Akoya Pearl Necklace Vintage 1970s Ming's

About the Item

This cultured Akoya pearl necklace was created in the 1970s by venerable Hawaiian luxury jeweler, Ming's. Composed of 89 semi-baroque gleaming Akoya pearls that average 7.5mm, the 31" length necklace is an exceptional example of why Ming's pearl necklaces continue to be in such high demand. So, how do Ming's pearl necklaces compare to Mikimoto's? Mikimoto essentially invented the cultured pearl in the late 19th century. And he spent the remainder of his life perfecting the technique so that he could achieve a pearl that was perfectly spherical. The Mikimoto aesthetic was reflected beaurifully in his stunning strands created in the 1920s through the 1950s -nearly perfectly round pearls in gently graduating sizes. Wook Moon founded Ming's in the 1940s, and he cared less about perfectly spherical pearls and more about the luster of the pearls and the thickness of their nacre. Nacre is the "pearly" substance of which pearls are made. The longer a cultured pearl is allowed to stay in the water, the thicker the nacre. But it's risky to allow pearls to stay in the water because the perfection of their spherical shape can be compromised; an irritant can enter the shell and cause an imperfection on the surface of the pearl. On the other hand, when a pearl is allowed to remain in the water, and its nacre becomes thick, the pearl becomes impossibly lustrous. So much so, in fact, that it can display the prismatic effect known as "orient"; the spectral display of light that seems to come from within the pearl. Ming's became famed for their use of gorgeous, nearly iridescent pearls in more organic shapes that had such thick nacre, they lasted simply glowed against the skin. Ming's also used unusual colors of jade for their iconic jade jewelry. So it comes down to personal preference. If you like perfectly round cultured Akoya pearls, a strand of Ming's Akoya pearls may not be for you. But if you prefer a more natural, organic shape, a larger size and very thick nacre, a Ming's pearl necklace would definitely be for you!

Creator:

Ming's Hawaii

Metal:

14k Gold

Stone:

Pearl

Stone Cut:

Bead

Weight:

56 g

Dimensions:

Length: 28 in (711.2 mm)