Embody the charm of the pearl next door with Mikimoto
“My dream,” Kokichi Mikimoto once stated, “is to adorn the necks of all women around the world with pearls.” In 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto would make headway on this dream by creating the world’s first cultured pearl, and, subsequently, by establishing an entire cultured pearl industry, headlined, of course, by his namesake company Mikimoto. But it wasn’t always diamonds and pearls for Kokichi Mikimoto. The inventor, businessman, aesthete, and fine jeweler began his foray into business as a 13-year-old vegetable peddler, selling food to support his struggling family. It was while selling vegetables along the seaside that a young Mikimoto noticed the pearl divers of Ise surface with those miraculous treasures of the sea, and a lifelong love affair with pearls began. By his 20s, Mikimoto had become a keen appraiser of pearls, and, having noticed the many flaws that marred naturally occurring pearls, the young entrepreneur set out on a new quest to create the perfect pearl. In a classic rags-to-riches tale, Kokichi Mikimoto, a one-time vegetable seller, became the owner of an experimental oyster farm, where, after years of work, he finally achieved his dream of creating perfectly spherical pearls. Today, the idea of growing pearls isn’t that strange or unusual, but to put the enormity of Mikimoto’s invention into perspective, the world-famous inventor of the incandescent lightbulb, phonograph, and motion picture camera, Thomas Edison, was awestruck by Mikimoto’s genius. Yes, the guy who held the world record for the most patented inventions, who paved the way for the entire film industry, was blown away by Mikimoto’s pearls, which achieved a perfection that Edison believed was “supposed to be biologically impossible".
From humble beginnings to soaring success, the story of Mikimoto is one of tireless work, endless innovation, and, most of all, unceasing passion for pearls. Even today, despite being ranked as one of the world’s most luxurious brands, Mikimoto designs continue to respect the simplicity and humility of the founder’s origins. Flashiness, excessive bling, busy designs—all the things that might detract from the unadulterated perfection of a cultured pearl—are scorned by Mikimoto’s brand aesthetic. Instead of drawing the eye away from an imperfect pearl with a loud design, Mikimoto’s simple and elegant designs invite you to inspect the pearl with your full attention —because they are absolutely certain their work is flawless. And it is every time. If it is effortless grace, classic femininity, and timeless beauty that you want to express with your jewelry, there truly is no better option than Mikimoto. From classy pearl strands to pearl bracelets to pearl earrings, your friends here at Deutsch have gathered up our Mikimoto favorites for your enjoyment. Ready for some pearls of wisdom?
Take charge of the leading strand with a strand of pearls
In the centuries before cultured pearls appeared, only the incredibly wealthy could wear an entire strand of pearls, so pearl strands remained exclusive to royals, nobles, and rich merchants. When Mikimoto revolutionized the pearl world with cultured pearls, however, these kinds of designs became accessible to wider audiences. Not only were pearl strands suddenly available to buyers with a discerning eye, but Mikimoto’s exacting growing process made pearls more abundant, more symmetrical, and more available in different size ranges. A modern take on this quintessential piece of pearl jewelry, the Mikimoto Graduated 8.5 x 5.5mm 18/20" A1 double-strand 18kwg is a love letter to the classics that Mikimoto holds so dear. Thanks to the pearl growing expertise of the brand, however, this double strand pearl necklace avoids the clunkiness of historical designs, as the ability to grow perfect pearls in different sizes allows for Mikimoto to string them in a graduated arrangement. The center pearls on this strand are the biggest, and as the necklace wraps towards the back of the neck, the pearls gradually decrease in size, creating a graceful cascading effect that elongates the neck. Pearl-fect, right?
Assert your place with a pearl station bracelet
Dainty and darling, the Mikimoto Akoya Pearl Station Bracelet spaces out 8 5.50mm white A+ Akoya pearls along a 7-inch 18k white gold bracelet. In general, the combination of 18k white gold, with its ethereal, silvery hue, and milky white pearls, with their similarly cool tones, is a match made in jewelry heaven. Because the white gold and white pearls complement each other so beautifully, the effect of white gold pearl jewelry is one of soft and subtle sophistication. This makes white gold pearl jewelry ideal for daily wear, especially when the pearls are spread apart in stations, as is the case with this pearl station bracelet. The distance between the small pearls allows the white gold bracelet to appear more delicate than a traditional pearl bracelet, as the tiny white gold chain links interrupt the homogeneity of round pearls and introduce a refreshing geometric change to the bracelet. Suitable both for maximizing your bracelet stack or wearing alone in the minimalist style, this charming pearl station bracelet is your one-way ticket to an effortlessly chic look.
Become the girl with the pearl earring(s)
At the heart of Mikimoto is a deep respect for classic designs and a fervent passion for innovation. While combining the old with the new like this might seem paradoxical, Mikimoto manages to equally balance both ideals with every breathtaking collection they drop—maintaining timelessness with a keen ability to stay on the pulse of fashion trends. Innovative designs like the Mikimoto Code Akoya cultured pearl earrings set in 18k yellow gold, which pairs Mikimoto’s signature flawless pearls with the current trend of paper-clip chain jewelry, are proof of this. With a pop of warmth from their 18k yellow gold setting, these pearl earrings demonstrate the “Pearl King”’s unique ability to seamlessly stitch together the past and the future; the simple and glamorous.