Pearls and heirlooms

[SingaporeSlinky]

I will be going to Japan soon and have decided to go to the Mikimoto store to buy some pearls. I don’t have a massive budget, but if I find 1 or 2 pieces I love, I’d be willing to spend up to maybe £2k. I realise this isn’t enough to be thinking I’m going to manage to get a string of pearls, but maybe a pendant, ring or bracelet.

Now, I also have 2 daughters around the age of 13. Am wondering whether to use some of my budget (or stretch it) to also buy them each a piece of jewellery and keep to give for say, their 16th birthdays. Part of me thinks it’s silly to plan to keep hold of pieces for such a long time, and whatever I choose may not be to their tastes in the future. But the other part thinks I’ll probably never get the chance to go to Japan again and buy Mikimoto from the flagship store, and hope my Dds would appreciate the fact I’d thought ahead and chosen something for them to keep. I know there is a Mikimoto store in London, but the range there isn’t as wide as in Tokyo, and to me, there’s something special about buying it in Japan.

Any thoughts? Should I just buy something I love for myself, or get something each for the 3 of us? Bearing in mind I certainly won’t be spending a large amount on my DDs, so realistically it would be silver and pearl for them, or maybe a simple set of earrings.

I love pearls and have loads of different ones. Not Mikimoto though. They don't really date. I can go for months without wearing them then wear them constantly.

@Pennybubbly what a beautiful gift! I wouldn’t have many occasions to wear that sort of necklace either though; weddings and funerals maybe, as a previous poster suggested. So I would definitely like to choose something I am likely to wear often. I am thinking plain studs for my daughters, and then for myself, some pearl and diamond earrings and a ring. I keep looking at the website and now I really want a brooch too!

I inherited a string of sea water pearls from the 1930's that I have only worn once in the 5 years I have had them. It's such a shame for them to be sat in a box and maybe I should try and wear them a little more.

My mum gave me her pearls from her wedding, they're strung with gold that loops around them and I wear them all the time. Out for dinner, as a bridesmaid, day trip somewhere nice. I didn't have them until I was about 30, and I don't think I would've appreciated them/worn them as much if I'd had been given them young.

I'd buy for yourself and then pass down.

@Isabelle70 yes please do! Nearly 100 years old, I bet whoever bought them would have wanted them to be worn!

@StarchySturgess1 maybe you’re right. A 16 year old may be very particular about her jewellery, although I hope would still appreciate a simple or modern piece and have lots of opportunity to wear them. I’ll see how they react once we’re in there and maybe decide on the day.

@SingaporeSlinky they would have been my Grans and left to my late DM who I know had never worn them as not her style at all so not been worn since 1978.
Flipping heck, I am going to go and find them and wear them tomorrow!
I did have to have them restrung as they must have been a choker or they had very skinny necks back in the day!

Interested if anyone dug out their pearls and wore them today? 🙂

Mikimoto in Tokyo is indeed beautiful and I didn’t quite dare go in. But I was there in late June and was jet lagged and overheating…

I went very modern and had a browse in 4 degrees and love my pearl earrings.

https://www.fdcp.co.jp/Form/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?shop=0&pid=1122441519010000&bid=4c-jewelry&cat=005

There is also an Akoya Pearl gachapon machine at Haneda airport just after the restaurants in the Edo village set. I think it was Y1000 instead of the usual Y300. Perhaps that would appeal to your daughters. Very minimal silvery jewellery, though it’s luck as to what you win.

I do recommend a browse around any of the big Japanese department stores to see the jewellery styles. So many incredible pearls and my tiny vintage Mikimoto pearl pendant bought in the UK was admired.

@NewtScamandersNiffler ooh they’re very pretty! You didn’t dare go in - because you were afraid you’d want to buy everything?

@SingaporeSlinky Yes, I thought (knew from the window display) that I’d be tempted beyond my budget. And I was just too hot.

If you have the chance, you could make a trip to the Mikimoto pearl island in Toba. It’s a bit of a journey from Tokyo, but you can see the pearl divers, see the museum, and the shop in the HQ is fantastic. There is also an onsen nearby where you can go in a hot spring bath with real ground pearls in the water, which my DDs thought was the most amazing thing ever!

I’ve got a single strand Pearl necklace which my nana gave me when I was 18. I wore it a lot then as Sloane Ranger with cashmere and Barbour waxed jackets look was in fashion then and pearls were worn a lot. I was also given a pair of Pearl studs by my dad at the same age.

I’ve since had pale pink freshwater Monika Vinader pearls and a diamond/Pearl stud earring set given to me by a boyfriend and also various other pearls (grown?) one set of earrings which were very good were Banana Republic.

The ones I have are I think almost an ivory or creamy white colour.

A friend when I was younger was given a very expensive grey Pearl set (necklace and earrings) for passing her Part 3 architect’s exam/qualification. I think they were from Italy as she was Italian and so were they. She was blonde and blue eyed. I’m a dark/mouse blonde (highlights) with grey blue eyes and skin which tans lightly but freckles. I look good apparently with cashmere/lambs wool jumpers and pearls, a pity as I hate washing fine wool!

I might check with your DD’s by showing them websites beforehand but I see you’re going with them.

I agree with @jaundicedoutlook, try to take them to see the Mikimoto Pearl island in Toba, I’ve never been but heard it’s amazing and the onsen with the hot spring bath with real ground pearls sounds great!

Also, teen girls if they’re petite, Japanese fashion will probably but may not, fit them. My super ski t Australian friend when she was a golf caddy and teacher in Japan fitted most of their clothes but said she was “larger” at a size 4!

If they haven’t seen it, get them to watch “The Makanai - Cooking for the Maiko House” which is about a teenage cook cooking for the apprentice geisha (maiko) house. Very sweet and funny but the food! 😋

Thanks for the Toba info, I’ll take a look.

@GonnaGetGoingReturns I’ve just watched the trailer for the Maiko house programme, thanks for that recommendation.

I'm in an interesting position at the moment having inherited my mothers jewellery. I got some really interesting advice from a jeweller when I had it valued. He said never buy jewellery as an heirloom. It doesn't have a resale value anything near what you bought it for. Instead, buy pieces you truly love and want to wear all the time, and the likelihood is your children will have fond memories of them and want to wear them as they remind them of you. If the pieces aren't to their taste, you've had your monies worth out of them in terms of wear and therefore you can encourage them to sell if they don't like them (properly for about a third of what a valuation says they're worth) or have them remade into something they do like (still a nice memory/association with you). So my advice is to use all your budget to buy something you LOVE. Don't worry about heirlooms for your children.

I adore a simple Pearl necklace .Timeless

@headcheffer that's good advice, thank you. I don’t really know why I put the word heirloom in my title. I wasn’t actually thinking of buying something specifically as an heirloom, I will be buying something I love, first and foremost for me to wear.

My dilemma was whether to also buy for my girls, so that I can start off their collections for them. I never inherited jewellery, so the nice pieces I have are what I’ve bought for myself. I guess I was torn between being able to buy nice jewellery for their big birthdays, so they’ll always have those special pieces, but then wondering if I’d be a bit silly to start when they’re only 13.

I’d keep my options open - buy from Mikimoto for yourself and look around for something for your daughters while in Japan. I did find that many of the earrings were for non pierced ears too.

Would they prefer a beautiful wooden or silk jewellery box? It’s hard going somewhere incredible like Japan when they’re younger and their tastes will change.

@NewtScamandersNiffler thank you, they‘ll definitely be buying souvenirs for themselves, so I’m sure if they see something they love (and probably lots of little things they find cute in various stores) they’ll be bringing plenty back. I imagine clothes, stationery etc.
This is more about me thinking ahead (possibly too much) to start their ‘proper’ jewellery collections off. I’ll see how they react once we go to the Mikimoto store and go from there.

I would buy them each some simple Pearl studs and splurge on yourself

@JaceLancs that’s what I’m leaning towards. Thank you.

Just to say, I have some Mikimoto pearl studs I bought for about £450 10 or so years ago. They are lovely, but not very exciting, I bought my mum some from a local jewellers for her 70th which I have now inherited, they were about £120 but a similar size, they have a lovely sheen and are more attractive to me then the Mikimotos. Irrespective of the sentimental value, I much prefer my mum’s. If you want attractive simple pearl studs, or necklace you’ll get better value for money than Mikimotos, but the Mikimotos will probably resell for a a higher price, but if you want family to have them, find them some beautiful high quality pearls from elsewhere (and save the money for something else).

Can someone explain why Mikimoto pearls are so expensive?
They are cultured pearls, not natural wild sea water pearls which are very expensive. You can buy beautiful, cultured pearl jewellery from other places that are far less expensive so I don’t understand the particular appeal.

Interesting perspective, thank you @Banoffeepie21
I guess once I’m in the shop, I’ll only be buying something if I love it. If the plain studs don’t look like they’re worth the money, I won’t be buying them. It’s a lot of money (especially if I get 2 pairs) so I could then just buy for myself and rethink for my girls.

@Darklane I haven’t seen any in person yet, but for me, the appeal is (possibly to my shame) in the name. Mikimoto was the first to culture pearls and the brand has been going for I believe 130 years. It’s a name that comes up again and again in discussion about pearl jewellery, and since I will be in Japan, I thought what better place to treat myself. It’s like buying something in Tiffany; I know you’re paying partly for the branding, but I trust it, and know it’s going to be good quality.

I saw some pearl jewellery in TK Maxx this week and the box said “Akoya Pearl” but the necklace strand was about £30. It did make me wonder what the difference is to be honest, I can’t even see how they can be much more than plastic faux pearls for that price, but who knows. I’m really no expert so maybe I will research a little.

Enjoy your shopping trip @SingaporeSlinky. A visit to Japan sounds amazing, you’ll have to report back with an update. It’s a place I would love to go!