The Reason Mikimoto Isn't Worth The Money
Famously known as the best pearls that money can buy, if you're a lover of pearls then you're probably more than familiar with Mikimoto (via The Jewellery Editor). Mikimoto Kōkichi and his company are often referred to as the "King of Pearls", which should come as no surprise, as the company proclaims that they successfully created the world's first cultured pearls. Since the company was founded in 1893, their goal has been to put beautiful jewelry around the necks of as many pearl-lovers as possible.
Mikimoto makes the important distinction that their pearls are cultured, not natural. But what is the difference between natural pearls and cultured pearls? According to the Diamond Pro, "Natural pearls grow without any human intervention whereas cultured pearls form when a farmer inserts a mollusk into the oyster shell. For natural pearls, the mollusk is an organism in the water. For cultured pearls, the mollusk is usually a tiny bead." In other words, natural pearls are extremely rare, and cultured pearls? Not so much. So with this in mind, we have to wonder if Mikimoto's pearls are worth the exorbitant prices.
Even a simple strand can cost thousands of dollars
Listen: we're not pearl snobs here. If you show up clad in a pearl necklace of any sort, chances are, we'll gush and compliment, having no idea if they're real or not. And frankly, unless you're a professional, virtually no one will be able to tell (via ABC News). But you know who would be able to tell? Mikimoto. And that's why it's surprising to us that they charge the prices they do for a type of pearl that isn't even considered rare. In fact, these cultured pearls are considered to be pretty standard when it comes to the available jewelry on the market. "Cultured pearls are the pearls used to make almost all jewelry on the market today" (via Diamonds Pro).
Even a simple strand of Mikimoto pearls can set you back thousands of dollars. And the princes only get higher the more intricate the pearls. Therefore, we're inclined to say that Mikimoto really isn't worth the money — save your money and stick to the fake stuff.