Mikimoto Pearls

What Are Mikimoto Pearls?

have asked us how Pearl Oasis pearls compare to Mikimoto pearls. Mikimoto is a brand not a type of cultured pearl jewelry. Toyota and Nissan are brands of cars, but both are cars and both are from Japan. Mikimoto has a long history in producing cultured pearls. In fact, Kokichi Mikimoto, the founder of the company, invented the technique for culturing pearls using Akoya oysters.

Born in Toba, Mie Prefecture in 1858, to a noodle shop owner, Mikimoto was educated in a tiny one-room school until age 13, when he left school to sell vegetables to help his family's finances. Since childhood, however, he had been fascinated with the pearl divers of Ise, and the treasures they brought back to shore. In 1888, with the help of his wife and business partner Ume, he obtained a loan and started a pearl farm at the Shinmei inlet in what was Shima province (modern Mie Prefecture).

In 1890, at the 3rd domestic fair in Ueno Park, he met an authority in marine biology, Kakichi Mitsukiri of Tokyo University, who gave him the idea for an experimental process to culture pearls from Akoya oysters artificially. With the new knowledge he had gained, he began trials at Shinmei and what is now called "Mikimoto Pearl Island" in Toba.

The odds were against him, however. Months went by without noticeable development, and the feared "red tide" plankton epidemic. wiped out almost the entire oyster harvest. On the brink of bankruptcy, he persevered, and in July 1893, discovered the world's first semi-spherical pearl.

After achieving tangible results at last, and while preparing to open a new pearl farm, Mikimoto was again struck down when his wife died suddenly at the tragically young age of 32. Another outbreak of "red tide" came close to wiping out the harvest again, before the first completely spherical pearl was discovered in 1905 - indistinguishable from a natural pearl.

Eventually he opened a store in Ginza, which was relocated to its present location in Ginza 4-chome in 1906, and shortly thereafter, the first jewelry production facility was opened. The years that followed saw an ever impressive range of achievements and honors. He was commissioned to make pearl-encrusted replicas of the Horyuji Temple Pagoda and the American Liberty Bell, and branches of his stores opened all over the world. Upon his death, in 1954 at the age of 96, he was posthumously awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of Sacred Treasure.

The story doesn't end happily, however. In the late 1990s, a mysterious oyster blight appeared, slashing Japan's pearl production by 60%. Although scientists have yet to identify the exact cause of the virus, pollution, over-breeding and over-harvesting are suspect. With rampant consumerism and a disrupted ecosystem, pearls are another of the world's resources in danger. Unfortunately, after a tough beginning, Mikimoto Pearls could face even greater challenges.

There are 5 common U.S. Mikimoto lines in total. They go in this order: Mikimoto (The highest quality line), Blue Lagoon, Gordon's Classic collection (this line is only available in 'Gordon's Jewelers'), Sea Magic (available at chain-jewelry stores in malls), Zales Signature Collection (available in Zales Jewelry stores). These are all exclusive lines distributed by Mikimoto. They should not be confused with Mikimoto brand pearls. These lines represent high quality pearls at a good value, although they do not meet the Mikimoto brand control standards, the pearls still have good luster and value. Markings of "S" (puposely mislabeled as platinum), "SIL", "14K", "585" and "750” are Mikimoto export items.

Kokichi Mikimoto is sometimes said to have almost single-handedly invented the modern cultured pearl industry. Although this is not strictly correct, Mikimoto did play the major role in both developing modern techniques for culturing pearls and convincing the general public to accept those pearls as worthwhile and valuable.

Based on this success the inventor began research on producing a perfectly round cultured pearl. He succeeded in his endeavor by a method of inducing the oyster to secrete a pearl substance around the core object. Mikimoto went on to become the first entrepreneur to successfully commercialize the sale of cultured pearls.

Under the name of Mikimoto Pearls, these pearls became a representative export product of contemporary Japan and presently occupy 60% of the world cultured pearl market.