What’s SEVEN THREE.? All About
SEVEN THREE. is a pearl brand created by a grandfather-granddaughter duo. In Ise-Shima, Mie Prefecture, home to Japan’s holiest shrine (Ise Shrine), the grandfather has raised Akoya pearls for over 70 years. His granddaughter Nanami Ozaki founded SEVEN THREE. to carry on his heartfelt intentions and make these cherished pearls available to more people.
Director of SEVEN THREE. / Ise-Shima Ambassador
Born in Ise City, Mie Prefecture. After graduating from high school, began working as a model and talent. In 2014, won the Miss Ise-Shima Grand Prix. In 2017, she was appointed as an Ise-Shima Ambassador and has been actively involved ever since.
In October 2018, she founded Sanbun no Nana Co which focused on product development and promotion. In December of the same year, she launched the Akoya pearl jewelry brand— SEVEN THREE.
What are Akoya Pearls?
The Akoya pearl is a saltwater pearl from the Akoya oyster and has the longest history of cultivation in the pearl industry. The technique of pearl cultivation, which involves inserting a nucleus into an oyster to grow a pearl, was developed in Japan in the late 19th century. In 1900, Japanese innovator Kokichi Mikimoto successfully produced the cultured pearl in Ise-Shima, laying the foundation for the modern pearl industry. This technique led to the spread of pearl farming around the world.
One of the reasons Akoya pearls are popular not only in Japan but also worldwide is their delicate luster. The nacre of Akoya pearls is exceptionally fine, giving them a unique transparency and elegance unmatched by other pearls. While freshwater pearls and South Sea pearls can be cultivated in large quantities, with a single oyster producing dozens of pearls, Akoya oysters typically yield only one pearl per oyster. It takes three to four years for a single Akoya pearl to form. Due to their exceptional shine and relative rarity, Akoya pearls are recognized highly valuable.
The Goldfish Pearl: A Name We Created
The probability of a perfectly round, pure white pearl occurring naturally is not high. Pearls that don't form into a perfect sphere are called "baroque pearls," and even when artisans spend years crafting them, there was no way to bring them to market because there wasn't demand.
However, just as perfectly round, white pearls are considered precious, pearls with unique shapes and colors also can't be intentionally created by human hands. We believe this is truly a mysterious beauty in the way nature shapes things. It feels wasteful to trim the protruding parts to only show the round portions, or to leave misshapen pearls aside because they are difficult to sell.
Director Nanami named pearls with shapes resembling a goldfish tail "Goldfish Pearls" and trademarked the name. While SEVEN THREE. offers both perfectly round and white pearls, many customers now visit the brand specifically for the Goldfish Pearls. These have become one of our signature jewelry pieces. Every pearl has its own unique beauty, and We want to ensure its value is communicated clearly so that we can share it with as many people as possible.
Grandfather:
Cultivating Pearls for Over 70 Years
Our director Nanami's interest in pearls was sparked by watching her grandfather, who is still actively cultivating pearls at the age of 88. Ise-Shima, Mie Prefecture, is the birthplace of the world’s first successful pearl cultivation technique, and in her grandfather's time, most young people worked in the pearl farming industry. However, over the years, the number of successors has dwindled, and the aging population has accelerated. The production of pearls continues to decline.
While Nanami can’t inherit the pearl cultivating techniques, having witnessed firsthand the immense skill and time required to produce a single pearl, she has always held the desire to "protect Ise-Shima’s pearls and contribute to supporting the local pearl producers."
Designing Our Jewelry
We create jewelry that highlights the unique character of pearls, stepping away from traditional concepts to share the beauty of pearls with a wider audience.
The jewelry parts are designed for everyday wear, focusing on delicate and slender pieces. Each design features a single pearl, emphasizing timeless simplicity that transcends trends.
Sustainability Means to Us
We prioritize protecting both industry and the environment by discovering new value in not-focused resources like baroque pearls. Finding unique worth in them also aligns with the principles of the SDGs.
Specifically, we address Goal 12, "Responsible Consumption and Production," which aims to ensure sustainable production and consumption patterns. And also focus on Goal 14, "Life Below Water," which aims to conserve and sustainably use oceans and marine resources.
Additionally, by sharing the story of our production area, Ise-Shima, we hope to foster a deeper connection with this region and contribute to community revitalization.
Through SEVEN THREE., we hope to share the hidden charm of pearls that may not have been widely known. We’d like you to get to know us, and with heartfelt gratitude, we thank everyone who has read this far.
Writer：YUKI HOSHI