I was at Bailey Banks and Biddle, yesterday, shopping for a strand of pearls for my daughter. The lady, who appeared very knowledgable about the Mikimoto brand of pearl, said that they have a traditional design of clasp. I have seen several 'Mikimoto' strands on the web and none of them have this particular clasp. I'm wondering about the validity of the 'clasp' statement. I couldn't find this mentioned on Mr. Mikimoto's website so I'm wondering if this was just smoke. Any info on this?
Thanks.

Hi Mike,

The lady was absolutely right. Mikimoto has a definite clasp code for all their standard lines. That means even if you completely destroy the pearls, their original design line, quality grade, and decade of production can still be concluded from the clasp alone. There is one proviso, though. Sooner or later depending on frequency of wear and klutziness of user, the clasp will break. If you do not want to spend the (exorbitant amount of) money to have it replaced with an original Mikimoto spare, you will render your pearls virtually unsellable. Only the very old Mikimotos (pre 1938) are actually collectible for the merit of the pearls alone. After 1938, Mikimoto pearls are pure brand collectibles and basically lose all their added value as soon as the clasp as an identifier is gone. So, basically, if you buy a Mikimoto today 90% of your purchase price go for a designer clasp, box, and papers.

Zeide

[purepearls]

To add to Zeide's post that was right on point, Mikimoto has several different lines. The line that they have online is different than the line carried in most jewelry stores. They also have a line that they sell to Sam's. Each line of pearls has different grading standards and variations in clasps.

My husband's cousin got a Mikimoto pearl necklace for her birthday. It was 16 in.in length and the pearls looked to be at least 10mm. The luster wasn't that good,IMO. I thought the pearls were South Sea at first. That must have cost him a pretty penny.

Hi Karen,

If they really are 10mm and over, they are South Sea PPBs. If they are 9.5-10mm there is a chance that they may be akoyas, but even in A grade (blemished and dull), they would have cost over US$60,000.00 for Mikimoto brand.

Edit:

Oops, the over US$ 60,000.00 is for AA grade, a 9.5-10mm 16-inch strand in A grade cost only US$ 35,000.00

Zeide

Originally Posted by Zeide Erskine

Hi Karen,

If they really are 10mm and over, they are South Sea PPBs. If they are 9.5-10mm there is a chance that they may be akoyas, but even in A grade (blemished and dull), they would have cost over US$60,000.00 for Mikimoto brand.

Edit:

Oops, the over US$ 60,000.00 is for AA grade, a 9.5-10mm 16-inch strand in A grade cost only US$ 35,000.00

Zeide

Hi Zeide!

Hi Zeide! I got another look at them today . I also asked her and she said they were South Sea. That would explain the luster. They were white. I measured some shell pearls I have and after comparing, her's are about 15mm. They were not round. They were perfectly matched in shape. They were more of an elliptical shape ,top to bottom. They hung vertically,if that makes sense.

Her husband can afford to buy her anything.

Guess that's how Miki Co will stay in biz a while longer!)
Pattye

Mikimoto is simply a powerful example of effective branding. When you hear "mikimoto" the consumer has been conditioned to associate that name with a superior products.

The burden is on each of us in the pearl business to develop a superior product. We then have the same opportunity as Mikimoto to brand our product and exstablish a track record of quality. It will take considerable time, but eventually each business has the opportunity to develop an effective brand that distinguishes themselves from the rest of the crowd, even if the products we are selling are essentially similar.

I battle with the consequences of effective branding in my own home each week when its time to go shopping with my wife. I try to get her to buy "Luvs" diaphers for the babies, instead of "Huggies Supreme". they are the same, except Huggies cost twice as much! Huggies has established a much better brand name than luvs, so our babies wear Huggies, no matter how much I protest

Hi National Pearl,

why don´t You try to get Your wife to "Try on" the luvs so she can compare? Tell her that You than will be able to get her a nice pearl necklace when money can be saved that easy!

When it comes to pearls, everyone knows that freshwater pearls are much cheaper even though they are the ones that will last forever compared to Akoyas with a very thin layer of nacre!

[Kevin Canning]

everyone knows that freshwater pearls are much cheaper even though they are the ones that will last forever compared to Akoyas with a very thin layer of nacre!

Hey a Volvo will last longer then a Ferrari too - But I'd sure look better in a Ferrari.

Hi Kevin,

The problem with the Ferrari is that you always have to take any person you want to impress to the parking lot or nobody can see that you indeed have a Ferrari. The same applies to Mikimoto pearls. In order to impress somebody with them you have to take them off and show the box and papers. On a price impact comparison imagine what the same amount of money you would spend on a 10mm AAA Mikimoto strand would buy you in freshadamas. It also applies on a smaller scale. AAA freshwater pearls of the same size are not going to impress anybody any less than AAA akoyas. For anything beyond that on a like-for-like standard freshwater pearls always win.

Zeide

...the comparison makes me imagine a 10-year old ferrari with the paint peeling...

...although i wouldn't mind receiving brand new mikis for free...i still do not have akoyas in my collection.

...what i'd actually like to do is make a necklace that is half aaa akoyas and half aaa fw pearls that looks the same... give it as a gift on a condition she wears it often without the recepient knowing what they are.. and see what happens.

Perlas,
what a great idea! That would show what different members have been saying all the time about wearing down pearls - here would be the proof very soon - probably after a few years .

Kevin,

even if a Ferrari is quite dashing, I´d still go for the Volvo when it comes to have a reliable vehicle for everyday use. Besides that I think there are some models of it, that look quite nice as well!

Originally Posted by jerin

Hi National Pearl,

why don´t You try to get Your wife to "Try on" the luvs so she can compare? Tell her that You than will be able to get her a nice pearl necklace when money can be saved that easy!

Hehe... Don't think that would go over very well Jerin

As for Car/Pearl comparisons, with five small children, it will be quite a long time before I get to drive anything but the "potato pearl" equivalent: Mini-Van!

Hi Andrew,

Not to wander too far off-topic, but with 5 kids, obviously what you need is this: 7 seats, 507 hp!