mountains sit back to back, nutrients are carried directly into the water, and the akoya oysters raised in this rich natural environment produce what are said to be the finest pearls in the world.

At Yashima Shinju, together with relatives who work as pearl cultivation craftsmen, they aim to cultivate pearls with as little burden on the akoya oysters as possible from the very start of the process, taking the time and care needed to produce pearls with a beautiful transparency and luster. For this [special order] PEARL series, we asked them to select pearls in just the right size to complement the motifs of HARIO Lampwork Factory chosen by ZUTTO.

The Kobana (small flower) series uses 3.5–4mm pearls that bring out the charm of the small glass flower motifs, while the Yuki and North Tree pieces use small pearls known as rindama, measuring 4.5–5mm. Ise-Shima accounts for 99% of all rindama production in Japan; because a single oyster is implanted with multiple extremely small nuclei, the process requires highly advanced skill, making these precious pearls something only a limited number of craftsmen are able to produce.

Exactly. Whether it's Christmas or returning home during the New Year holidays, scattering a bit of pearl into these everyday moments of dressing up a little adds an elegant touch—I don't think there's anyone who would be unhappy to receive them. Accessories made with delicate glasswork and genuine akoya pearls make thoughtful gifts, and they suit almost anyone you might give them to. While enjoying the beauty of natural materials, you can also appreciate the value of using a single item for a long time.

*Bonus feature: How to use the 2-way earrings

The Yuki and North Tree earrings are actually a 2-way design that can also be worn as simple pearl earrings on their own. By removing the motif, they become simple pearl earrings. The Yuki and North Tree motifs can also be paired with other earrings for a cute look. *The 2-way design applies only to the earrings.

Because we want you to use them for a long time, we also offer repairs

HARIO Lampwork Factory accessories come with repair support. If the glass chips, a pearl happens to come loose, a chain breaks, or you notice any discoloration, please contact customer support. We'll confirm the repair timeline and cost with you. Feel free to choose these with confidence, even as a gift.

▽You can find the full lineup of HARIO Lampwork Factory items featured here