Mikimoto Cultured Pearl 18 Karat Gold Ear-Clip Earrings
View Similar Items
Mikimoto Cultured Pearl 18 Karat Gold Ear-Clip Earrings
About the Item
Mikimoto
Born to a noodle-shop owner, Japanese jeweler Kokichi Mikimoto (1858–1954) worked in the seafood business before shifting his focus to pearl cultivation. In 1893, he successfully developed the world’s first cultured pearls with a semispherical specimen. His further experimentation would include black and white South Sea pearls. This development gave Mikimoto a supply of what had once been a notoriously rare natural element and earned him the nickname “The Pearl King.” As he once said, “My dream is to adorn the necks of all women around the world with pearls.”
In 1899 in Tokyo’s Ginza district, Mikimoto opened his first, eponymous store in a white-stone building reminiscent of the color of pearls. He quickly earned a reputation for dazzling designs that blended Japanese craftsmanship and European influence. Mikimoto sent his jewelers to Europe to study the latest trends in jewelry and design; they brought back knowledge of Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles, which were incorporated into designs featuring Mikimoto’s pearls.
But Mikimoto’s creations were not met with enthusiasm by all. In 1921, a London newspaper called the designer’s jewelry “only imitations of real pearls” and claimed the company was “misleading” its customers. It developed into a lawsuit in the French courts, which ruled in Mikimoto’s favor, and raised the jeweler’s global profile. He also brought his work international acclaim through exhibitions and world’s fairs, including the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia where he unveiled a replica of the Liberty Bell covered with pearls. In 1927, Mikimoto met with Thomas Edison, who gave the jeweler’s invention probably its best compliment: “It is one of the wonders of the world that you were able to culture pearls. . . . This isn’t a cultured pearl, it’s a real pearl.”
Following World War II, Mikimoto opened stores around the world, with locations now in Paris, New York City, Los Angeles and Shanghai. Though its founder died in 1954, the Mikimoto company has continued to build on the legacy he established, producing collections of pearl necklaces and other pearl-centric jewelry that span a wide range of styles. In 2017, the brand reopened its flagship Tokyo store, tapping architect Hiroshi Naito to design a new glittering facade whose 40,000 tiny glass plates are meant to evoke the movement of the ocean as they catch the light. The place where Mikimoto had his legendary success over a century ago is now known as Mikimoto Pearl Island and includes a museum on his life and pearls. A highlight is the “Boss’s Necklace,” which was the first made by Mikimoto and is the model for all the brand’s classic strands that have followed.
Find Mikimoto pendant necklaces, choker necklaces and a range of other jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1960's, Buccellati Jade Sapphire 18 Karat Two-Tone Gold Drop Ear-Clip EarringsBy BuccellatiLocated in Philadelphia, PAEar-clip earrings have a stylized brushed gold surmount accented by sapphires Rendered as 3.0 mm round cabochons and mughal carved foliate - translucent with natural inclusions Suspending elongated jade cabochon drops with brushed gold scalloped caps - measuring approximately 28.0 x 8.5 mm Translucent pastel...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsJade, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
- Mid-Century 4.24 CTW Diamond Turquoise 18 Karat Gold Star Ear-Clip EarringsLocated in Philadelphia, PADesigned as shooting star clusters with curling tails accented by twisted rope motifs Featuring transitional cut diamonds weighing approximately 4.24 carats total H/I color with VS1 ...Category
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsWhite Diamond, Turquoise, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Van Cleef & Arpels 2.04 Carats Diamond Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Ear-Clip EarringsBy Van Cleef & ArpelsLocated in Philadelphia, PADesigned as marquise shaped forms centering clusters of round cut sapphires. Weighing approximately 1.12 carats total - transparent medium blue in color. Prong set with a halo surrou...Category
1990s French Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
- Angela Cummings 1980s Mother-Of-Pearl 18 Karat Gold Scroll Ear-Clip EarringsBy Angela CummingsLocated in Philadelphia, PADesigned as overlapping scrolling 'C' forms Inlaid with mother-of-pearl throughout Opaque white with strong iridescence With high polished gold finish Complete by hinged omega back...Category
Vintage 1980s Drop Earrings
MaterialsPearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Tiffany & Co. 1993 4.62 Carat Diamond Pearl Platinum Fireworks Ear-Clip EarringsBy Tiffany & Co.Located in Philadelphia, PACentering 8.0 mm round pearls - pink in body color with strong iridescence and good luster. Featuring a pierced burst contour surround with round brilliant cut diamonds. Prong set th...Category
1990s Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
$19,700Free Shipping - Elsa Peretti Tiffany & Co. Onyx 18 Karat Gold Thumbprint Ear-Clip EarringsBy Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.Located in Philadelphia, PADesigned as a round domed form with round imprint Centering a 12.5 mm round inlaid tablet of onyx Opaque black with glossy finish With high polish gold finish Completed by hinged o...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Earrings
MaterialsOnyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 1960s Cultured Pearl Yellow Gold Clips EarringsLocated in Poitiers, FRFor pierced ears. Ear clip in 14 karat yellow gold. Each of the antique clips forms a leaf made up of rows of adjoining gold pearls. In the center, are set 3 cultured pearls of white orient. The hook is a mobile clip. Height: approximately 3.4 cm, width: 14.2 mm, thickness: approximately 7 mm. Total weight of the jewel: around 8.4 g. Authentic antique jewel - American work from the 1960s. Our opinion: Antique clips earrings...Category
20th Century American Retro Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsPearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 1980s Hammered 18 Karat Gold Ear ClipsLocated in New York, NYChic 18 karat yellow gold hammered gold textured ear clipsCategory
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
Materials18k Gold
- David Webb 18 Karat Gold Ear ClipsBy David WebbLocated in New York, NYChic 18 karat yellow gold textured ear-clips with wavy bands of gold worked on the square surface. These well hand-crafted from ca. 2000 earrings are a most comfortable every day wea...Category
Early 2000s American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold
- Earrings Interchangeable Cultured Pearl and Diamonds and Yellow Gold 18 KaratLocated in Vannes, FRDiscover the exquisite beauty of the diamond, cultured pearl and 18 carat yellow gold earrings, a jeweler's masterpiece that combines the sparkle of diamonds, the brilliance of cultu...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Artisan Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Mabe Pearl Diamond Gold Ear ClipsLocated in New York, NYThis gorgeous pair of 18k yellow gold earrings, feature lovely mabe pearls. The pearls are accentuated by sparkling round and baguette cut diamonds that weigh approximately 4.00ct. g...Category
20th Century Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Vintage Cultured Pearl and Diamond Clip Earrings, 9k Yellow GoldLocated in NEWARK, GBA gorgeous pair of vintage c1960s Cultured pearl and diamond earrings. Crafted in rich 9ct yellow gold the earrings are a clip on style with gold ear clips, the centre set with a cr...Category
Mid-20th Century American Retro Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Cultured Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold