Mikimoto Pearl Necklace
View Similar Items
Mikimoto Pearl Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Weight:31.9 g
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Unknown
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Troy, MI
- Reference Number:Seller: 4031045 #4071stDibs: LU49435085831
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.
CAMPANELLI & PEAR
- 2017 Award Winning Pearl & Gold Convertible NecklaceBy Susan HogeLocated in Troy, MIThis sumptuous one-of-a-kind necklace entitled, “Wrapped,” received the coveted, “Orient” award in the 2017 Cultured Pearl Association of America International Design Competition. It...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, 22k Gold
- Akoya AA Cultured Pearl 18 Karat Gold and Diamond NecklaceBy Campanelli & PearLocated in Troy, MIClassic with an extra touch fit for a Princess! This gorgeous Japanese AA Akoya pearl necklace is 18" long (Princess length) & finished with an oval openwork 18k gold safety clasp...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
- Rare Handmade Pure 24 Karat Yellow Gold & Seed Pearl Beaded NecklaceBy Campanelli & PearLocated in Troy, MIA perfect combination - pure 24 karat yellow gold & pearls! Pearls had long been known to symbolize luxury, grace and purity. Made famous during the Victorian period, seed pearls have been made into jewelry by famous designers like ; Fabergé, Tiffany, Cartier and Boucheron. How lucky would you be to own this rare work of art with it's unique combination of seed pearls, 24K gold beads...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 22 Karat Yellow Gold Multi Colored Sapphire Faceted Bead NecklaceBy Susan HogeLocated in Troy, MIBeautiful and softly hued faceted sapphire beads are hand strung in ombre' fashion accented with satin finished 22 karat yellow gold station beads and is 16" long. Strung by award wi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsSapphire, 18k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Handmade Pure 24 Karat Yellow Gold & Turquoise Beaded NecklaceBy Campanelli & PearLocated in Troy, MIA perfect combination - pure 24 karat yellow gold & turquoise! People the world over have revered turquoise as a good luck stone for centuries. How lucky would you be to own this rar...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsTurquoise, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Pearl Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant NecklaceBy Campanelli & PearLocated in Troy, MIA simple scroll design pearl and diamond necklace features a golden 11.3 mm pearl with rose' overtones and is suspended from a 16 inch 18k yellow gold barleycorn chain...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
- Vintage 1970s Mikimoto Pearl Strand NecklaceBy MikimotoLocated in Atlanta, GACirca: 1970 Metal Type: 14K yellow gold Weight: 20.6 grams Length: 17.5 inches Origin: JapanCategory
Vintage 1970s Japanese Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, 14k Gold
- Mikimoto 30 inch Akoya Pearl NecklaceBy MikimotoLocated in Houston, TXA beautiful necklace from Mikimoto, this necklace features thirty inches of superb and lustrous Akoya pearls. 18 karat yellow gold fish hook pearl clasp. It is marked 750 with the Mi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsPearl
- Mikimoto Pearl Necklace Pearl Bracelet Set Sterling SilverBy MikimotoLocated in East Brunswick, NJMikimoto Pearl Necklace Pearl Bracelet Set Sterling Silver You will treasure this outstanding authentic Vintage MIKIMOTO Sterling silver pearl...Category
Mid-20th Century Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Sterling Silver
- Mikimoto Black South Sea Strand Pearl NecklaceLocated in Miami, FLThis exquisite necklace by designer Mikimoto* displays 47 of the finest and lustrous graduated black South Sea Pearls. These breath-taking black pearls measure 11mm to 8.5mm in diameter perfectly matching in color and size, strung on matching black knotted thread, while the necklace weighs 57.3 grams and measures approximately 17 inches long. Its secured with a luxurious 18K white gold Mikimoto clasp...Category
Early 2000s Japanese Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsBlack Pearl, 18k Gold
On Hold$9,999 - Mikimoto Japanese Akoya Cultured Pearl Y Style NecklaceBy MikimotoLocated in Stamford, CTMikimoto Japanese Akoya cultured Pearl unusual necklace. 3-D 10 row “Y” style 32 inch necklace with woven pearl adjustable slide. 1523 Japanese Akoy...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Cultured Pearl
- Mikimoto Tahitian Black South Sea Pearl Gold NecklaceBy MikimotoLocated in Stamford, CTAuthentic Mikimoto 18 inch black Tahitian South Sea cultured pearl necklace. Design #XNB11018NS9397. Excellent lustre and nacre thickness. 18k white gold catch with Mikimoto hallmark around the middle. Mikimoto’s Black South Sea Cultured Pearls are one of the most sought-after in the world. Tahitian South Sea pearls are considered the second most desired commercially farmed pearls in the world. Produced by the large Black-lipped oyster which is the only mollusk to produce naturally black pearls. Black Freshwater and Black Akoya...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsCultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Whi...