They are rarer and therefore they are a lot more expensive than their cultured pearl counterparts. So, when cultured pearl entered the scene they were gorgeous pearls and they were a lot cheaper and usually rounder than natural pearls.
Mikimoto pearls hold their value provided they retain their high quality and have the original clasp, box, and the proper paperwork. It's normal for pearls to wear over time, especially if not properly cared for during storage. Take good care of your pearls; they will hold their value longer.
How do I know that my pearl jewelry is Mikimoto? You can always identify Mikimoto jewelry by our trademark, which is either the outline of an oyster or the Mikimoto name engraved on every piece. This engraved mark can be found in the following locations: Necklaces and bracelets: back of clasp.
The lip determines the pearl color. While the white pearls are also priced by jewelers, the gold pearl variety is the most coveted color. The gold South sea pearl's color can range from creamy white to deep gold, and the darker the color, the more expensive it becomes.
What Are The Most Expensive Pearls? Due to their rarity and size, South Sea pearls will carry the highest retail value. A perfectly round strand of South Sea pearls, with high luster and clean surface could retail for $100,000+ in a traditional luxury setting.
White and Golden South Sea pearls are the largest and most luxurious of all cultured pearl types on the market today. Often called the “Queen of Pearls”, South Sea pearls feature a gorgeous palette of natural Golden and White colors that shimmer with delicate overtones and are simply unmistakable.
The Mikimoto Pearls are the highest quality pearl line. The pearls come from the top 5% of each year's harvest.
Eventually, Mikimoto grades the pearls as AAA, AA, A+, or A. Grade AAA has a mirror-like reflection and close to no blemished surface. The AA is superb, with clear reflection and a slightly blemished surface.
To maintain your Mikimoto pearl jewelry, we recommend that you do not exercise, clean, bathe, or swim with it on.
Pearls with particular brand names will also retain (and even increase) their value over the years; vintage Mikimoto Akoya pearls that still have their original clasp, box and papers to establish provenance are very highly sought after today and continue to fetch premium resale values.
Your Mikimoto pearl necklaces should be restrung every year.
Is it OK to wear pearls everyday? Absolutely. Pearl jewelry should be worn and enjoyed frequently, so avoid leaving your pearls in a security box for long periods of time. But as many jewelry, pearls are beautiful, but they are delicate and should be worn with care.
Akoya pearls are the preeminent cultured pearls. They are the pearls that the Mikimoto brand popularized. Prized by royalty and pearl connoisseurs for centuries, Akoya pearls have long been coveted for their perfectly round shape, richness, and deep luster.
South Sea pearls are considered the most valuable. They are also the largest pearl variety on the market. A strand of South Sea pearls can range from $1,000 to over $100,000.
Kate Middleton wears the Annoushka Baroque Pearl Earring Drops. The Princess has worn the pearl drops since 2012.
Final Verdict. Monica Vinader is our all-around favorite brand for pearl necklaces, as we think the quality of its pearl jewelry is amazing, especially given its accessible price range. Ditto for Mejuri, which runs a close second.
“My dream is to adorn the necks of all women around the world with pearls.” — The founder, Kokichi Mikimoto.
High-Quality Pearls are a Wearable investment
While you might think that gold and silver is an obvious choice when buying investment jewelry, pearls are an excellent alternative. In recent years auction houses such as Christie's have sold pearl jewelry far exceeding the value of other gemstones.
Queen Elizabeth II's Triple-Strand pearl necklace might just be THE most famous Triple-Strand Pearl Necklace in the world. Composed of 3 strands of natural pearls, the graduated necklace was created at the behest of the Queen herself using family-owned pearls, which she finished with a diamond-accented clasp.
Pearls were once so rare that only royalty wore them. Some royalty wore fake pearls because not even they could command enough of the gems to adorn their jewelry and crowns. Therefore, wearing pearls was a sign of wealth and social status.
Perfectly Round pearls are the rarest and most valuable shape there is! Pearl producing mollusks are usually nucleated with spherical bead nuclei (in the hopes that the resulting pearl will be a perfect Round).
The most classic and widely preferred pearl color is white. The white pearl is considered a symbol of purity, and is often associated with wedding and graduation celebrations.
– Australia: home to some of the finest quality pearls in the world, with a variety of colors ranging from white to black. The Australian pearl industry is worth an estimated $500 million per year.