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Craftsmanship

Mikimoto imbues each piece with a sense of artistry and aesthetic that was born in Japan and has been shaped by influences from different cultures around the world. We also take pride in the unparalleled craftsmanship and passionate approach to our craft developed over more than a century of innovation.

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Our master craftsmen demonstrate their skills and expertise with a passion

In 1907, The Mikimoto Gold Work Factory (today's Mikimoto Jewellery Mfg. Co., Ltd.) was established as a dedicated manufacturing facility for the Mikimoto Pearl Store. There, our team of craftsmen honed their skills, mastering sophisticated techniques such as millegraining, keshi pearl beadwork, and piercing out with a saw. Thanks to their passion and commitment to their craft, Mikimoto made a name for itself as a producer of fine jewellery that could rival the best pieces from the West.

Our jewellery designers inherit a tradition of jewellery making with a over a century of history

At Mikimoto, all new jewellery designers start by tracing drawings of existing products to learn the fundamentals. In this way, they learn and inherit our tradition of jewellery making with their own two hands. Once the most promising drafts are selected, our designers paint them using fine-point brushes and traditional Japanese ink, followed by watercolor paints and colored pencils to create light and shadow. After a lot of hard work, finalized designs look so real that it seems you could reach out and touch them.

The Mikimoto Style

Our founder Kokichi Mikimoto was aware of the importance of design before anyone else in Japan. He sent skilled craftsmen to Europe to learn the latest design techniques and styles in jewellery, including Art Deco and Art Nouveau. Using the experience and knowledge they brought back from Europe, he spent decades blending traditional Japanese metalworking craftsmanship and European manufacturing techniques to create the distinctive Mikimoto style.

Courtesy of Museum of the Pearl Museum, Mikimoto Pearl Island.

Encapsulating the iconic Mikimoto style:the Yaguruma Sash Clip

Exhibited at the 1937 World Exposition in Paris, the Yaguruma Sash Clip is a multifunctional adornment that can be purchased in 12 different configurations. It is an elegant combination of Art Deco and Japanese aesthetics, making use of finishes and decorative techniques that were developed and refined at Mikimoto.

Mikimoto's catalogue, “Pearl,” tells us how Mikimoto defined its style

Mikimoto published “Pearl” between 1908 and 1938. The catalogue was compiled to showcase the history and culture of accessories from a comprehensive perspective. It gained attention for its daring, experimental design and fresh perspective. Design sketches that appeared in the catalogue show how Mikimoto's jewellery designs changed over the years. All the issues are archived at Mikimoto as important historical documents.