Mikimoto pearls and jewels, at Mercat del Diamant, the pearls store in Andorra

Mikimoto Kōkichi’s story

Beginnings: A life-changing journey

In his 20s, the young Mikimoto Kōkichi left his hometown of Toba to explore Japan and Tokyo. He travelled eleven days by foot to Tokyo, where the modern capital’s grandeur enamoured him. He was incredibly surprised by the trade of abalones and sea cucumbers, propelling him to develop a keen interest in the seafood trade.

Discovering the world of pearls

Preserving aquatic wildlife: A source of inspiration

Mikimoto first encountered the world of pearls in the province of Shima. He realised that pearls could fetch an exorbitant price but was struck by the overfishing which occurred while procuring them. He realised that finding a way to grow pearls was an urgent matter. Mikimoto felt that he could regulate and stabilise the fishing process by creating protected oyster beds, which had been brutally destroying the surrounding marine ecosystem. As he continued his journey, he stopped in the provinces of Osaka and Kobe to further his knowledge of the pearl trade.

Mikimoto Kōkichi: One of the world’s greatest inventors

In 1888, Mikimoto participated in a seafood fair held in Tokyo. He realised that the pearl trade was very fashionable but that the business would disappear given the rapid decline in pearl-producing oysters. This realisation set Mikimoto on his life-long mission to raise pearl oysters. After years of painstaking work, experimentation and unsuccessful attempts, he finally succeeded in cultivating pearls. From this moment on, his pearl trade would continue on its successful path.

The world’s first cultivated pearls boutique

Mikimoto Kōkichi opened his first pearl boutique in Tokyo in 1899. Most of his clients were foreigners, and he soon became known in the United States and England. This profitable period in Mikimoto’s career allowed him time to focus on designing luxury cultured pearl jewellery. By 1924, he was renowned throughout Japan and many Western countries as the country’s most prestigious jeweller. His legacy has remained intact today, as Mikimoto is synonymous with cultured pearls of incomparable quality.

Creations of exquisite purity

Cultured pearls and high jewelry

Today Mikimoto is one of the leading figures in the world of high jewellery. The brand’s precious pieces are made with rare materials and gracefully decorated with pearls to create objects of simple beauty. The brand’s pieces are sought-after and adored by individuals around the world.

A fusion of Japanese design and Baroque art

Mikimoto Kōkichi passed down his love of pearls to his luxury brand, whose designers continue his legacy by producing original pieces of high jewellery. The exceptional pieces crafted by Mikimoto employ the elegant blend of the sophisticated sensibility found in the Baroque style and the essence of Japanese Zen art. The simplicity of a perfect Mikimoto pearl is the finest example of pure beauty.

Your MIKIMOTO jewellery at Mercat del Diamant, Andorra’s watch and jewellery store