Mikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Cufflinks 5.40 mm 9.4 Grams
About the Item
- Creator:
- Stone:Pearl
- Stone Cut:Round Cut
- Weight:9.4 g
- Place of Origin:United States
- Period:1990-1999
- Date of Manufacture:1999
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Brooklyn, NY
- Reference Number:
Mikimoto
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Brooklyn, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Mikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Cufflinks Sterling Silver 7.3 mmBy MikimotoLocated in Brooklyn, NYMikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Cufflinks Sterling Silver 7.3 mm M325 These elegant Authentic Mikimoto Estate Akoya pearl cufflinks are made of sterling silver and have 2 Akoya Cultured...Category
1990s American Cufflinks
MaterialsPearl, Sterling Silver
- Mikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Cufflinks 7.45 mm SilverBy MikimotoLocated in Brooklyn, NYMikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Cufflinks 7.45 mm Silver M293 These elegant Authentic Mikimoto Estate Akoya pearl cufflinks are made of sterling silver and have 2 Akoya Cultured Pearls....Category
1990s Japanese Cufflinks
MaterialsPearl, Silver
- Mikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Mens Cufflinks 6.5 mm Sterling SilverBy MikimotoLocated in Brooklyn, NYMikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Mens Cufflinks 6.5 mm Sterling Silver M311 These elegant Authentic Mikimoto Estate Akoya pearl cufflinks are made of sterling silver and have 2 Akoya Cul...Category
1990s Japanese Cufflinks
MaterialsPearl, Sterling Silver
- Mikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Abalone Cufflinks Sterling SilverBy MikimotoLocated in Brooklyn, NYMikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Abalone Cufflinks Sterling Silver 5.5 mm 7.24gr M188 TRUSTED SELLER SINCE 2002 PLEASE SEE OUR HUNDREDS OF POSITIVE FEEDBACKS FROM OUR CLIENTS!! FREE SHIPPING This elegant Authentic Mikimoto Men...Category
1990s Japanese Cufflinks
MaterialsPearl, Sterling Silver
- Mikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Mens Cufflinks Sterling SilverBy MikimotoLocated in Brooklyn, NYMikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Mens Cufflinks 6 mm Sterling Silver M299 These elegant Authentic Mikimoto Estate Akoya pearl cufflinks are made of sterling sil...Category
1990s Japanese Cufflinks
MaterialsPearl, Sterling Silver
- Mikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Brooch Silver 6 mm 9.5 GramsBy MikimotoLocated in Brooklyn, NYMikimoto Estate Akoya Pearl Brooch Silver 6 mm 9.5 Grams M367 This elegant Authentic Mikimoto Estate sterling silver brooch has 9 Saltwater Akoya Cultured Pearls and has a weight of...Category
1990s Japanese Brooches
MaterialsPearl, Silver
- Vintage Mikimoto Tahitian Pearl Swivel Back Cufflinks in 18k White GoldBy MikimotoLocated in London, GBA unique pair of vintage Mikimoto Tahitian pearl swivel back cufflinks set in 18k white gold. From a now discontinued collection, each cuffli...Category
2010s Modern Cufflinks
MaterialsPearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
- 14 Karat Rose Gold 0.18 Carat Diamond Cufflinks, 19.40 GramsLocated in Scottsdale, AZEach cufflink is made in 14k rose gold and set with 2 round brilliant diamonds with a combined weight of 0.18cttw. Each cufflink has a hinged attachment to make them more flexible to...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Cufflinks
MaterialsDiamond, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
- Estate Diamond Gold CufflinksLocated in Beverly Hills, CAA pair of cufflinks featuring 1.30 carats of round cut diamonds on a special design in 14K yellow gold. These are sure to dress up any suit.Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Cufflinks
MaterialsDiamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
- 14K Yellow Gold Cufflinks with 9mm Tahitian Black Peacock PearlsLocated in Big Bend, WIA pair of 14K yellow gold cufflinks featuring large Tahitian black cultured Pearls. The pearls are completely round, are free from blemishes, and have a peacock natural color. The Pe...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Cufflinks
MaterialsPearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Pearl Cufflink SetLocated in New York, NYMother of pearl, seed pearl, diamond cuff link set. Set in gold and platinum Made circa 1920Category
Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Cufflinks
- Estate Checkered Tri-Tone CufflinksLocated in Beverly Hills, CACheckmate! A pair of 14K tri-tone - white gold, yellow gold and rose gold - checkerboard style cufflinks with dual textures – high polish and sandblasted with filigree design.Category
2010s Cufflinks
Materials14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold