Do Mikimoto pearls hold their value?

Yes, Mikimoto pearls tend to at least hold their value over time. In some cases, the value of the brand's pearl jewelry increases over time due to demand and the effects of inflation. Keep in mind that the value of any piece of jewelry depends on its condition. Properly storing and caring for your pieces can help to ensure that they retain their value for years to come. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Mikimoto pearl jewelry.

How much is a Mikimoto pearl necklace worth?

How much a Mikimoto pearl necklace is worth will depend on the size of the strand, the number of pearls used and the design. It could range from $920 to $21,000, with a wide variety of price points in between. From pendant and choker to multi-strand and rope versions, find Mikimoto pearl necklaces on 1stDibs.

Are Mikimoto pearls Akoya?

No, not all Mikimoto pearls are Akoya. Mikimoto also uses Black South Sea cultured pearls, White South Sea cultured pearls, Golden South Sea cultured pearls, and Conch pearls to create their jewelry. Shop Mikimoto Akoya pearl jewelry on 1stDibs.

Estate Mikimoto

Mikimoto Cluster Pearls Ring

Mikimoto Box

Madeira Citrine Earrings

Mikimoto 3 Pearl Diamond Necklace

Mikimoto Clasp

Estate Gold Chain Link

Materials

Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Recent Sales

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Estate Mikimoto Double Strand 18 Karat Bracelet Certified

By Mikimoto

Located in Brooklyn, NY

CERTIFIED Estate Mikimoto $3,950 5.40-5.50 MM Double Strand Akoya Pearl Bracelet With a Length of 7 Inches with an 18 KT Gold Clasp Nothing says, “I Love ❤️ you” more than Diamonds a...

Category

2010s Japanese Modern Beaded Bracelets

Materials

South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold

Estate Mikimoto Large Strand 18 Karat Bracelet Certified

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L 7.5 in

Estate Mikimoto Large Strand 18 Karat Bracelet Certified

By Mikimoto

Located in Brooklyn, NY

CERTIFIED Estate Mikimoto Large 8.00-7.50 MM Single Strand Akoya Pearl Bracelet With a Length of 7.5 Inches with an 18 KT Gold Clasp Nothing says, “I Love you” more than Diamonds an...

Category

2010s Japanese Modern Beaded Bracelets

Materials

18k Gold

Certified Mikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Necklace

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$4,608Sale Price|20% Off

L 18 in

Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Strand Necklace with 18 Karat Yellow Gold Clasp

By Mikimoto

Located in Scottsdale, AZ

This Mikimoto Akoya cultured pearl necklace features luminous white pearls strung in a classic single 18" strand. The 5.5 - 6 mm round pearls are delicately graduated and lead to a 1...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Beaded Necklaces

Materials

Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Mikimoto 8.5-9mm AAA Pearl Matinee 24" Long Strand Necklace 18k Gold Clasp

$12,900

L 25.01 in

Mikimoto 8.5-9mm AAA Pearl Matinee 24" Long Strand Necklace 18k Gold Clasp

By Mikimoto

Located in Montclair, NJ

--Stone(s):-- (64) Genuine Cultured Pearls - Round Shape - White w/ Pink Overtone - AAA - Top Luster & Color - 8.5-9mm (approx.) (1) Genuine Cultured Pearl - Round Shape - White w/ P...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Estate Mikimoto For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the estate mikimoto you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold, this item was constructed with great care. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. Finding the perfect estate mikimoto may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 20th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. Today, if you’re looking for a round cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes alternatives. There aren’t many items for men if you’re seeking an estate mikimoto, as most of the options available are for women and unisex.

How Much is a Estate Mikimoto?

On average, an estate mikimoto at 1stDibs sells for $2,000, while they’re typically $199 on the low end and $8,950 for the highest priced versions of this item.

Mikimoto for sale on 1stDibs

Born to a noodle-shop owner, Japanese jeweler Kokichi Mikimoto (1858–1954) worked in the seafood business before shifting his focus to pearl cultivation. In 1893, he successfully developed the world’s first cultured pearls with a semispherical specimen. His further experimentation would include black and white South Sea pearls. This development gave Mikimoto a supply of what had once been a notoriously rare natural element and earned him the nickname “The Pearl King.” As he once said, “My dream is to adorn the necks of all women around the world with pearls.”

In 1899 in Tokyo’s Ginza district, Mikimoto opened his first, eponymous store in a white-stone building reminiscent of the color of pearls. He quickly earned a reputation for dazzling designs that blended Japanese craftsmanship and European influence. Mikimoto sent his jewelers to Europe to study the latest trends in jewelry and design; they brought back knowledge of Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles, which were incorporated into designs featuring Mikimoto’s pearls.

But Mikimoto’s creations were not met with enthusiasm by all. In 1921, a London newspaper called the designer’s jewelry “only imitations of real pearls” and claimed the company was “misleading” its customers. It developed into a lawsuit in the French courts, which ruled in Mikimoto’s favor, and raised the jeweler’s global profile.

He also brought his work international acclaim through exhibitions and world’s fairs, including the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia where he unveiled a replica of the Liberty Bell covered with pearls. In 1927, Mikimoto met with Thomas Edison, who gave the jeweler’s invention probably its best compliment: “It is one of the wonders of the world that you were able to culture pearls. . . . This isn’t a cultured pearl, it’s a real pearl.”

Following World War II, Mikimoto opened stores around the world, with locations now in Paris, New York City, Los Angeles and Shanghai. Though its founder died in 1954, the Mikimoto company has continued to build on the legacy he established, producing collections of pearl necklaces and other pearl-centric jewelry that span a wide range of styles.

In 2017, the brand reopened its flagship Tokyo store, tapping architect Hiroshi Naito to design a new glittering facade whose 40,000 tiny glass plates are meant to evoke the movement of the ocean as they catch the light. The place where Mikimoto had his legendary success over a century ago is now known as Mikimoto Pearl Island and includes a museum on his life and pearls. A highlight is the “Boss’s Necklace,” which was the first made by Mikimoto and is the model for all the brand’s classic strands that have followed.

Find Mikimoto pendant necklaces, choker necklaces and a range of other jewelry on 1stDibs.

The Legacy of Pearl in Jewelry Design

The pearl has been synonymous with ladylike elegance since the Tudor period — learn what to look for when shopping for vintage and antique pearl jewelry as well as how to tell the origin of a pearl with our handy primer.

Every woman at some point in her life desires a simple strand of pearls. They are elegant, timeless, versatile — just ask Coco Chanel or Jacqueline Kennedy — and valuable. In 1917, Pierre Cartier famously traded a double-strand of natural pearls for a Fifth Avenue mansion, the Cartier brand’s flagship store ever since. And if you were born in the beginning of summer, pearl is the June birthstone.

It is possible to tell where a pearl originated from its appearance. Akoyas are usually round and white — the classic pearl, if you will. South Sea pearls are normally larger and vary in color; orangey yellow ones are not uncommon. Tahitian pearls are mostly black but can also be gray or brown, and between the Akoya and the South Sea varieties in size. Freshwater pearls, or Orientals, run the gamut in terms of color and size, but in shape, they tend to resemble Rice Krispies. Another important distinction is a round pearl versus a baroque pearl. A round pearl is self-explanatory, but there are two types of baroque pearls: symmetrical and asymmetrical. In general, the symmetrical variation commands a higher valuation. Within a strand of pearls, uniformity is prized — the more the individual pearls resemble one another, the more valuable the strand.

According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the earliest recorded mention of a pearl was in 2206 BC by a Chinese historian. Centuries later, Christopher Columbus made it a point to visit pearl fisheries during his 15th-century exploration of the Caribbean. Since the late-19th century, the Japanese have been at the forefront of cultivating pearls, when jeweler Kokichi Mikimoto successfully cultured the world’s first pearl in 1893.

On 1stDibs, find vintage and antique pearl necklaces, pearl earrings and other accessories.

Questions About Mikimoto

Do Mikimoto pearls hold their value?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Yes, Mikimoto pearls tend to at least hold their value over time. In some cases, the value of the brand's pearl jewelry increases over time due to demand and the effects of inflation. Keep in mind that the value of any piece of jewelry depends on its condition. Properly storing and caring for your pieces can help to ensure that they retain their value for years to come. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Mikimoto pearl jewelry.
How much is a Mikimoto pearl necklace worth?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
How much a Mikimoto pearl necklace is worth will depend on the size of the strand, the number of pearls used and the design. It could range from $920 to $21,000, with a wide variety of price points in between. From pendant and choker to multi-strand and rope versions, find Mikimoto pearl necklaces on 1stDibs.
Are Mikimoto pearls Akoya?
2 Answers
1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
No, not all Mikimoto pearls are Akoya. Mikimoto also uses Black South Sea cultured pearls, White South Sea cultured pearls, Golden South Sea cultured pearls, and Conch pearls to create their jewelry. Shop Mikimoto Akoya pearl jewelry on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Yes, Mikimoto pearls are Akoya, meaning they come from Akoya oysters. The brand largely pioneered the production of cultured pearls, which are genuine pearls developed with human assistance. Mikimoto creates Akoya pearl necklaces, pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings and brooches. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Mikimoto pearl jewelry.