On January 30th, Mikimoto unveiled the "Mikimoto Pearl Crown 'DREAMS & PEARLS' - 12 Pearls and Dreams," a crown commemorating the 120th anniversary of the invention of cultured pearls, at its flagship store in Ginza, Tokyo. A model walked around the venue wearing the crown. The crown, which took approximately two years to complete, including conception, was inspired by the 120th anniversary theme, "Dreams & Pearls - Weaving Brilliance Across Time," and was crafted in the image of 12 dream flowers. Utilizing the sourcing capabilities unique to the pearl originator, five rare pearl varieties, including 10.75mm Akoya pearls harvested from Ainoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture, natural Melo pearls, and natural conch pearls, are placed at the center of the flowers. In addition, 3,400 diamonds are set into the petals and leaves, creating a truly magnificent design. The asymmetrical design, with the flowers positioned front to back, enhances the impact when viewed from a distance. At the same time, the flowers, crafted from conch pearls, are inspired by the cover of Mikimoto's jewelry catalog "Shinju," published for 30 years starting in 1908. The crown's 12 flowers can be removed by hand without special tools. By combining them with the included bases, they can be enjoyed in 11 different styles, including necklaces, rings, earrings, and—unusually for jewelry—belts. "I aimed for a design that would harmonize when used as a crown and highlight the pearl's color when worn alone," said designer Kimi Shinagawa. "Through extensive consultation with our craftsmen, we created a crown that combines the opposing elements of beauty and functionality," she continued. A demonstration of the crown's removal process was performed in front of the audience, and models appeared wearing the crown as necklaces, brooches, and earrings. Mikimoto Jewelry, which was responsible for the creation of the crown, repeatedly prototyped and tested the crown to find the smallest size possible that would maintain its strength while incorporating its functionality. Since the underside is visible when the crown is attached, the design of the flowers and stems was made to resemble real plants to ensure beauty from any angle. Crafts also proposed creating flower calyxes to incorporate the connecting function. "The crown is the culmination of Mikimoto and Mikimoto Jewelry," says Shingo Usukura of Mikimoto Jewelry. A wide range of craftsmen, from veterans to young talent, were involved in the creation of the crown, with the aim of passing on the craftsmanship. The "Mikimoto Pearl Crown 'DREAM & PEARLS'" will be open to the public free of charge from the Ginza flagship store on February 8, 2013. It will be gradually opened to Mikimoto directly managed stores.
[Mikimoto Pearl Crown "DREAMS & PEARLS"] Release Dates
February 8th to 17th: MIKIMOTO Ginza Main Store, 4th floor
February 21st to 28th: MIKIMOTO Nagoya Store, 1st basement floor
March 12th to 17th: MIKIMOTO Boutique, 1st floor (inside MIKIMOTO Ginza 2)
March 19th to 26th: MIKIMOTO Umeda Store, 1st floor
