Born from the beauty of the sea, Mikimoto pearls are one of the world's most luxurious gemstones to add to your style. With over 160 years of experience in curating pearls, Mikimoto displays the beauty of the ocean everyday with necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings.
In this article, we dive into the world of Mikimoto, its rich history of curating Mikimoto pearls and the best ways you can fashion the gemstones of the sea for your special events.
History of Mikimoto
Pearls are beautiful creations born from molluscs like Oysters, with history of their curation and harvest for hundreds of years. From the coasts of South America to the Scottish isles, oysters form pearls of varying colours, sizes and classifications, however, up until 1893, pearls were formed naturally by molluscs.
Japanese entrepreneur, Kokichi Mikimoto was the first person to successfully cultured pearls in a safe and environmentally friendly way. His desire to respect the sea and its marine life conservation, has placed Mikimoto pearls at the highest end of curated pearls.
The King of Pearls: Kokichi Mikimoto
The King of Pearls, Kokichi Mikimoto, was born in Toba, Japan, and grew up surrounded by the elegant Ise Pearls. These natural pearls were openly harvested and sold within the town, however as the harvest of these pearls wasn’t restricted, the quantity of pearls became scarce.
Concerned about the extinction of pearl producing oysters, Kokichi chose to leave his role in his father’s business, and try to grow his own pearls in oyster beds on Ojima Island.
My dream is to adorn the necks of all women around the world with pearls.
Kokichi Mikimoto aspired for his pearls to be worn all across the globe, with wearers feeling their best selves and enjoying the natural beauty that the sea can provide. His desire to culture pearls to meet the popular demand grew, and his dream only grew stronger.
How Mikimoto Cultures Pearls
Natural pearls are extremely rare. In the wild, less than one in a thousand oyster shells may produce a pearl during their lifetime. The conditions for a pearl to be naturally created are finite, with many molluscs not producing pearls at all.
After years of experimentation, Kokichi Mikimoto became the first person to successfully culture pearls in his own oyster beds. By introducing a small particle into the flesh of an oyster, the secretions of nacre, once built up, became a lustrous pearl.
Depending on the breed of pearl, they can take from anywhere between ten months to seven years to form successfully, in the ideal lustre and shape. That is why, Kokichi Mikimoto soon secured an island off the coast of his hometown of Toba, for Mikimoto island.
Captivating Audiences Across the Globe
Kokichi Mikimoto travelled across the globe sharing his ingenuity and skill. Attending various international exhibits, sending his best craftsman to Europe to learn design techniques and creating eye-catching presentations for each display of his pieces, Kokichi’s cultured pearls are a labour of love.
In 1927, Kokichi Mikimoto toured Europe and the United States, showcasing his specifically curated pearls to high-end audiences for the innovation and skill used to curate them. It was on this tour that the pearl king met with one of the USA’s technological innovators, Thomas Edison.
Here, the creator of the lightbulb declared that Mikimoto pearls were ‘rare pearls’ and that Kokichi’s ability to curate pearls should be marked one of the wonders of the world. This encounter embedded the name of Kokichi Mikimoto as a pioneer of cultivation, processing and sales of the pearl world.
When is the best time to wear pearls
Pearls are a symbol of wisdom, luck, purity and love. Their rich symbolic history spans across the globe, with many socialites and royalty adorning necklaces and rings for ceremonies and events.
Thanks to Mikimoto, cultured pearls are a beautiful option for marking special occasions, events or accessorising your everyday. We have chosen a few of our favourite pieces to complement these wondrous occasions for you.
Wearing Pearls at Your Wedding
Pearls are a symbol of wisdom, luck, purity and love. Their rich symbolic history spans across the globe, with many h socialites and royalty adorning necklaces and rings for ceremonies and events.
Thanks to Mikimoto, cultured pearls are a beautiful option for marking special occasions, events or accessorising your everyday. We have chosen a few of our favourite pieces to complement these wondrous occasions for you.
Related: Our Guide to Bridal Jewellery
Celebrating a Birthday with Mikimoto Pearls
Mikimoto pearls are ideal gifts to celebrate birthday milestones. Gifted throughout history, pearls by Mikimoto stand true tests of time. Curated in the best conditions possible, and known for their stylish timeless elegance, pearl necklaces and earrings are an understated gift.
We suggest choosing your pearl gift with time and care. If you are looking for something that will become passed down within generations, perhaps look at different sets of luxury bracelets and necklaces.
Celebrating your Anniversary with Pearls
As a symbolism of purity and true love, Mikimoto pearls are a wonderful gift to celebrate your anniversary. Usually celebrated at the 30th wedding anniversary, pearls are full of lustre and elegance. These precious gems of the sea offer soft hues of cream and white for elegant and sophisticated addition to every outfit, and a beautiful way to commemorate years of love.
The World of Mikimoto at Michael Spiers
Mikimoto pearls are a perfect addition to any look. Their ageless elegance expands across generations. Soft whites, creams and pinks highlight every skin tone and subtly add luxury into your look.
If you would like to discover more about Mikimoto we invite you to our showrooms in Truro, Exeter and Taunton where our friendly teams can help you find a piece that is perfect for you.
