I had been looking at the Bending Branches Black Pearl because I really like their grips and love my BB Sun Shadow 14 degree wood paddle, but about the time I was ready to buy, they stopped making it.  The deal was they had been getting too many returns about edge damage.  My thought is that was more due to the paddler and not the paddle. 

Last year I found the Werner Algonquin at Copia and got the show discount on it, as the BB folks did not have any plans on another carbon blade (so they said).  I am very happy with it and it is slightly under the ZRE in price at $289 list. It is just under 11 oz.  I find the blade a bit on the smaller side, but they claim it provides a softer 'catch', so maybe easier on the muscles. At 95 sq. in. it is only marginally smaller than the BB.  It performed well on last summer's Q trip and it has become my go to paddle. 

That said, BB DID come out last fall with the Black Pearl II.  It lists for $249 and comes in at 16 oz. with a reinforced edge.  Area is 105 sq. in.   I have no experience with it (yet), but plan to check it out at Copia this year. 

pd