Mikimoto South Sea Pearls
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary More Necklaces
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Beaded Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Whi...
2010s Japanese Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
2010s Japanese Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary More Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Japanese Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Japanese Choker Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1920s Link Necklaces
Black Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Art Nouveau Fashion Rings
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Late 20th Century Japanese Contemporary Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Black Pearl, Platinum
20th Century Engagement Rings
White Gold
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century Unknown Hoop Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Drop Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Pendant Necklaces
South Sea Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Japanese Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Stud Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s Japanese Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, White Gold
2010s Japanese Contemporary Lever-Back Earrings
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Stud Earrings
2010s Japanese Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Early 2000s Japanese Neoclassical Chandelier Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Stud Earrings
2010s Pendant Necklaces
2010s Drop Earrings
2010s Pendant Necklaces
2010s Pendant Necklaces
2010s Pendant Necklaces
2010s Drop Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Artisan Band Rings
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Drop Earrings
Early 2000s Japanese Neoclassical Fashion Rings
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Beaded Necklaces
South Sea Pearl
2010s Japanese Modern More Necklaces
White Diamond, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Japanese Modern Multi-Strand Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
Vintage 1980s Japanese Drop Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Japanese Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
2010s Japanese Modern Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Drop Earrings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Japanese Modern Beaded Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Necklaces
White Diamond, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Beaded Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Drop Earrings
Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold
1990s Unknown Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
20th Century Japanese Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary More Earrings
White Gold
2010s Japanese Modern Multi-Strand Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Japanese Modern Beaded Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
20th Century Chain Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Japanese Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Japanese Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Japanese Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Stud Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, White Gold
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Dangle Earrings
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Thai Art Deco Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s French Modern Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Brooches
18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Contemporary Drop Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
Vintage 1970s French Modernist Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Malachite, Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Wedding Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
Ruby
Early 2000s American Stud Earrings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
20th Century American Modern Brooches
Enamel
Mikimoto South Sea Pearls For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Mikimoto South Sea Pearls?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, 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.
- Are Mikimoto pearls Akoya?2 Answers1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021No, 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, 2022Yes, 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021How 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.