Whitebook: Mikimoto

Once a rarity that only graced the likes of court royalty, the exquisite pearl has long been known as the “Queen of Gems”, possessing with it a history and allure far beyond what today’s wearer may recognize. It was Kokichi Mikimoto’s wish to adorn the necks of all women with pearls and with that hope, he embarked on a lifelong quest that stood not only as an enduring symbol of perseverance but also for the capacity of human nature to strive for the impossible. In present day, the Mikimoto name is synonymous with being the producer of the finest quality cultured

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pearls and a world leader in the design of exceptional jewellery.

His pieces combine timeless elegance with sophisticated and modern design, ensuring time and again that for the women who adorn his necklaces, the promise of purity and mystique of the ocean it birthed from.

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For centuries, men had feebly attempted to mimic nature in order to cultivate pearls. From humble beginnings as the son of a noodle shop owner, Mikimoto harboured with him the skill of a scientist and the soul of an artist. With his namesake iconic brand of pearls aside, his more celebrated yet understated achievement is when in 1893, after years of experimentation, he became the first man to grow

a semi-spherical pearl, one that rivalled the quality of ones from Mother Nature. A little more than ten years later in 1905, continuing his tireless research, he succeeded in culturing a perfectly round pearl, a triumph that Thomas Edison himself remarked with, “There are two things which couldn’t be made in my laboratory – diamonds and pearls.” Mikimoto’s tireless spirit and dedication was key in marking a legacy that will continue down in history as one of the finest tales of endurance, testing the limits of mankind.

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Purity of the Ocean From the mysterious birth of a pearl to the care in harvesting, sorting and matching that follows, every pearl from the hands of Mikimoto artisans is an assurance of quality and reflection of the purity of the ocean that it was bred from. The creation of such timeless and eternal elegance can only be attributed to the visionary Mikimoto who, with no exaggeration, dedicated his life to crafting the perfect jewel. Born from the enigmatic ocean floor, the journey begins with a rigorous selection process where only the top 5% of all cultured pearls meet the standards of excellence that will eventually deserve the Mikimoto name. Each and every pearl is sorted and

individually examined under northern, morning light, the day’s most even illumination before undergoing even further inspection to end up beaded to the infamous M-circle clasp. To create such tiny wonders from vast seabeds is no easy feat. Long before the

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discovery of the cultured pearl, the principal oyster beds lay in the Persian Gulf, along the coasts of India and Ceylon, and in the Red Sea. Japanese pearls were mostly found along the coast as the water environment naturally bred quality gems. As is common with most gifts received from Mother Nature, the oyster beds quickly became depleted due to overfishing which drastically reduced the number of mother of pearls. As an entrepreneur who never faltered in achieving his dreams, Mikimoto exemplifies an extraordinary visionary who successfully enchanted millions of women worldwide as the brand lives on through his legacy.

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Since the inception of the Mikimoto brand, society has undergone a breadth of turbulent decades but while this is so, the pursuit of luxury in exquisite jewellery has remained unchanged. The pearls of Mikimoto glow with a beauty that transcends beyond boundaries. While Mikimoto designs are refined with touches of influence to the East, their majestic pearls have graced timeless

Gracing Timeless Icons global icons of our century. In 1954, Joe DiMaggio adorned his new bride, Marilyn Monroe, with a gift deserving of her beauty; a 16-inch strand of Akoya cultured pearls during their honeymoon in Japan. Whether it be fashioned timelessly on the Queen of England or embellishing the collar of Grace Kelly, a Mikimoto pearl necklace is an eternal reminder of Kokichi Mikimoto’s visionary quest for beauty.

Text = Nicole Chan

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