Mikimoto Cultured Akoya Pearl Cluster Pendant - Sterling Silver 925
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Weight:3.6 g
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Unknown
- Condition:Condition: Pre-Owned Professionally cleaned, polished, and tested to guarantee metal content.
- Seller Location:Greensboro, NC
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Greensboro, NC
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Sterling Silver Amber Cluster Pendant - 925 Botanical Scrolling VineLocated in Greensboro, NCMetal Content: Sterling Silver Stone Information Natural Amber Colors: Orange & Yellow Style: Cluster Theme: Scrolling Vine Features: Open Cut Design Measurements Tall: 2 5/32" (5...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsAmber, Sterling Silver
- Mikimoto Akoya Pearl Leaf Pendant - Yellow Gold 14kLocated in Greensboro, NCBrand: Mikimoto Metal Content: 14k Yellow Gold Stone Information Akoya Pearl Color: Cream Diameter: 7.1mm Style: Dangle Theme: Leaf Features: Smoothly Finished Open Cut Design wit...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Sterling Silver Turquoise, Apatite, & White Topaz Cluster Halo Pendant - 925Located in Greensboro, NCMetal Content: Sterling Silver Stone Information Natural Turquoise Treatment: Routinely Enhanced Color: Blue Natural Apatite Treatment: Heating Color: Blue Natural White Topaz St...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsTopaz, Turquoise, Apatite, Sterling Silver
- Sterling Silver Cultured Pearl Stud Earrings - 925 PiercedLocated in Greensboro, NCMetal Content: Sterling Silver Stone Information Cultured Pearls Color: White Style: Stud Fastening Type: Butterfly Closures Measurements Diameter: 7/32" (5.4mm) Weight: 0.7 Gram...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Stud Earrings
MaterialsCultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
- Sterling Silver Cultured Pearl Stud Earrings - 925 PiercedLocated in Greensboro, NCMetal Content: Sterling Silver Stone Information Cultured Pearls Color: Light Golden Peach Size: 6mm Style: Stud Fastening Type: Butterfly Closures Measurements Diameter: 1/4" (6m...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Stud Earrings
MaterialsCultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
- Sterling Silver Diamond Cluster Pendant - 925 Single Cut .50ctw OvalLocated in Greensboro, NCMetal Content: Sterling Silver Stone Information Natural Diamonds Carat(s): .50ctw Cut: Single Color: I - J - K Clarity: VS2 - SI1 Total Carats: .50ctw Style: Cluster Measuremen...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Sterling Silver
- Mikimoto Twist Akoya Cultured Pearl Pendant MPA10025ADXZBy MikimotoLocated in Wilmington, DEMikimoto Twist Akoya Cultured Pearl Pendant in 18K Rose Gold. The Twist Collection features organic, free-form designs intended to showcase the pearl f...Category
2010s Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsCultured Pearl
- Mikimoto Twist Akoya Cultured Pearl Pendant MPA10025ADXWBy MikimotoLocated in Wilmington, DEMikimoto Twist Akoya Cultured Pearl Pendant in 18K White Gold The Twist Collection features organic, free-form designs intended to showcase the pearl fr...Category
2010s Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsCultured Pearl
- Cultured Freshwater Pearl Contemporary Pendant on .925 Sterling Silver ChainBy Artem Zakharchenko-HalytskyiLocated in Vilnius, LTNa Linii pendant by Svitanok This Ukrainian-origin word "Na Linii" means "on the line". It is a charismatic product that should not be perceived literally, but with a goal to distin...Category
2010s European Modern Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsNatural Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
- Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Pendent PPS701WBy MikimotoLocated in Wilmington, DEMikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Pendent in 18k White 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 PPS701WCategory
2010s Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsCultured Pearl, 18k Gold
- Mikimoto Akoya Cultured Pearl Pendent PPS803KLocated in Wilmington, DEThe chain of this necklace is 18-inches long, but it can also be worn at 16-inche Pearl Size 8-8.5mm Quality AA PPS803KCategory
2010s Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsCultured 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, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold