Why is Mikimoto so expensive?

Mikimoto grades their pearls: A, A+, AA and AAA Quality, which is their highest/best pearl grade. Their AAA Quality Akoya are so rare, and so expensive, that there are only one or two strands produced each year.

Do Mikimoto pearls hold their value?

Mikimoto pearls are investment quality pearls. They will hold their value and increase, like a Steinway Piano, which increases in value each year.

What is special about Mikimoto pearls?

Mikimoto has its own proprietary grading system for their pearls, and only carries pearls with excellent luster and thick, fine quality nacre. Mikimoto's Japanese Akoya pearls are sourced from the top 5% of each yearly harvest, and then sorted into their various grades from there.

Is Mikimoto a luxury brand?

Mikimoto is an international luxury company, recognized as the first producer of cultured pearl jewelry. The worldwide brand is known for its superior craftsmanship, design and strict quality control.

Are Mikimoto pearls cheaper in Japan?

Thanks! I found the Mikimoto prices in Japan to be cheaper than the Mikimoto prices in Hong Kong, if that's any indication. I think the prices in Japan were about 10% to 15% cheaper? The Mikimoto pearls are beautiful, but bear in mind though that you will be paying extra for the brand.

Mikimoto

How much are Japanese pearls worth?

A strand of Akoya pearls can cost from $300 to more than $10,000. Freshwater pearls come in a huge range of shapes and sizes and colors. Round freshwater pearls look almost identical to Akoya pearls but are less expensive, with a strand ranging from $50 to $2,000.

Where is Mikimoto in Japan?

Mikimoto Pearl Island (ミキモト真珠島, Mikimoto-Shinju-Jima) is a small island in Ise Bay, offshore Toba, Mie Prefecture, Japan. The island is known as the birthplace of cultured pearl aquaculture.

How can you tell if pearls are Mikimoto?

How do I know that my pearl jewelry is authentic Mikimoto? Mikimoto jewelry is identified by the Mikimoto trademark, showing as the outline of an oyster or the engraving of the Mikimoto name. On necklaces and bracelets, look on the back of the clasp.

What grade are Mikimoto pearls?

Mikimoto pearls rank in the top 5 percent of pearls sold worldwide and are the only pearls with an industry recognized rating system, ranking their pearls from A+ up to AAA rating.

Is Akoya same as Mikimoto?

Sometimes mistaken for a type of pearl, Mikimoto is actually a brand name famous for selling Akoya Pearls.

What are most expensive pearls?

South Sea Pearls Value

South Sea pearls are considered the most valuable. They are also the largest pearl variety on the market. A strand of South Sea pearls can range from $1,000 to over $100,000.

What is the highest quality pearl?

Are Mikimoto pearls always knotted?

They are 6mm pearls about 16" long with a sterling pearl clasp. The pearls are not knotted in between each, just strung. There is no "M" stamp or any other mark indicating that it is a Mikimoto besides the papers that came with it.

Is Mikimoto popular?

Mikimoto is Japan's most famous purveyor of pearls. In 1883, the founder developed a way to cultivate 'cultured' pearls, which led eventually to the family's current pearl empire. Today, they continue to sell gorgeous jewelry featuring cultured pearls.

Do pearls increase in value with age?

Pearls with particular brand names will also retain (and even increase) their value over the years; vintage Mikimoto Akoya pearls that still have their original clasp, box and papers to establish provenance are very highly sought after today and continue to fetch premium resale values.

How old are Mikimoto pearls?

Mikimoto Pearls are born

On July 11, 1893, his wife, Ume, retrieved a basket of oysters for inspection. Born inside one of them were the fruits of Mikimoto's labours. Three years later, he had secured his first patent for the production of pearls - cultured pearls - and produced the first fully spherical pearl in 1905.

How long has Mikimoto been in business?

Mikimoto's first pearl boutique opened in Ginza more than 120 years ago, and we have been serving an international clientele ever since. We pride ourselves on our commitment to provide the finest level of hospitality and services expected of one of the world's leading jewelers from Japan.

Is it OK to wear pearls everyday?

Casual or formal, night or day, pearls can be worn whenever and however you like So, if yours spend most of their time tucked away at the back of a drawer, we'd suggest you dig them out and start wearing them.

Do real pearls turn yellow?

Yellow pearls typically indicate that pearls are real since artificial pearls don't normally change color. While natural white pearls can yellow with age, there are such things as naturally yellow pearls. These naturally yellow stones are yellow not because of their age but because of the way they have been cultivated.

Are pearls a good investment?

High-Quality Pearls are a Wearable investment

While you might think that gold and silver is an obvious choice when buying investment jewelry, pearls are an excellent alternative. In recent years auction houses such as Christie's have sold pearl jewelry far exceeding the value of other gemstones.

Why are some pearls so cheap?

As a matter of fact, according to the American Gem Society, most of the ocean's natural pearls have already been harvested by pearl divers. Therefore, even though the quality of a cultured pearl may be the same as that of a natural pearl, the cultured version is generally much more affordable because of its rarity.

Do real pearls peel?

Real pearls can – and do – peel under certain circumstances. They're made up of layers of nacre, a composite material otherwise known as 'mother-of-pearl'. If these layers are thin or any damage occurs to them, they can effectively peel from the surface of the pearl.