Mikimoto
Some say diamonds are girl’s best friend, true for some whatever they feel happy or depressed, I love electrifying gemstones like rubies and emeralds more than diamonds, I just think they’re fascinating and alluring from all angles. Note to self, I can’t afford such elaborate piece, I can afford to admire and gawk like a potential shopper-tourist, stare and glare at the shop window after shop window.
A while ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Mikimoto‘s flagship store on Bond Street to learn about cultured pearl and its heritage, pioneered and founded by a Japanese entrepreneur Mikimoto Kōkichi in 1893, best known for succeeded in producing ‘the world’s first ever spherical cultured pearl grown by man’, the brand recently celebrated its 120th anniversary of rich heritage. A short video was shown on how they cultivate pearls in solid detailed explanations, trust me, it was no ordinary biology lesson, the inserting nuclei and mantle cells into the mother oysters part was deeply fascinating. Cultured pearls are grown and harvested at the Mikimoto Pearl Island located in the Bay of Toba in Japan, most interestingly, they use the best modern technology and equipment to monitor mother oysters health and pearl within after implantation, as well as detecting stress signal, water temperature and diseases. Sounds like they provide the best healthcare service for mother oysters in the world, take note NHS!
Featured jewellery pieces:
Image 1, left: PK Flame Necklace and matching Earrings. right: World of Creativity Necklace and matching Earrings – White South Sea.
Image 3: Melo Conch Pearl and Diamond Necklace (a rare type of pearl found in some Conch sea snails or their shells deep in the Caribbean sea).
Image 5, 6, 7 & 8: Stringing and knotting of Akoya Cultured Pearl Strand Necklace.
Image 9: Midnight Necklace.
Image 10: Blossom Ring.
Image 11: Cascade pearl pendant.
Image 12: Lace Pendant Yellow Gold.
Image 13: Auora Necklace and matching Earring – White South Sea.
Many thanks to Mikimoto (UK) for inviting me over, twice!
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