Toba’s Fishing Legacy
In Toba, a small seaside town in Japan, has been known for its rich fishing for tens of thousands of years. So prosperous was the fishing in this area, it spent much of 15th and 16th centuries under the control of pirates.
Mikimoto Discovers Pearls
During the 1800s, people realized the waters near Toba were flush with oysters. And where there are oysters…there are pearls. At that time, a young Kokichi Mikimoto saw pearl divers bringing in treasures from under the sea. For many around the world, pearls were valued higher than diamonds, and Mikimoto was on his way to becoming the “Pearl King.”
Mikimoto’s Sustainable Vision
But unlike those who were pillaging the rich coast hoping to find their fortune, Mikimoto had something bigger in mind. He held nature in the highest regard, and believed it deserved his gratitude. Before the word “sustainable” was ever in use, Mikimoto developed the system for creating cultured pearls.
Creating the Cultured Pearl
In the wild, only 1 in 10,000 oysters ever produce a pearl. By raising oysters in a private farm, Mikimoto believed he could make pearls more accessible while also protecting the environment he so loved. It wasn’t an easy process, and by the time he had discovered a way to make cultured pearls, he was nearly bankrupt. But he persevered and 12 years later he created a perfectly spherical pearl that was indistinguishable from the ones found in the nearby ocean.
Global Recognition of Mikimoto
He even earned the praise of Thomas Edison, who marveled at the creation of something once thought to be biologically impossible. Soon, Mikimoto pearls were known around the world. He believed every woman should be able to have access to this beautiful creation.
Commitment to Quality
But he never sacrificed quality. Only 10% of the pearls cultivated ever make it to market. The Mikimoto Pearl must meet the highest standards. Today, they work with very specific types of pearls.
The Akoya Cultured Pearl
This is a specialty of Japanese pearl farms known for its beautiful luster and air of elegance.
Black South Sea Cultured Pearl
Found in French Polynesia, this pearl can be black, blue, gray, red, brown, yellow, or the rarest color: peacock.
White South Sea Cultured Pearl
This pearl is found in Australian, Indonesian, Philippine, and Burmese waters, and is often round, although sometimes drop shaped.
Golden South Sea Cultured Pearl
A pearl that gives off a more honey, golden, or champagne color depending on if it’s in a golden-lipped or silver-lipped oyster.
Conch Pearl
These are the pearls that are typically oval in shape. They’re produced by the queen conch mollusk found in the Caribbean.
Honoring Kokichi Mikimoto
We salute the great Pearl King, Kokichi Mikimoto, and encourage you to discover the pearls he so loved in our stores today.
Find Mikimoto jewelry at Schwarzschild Jewelers in Richmond, Charlottesville, and Midlothian Virginia.