Mikimoto Art Deco Cultured Pearl Platinum Ring
View Similar Items
Mikimoto Art Deco Cultured Pearl Platinum Ring
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.
- Art Deco 0.52 Carat Diamond Platinum Scrolled Foliate Engagement RingLocated in Philadelphia, PACentering a transitional cut diamond weighing approximately 0.52 carat, I color with VS clarity Set by wide prongs over a bulbed basket gallery, pierced with a geometric swirl motif...Category
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Platinum
- Art Deco 0.15 Carat Diamond and Platinum Filigree Engagement RingLocated in Philadelphia, PAThis is a lovely diamond engagement ring that has delicately scrolled filigree work on the shoulders. It is set in rich platinum and centering an old European cut diamond weighing ap...Category
Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum
- Art Deco Tiffany & Co. Sapphire Diamond Platinum Dinner RingBy Tiffany & Co.Located in Philadelphia, PABombè band features a rectangular cut sapphire weighing approximately 2.00 carats Transparent with saturated and uniform medium dark royal blue color Flanked by trapezoid and Frenc...Category
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cocktail Rings
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
- Art Deco Jade Cabochon Platinum Orange Blossom Gemstone RingLocated in Philadelphia, PAFeaturing an oval jade cabochon measuring approximately 15.5 x 11.5 mm. Translucent and moderately mottled green to light pastel green. Set by split prongs with a pierced trellis mot...Category
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Fashion Rings
MaterialsJade, Platinum
- Art Deco 1.08 Carat Old Mine Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring GIALocated in Philadelphia, PACentering an old mine cut diamond weighing 1.08 carats; K color with SI1 clarity Set in a square form head flanked by stylized cathedral shoulders Deeply engraved with a stylized o...Category
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Platinum
- Art Deco Substantial Rose Cut Amethyst Diamond Platinum Heart RingLocated in Philadelphia, PACentering a heart shaped rose cut amethyst measuring 20.0 x 20.0 mm. Transparent reddish-purple in color with medium saturation. Drilled and set with...Category
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cocktail Rings
MaterialsDiamond, Amethyst, Platinum
- Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Ring PRA746WBy MikimotoLocated in Wilmington, DERing 6.5mm in 18Kwg.Category
2010s Fashion Rings
- 1925s Cultured Pearl Diamonds Platinum Art Deco RingLocated in Poitiers, FRPlatinum ring, dog's head hallmark. On its oval top, this elegant antique ring is set with rose-cut diamonds and 8/8 size. On both sides, on the departure of the ring, are set 2 x 2 ...Category
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Engagement Rings
MaterialsCultured Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
- Mikimoto Platinum Black Pearl and Diamond RingBy MikimotoLocated in Philadelphia, PAA Mikimoto black pearl, accentuated by a ring of pave, sparkling diamonds. The black pearl is approximately 16.00 millimeters. The total diamond ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Fashion Rings
MaterialsDiamond, Black Pearl, Platinum
- Majestic Art Platinum Cultured Black Tahitian Pearl and Diamond RingLocated in Kirkwood, MOMajestic Art Platinum Cultured Natural Color Black Tahitian Pearl Hand Engraved Ring. The black Tahitian pearl is 10.6 mm. The pearl is round with high luster and poe rava overtone....Category
2010s American Contemporary Fashion Rings
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, Platinum
- Art Deco Cultured Pearl and Diamond White Gold Cocktail RingLocated in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon TyneA stunning, fine and impressive vintage French 0.52 carat diamond and cultured pearl, 18 karat white gold and platinum set dress ring; part of our vintage jewelry collections. This stunning, fine and impressive vintage pearl ring has been crafted in 18k white gold with a platinum setting. This substantial Art Deco ring is ornamented with two impressive 8.7mm cultured pearls. The feature pearls flank two impressive Old European cut diamonds, pavé set in relief to an oval setting. The surrounding Art Deco style geometric setting is further embellished with twenty-four eight cut diamonds. The substantial shaped shoulders blend seamlessly with the plain hallmarked ring shank. The stunning example of pearl jewelry is hallmarked to the outer shank with the French import marks for 18ct gold (owl) and platinum (masked man). This vintage Art Deco pearl ring...Category
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Cocktail Rings
MaterialsDiamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Cultured Pearl Gold RingLocated in New York, NYCultured pearl gold ring Set with a semi-baroque cultured pearl measuring approximately 12.5 x 14 mm, 18 karat yellow gold Ring size: 5.5 US Total weight:...Category
Late 20th Century Baroque Solitaire Rings
MaterialsCultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold