Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Three-Piece Set UN70118VS1W3
View Similar Items
Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Three-Piece Set UN70118VS1W3
About the Item
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.
- Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Three-Piece Set UN70118VS1W3By MikimotoLocated in Wilmington, DEMikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Three Piece Set with 18K White Gold Clasp. This 18 inch Akoya cultured pearl strand features 7x6mm Akoya cultured pearls with a MIKIMOTO signature clas...Category
2010s Choker Necklaces
MaterialsCultured Pearl
- Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Three-Piece Set UN70118VS1K3By MikimotoLocated in Wilmington, DEMikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Three Piece Set with 18K Yellow Gold Clasp. This 18 inch Akoya cultured pearl strand features 7x6mm Akoya cultured pearls with a MIKIMOTO signature cla...Category
2010s Choker Necklaces
MaterialsCultured Pearl
- Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Two-Piece Gift Set UN70118VS1K2By MikimotoLocated in Wilmington, DEThis 18” Akoya cultured pearl strand A1 Quality features 7x6mm Akoya cultured pearls with a Mikimoto signature clasp in 18K yellow gold. Together with the matching studs A1 Quality. ...Category
2010s Chain Necklaces
MaterialsCultured Pearl
- Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Necklace UN80132WBy MikimotoLocated in Wilmington, DEElegant and graceful, this beautiful 8x7mm Akoya Pearl 32" Necklace features 18ct White Gold detail, adding style and sophistication to your jewelry collection. Featuring the signature Mikimoto clasp...Category
2010s Chain Necklaces
- Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Strand Necklace U60120KBy MikimotoLocated in Wilmington, DEMikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Strand Necklace in 18k Yellow Gold Clasp. This 20 inch Akoya cultured pearl strand features anywher...Category
2010s Choker Necklaces
MaterialsCultured Pearl
- Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Pendent PPS702KBy MikimotoLocated in Wilmington, DEMikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Pendent in 18k Yellow Gold. The chain of this necklace is 18-inches long, but it can also be worn at 16-inche Pearl Size 7-7.5mm Quality A+ PPS702KCategory
2010s Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsCultured Pearl
- Mikimoto Diamond Akoya Cultured Pearl Platinum Pendant White Gold Chain NecklaceBy MikimotoLocated in Holland, PAPlatinum Diamond Akoya Cultured Pearl Pendant and White Gold Chain Necklace by Mikimoto. With Round brilliant cut diamonds 1 X 8.6mm Akoya Cultured Pearl. Details: Length: 16" Weig...Category
20th Century Japanese Choker Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
- 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 Akoya Cultured Pearl Strand Necklace 18KBy MikimotoLocated in Honolulu, HIEach of Mikimoto's cultured pearl strands are a work of art born from the mystery of the sea. Creation of these strands requires incredible skill, judgment and craftsmanship. The jou...Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
- Mikimoto Cultured Akoya Pearl Cluster Pendant - Sterling Silver 925By MikimotoLocated in Greensboro, NCBrand: Mikimoto Metal Content: Sterling Silver Stone Information Cultured Akoya Pearls Color: White Size: 4.8mm - 5mm Style: Cluster Measurements Tall: 1 9/32" (32.3mm) Wide: 1...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Sterling Silver
- Diamond and Akoya Cultured Pearls Necklace in 950 PlatinumLocated in Lucerne, CHThis delicate and flexible handcrafted platinum necklace is set with 95 brilliant-cut diamonds of G/H colour and vs clarity, total weight approximately 10.00 carats. Accented by 51 b...Category
20th Century Swiss Contemporary Choker Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
- Pearl Necklace Art Deco Circa 1940s Cultured Akoya Pearls Diamond/Gold ClaspLocated in AMSTERDAM, NL109 gleaming and luminous cultured Akoya pearls form this magnificent Art Deco-era necklace. The opera-length -20 inch- necklace is completed by a 18k yellow gold clasp set with old...Category
Vintage 1940s European Art Deco Choker Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold