Mikimoto: The Dreams & Pearls Crown

June 3, 2021

By Katerina Perez

4 min read

In 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto, the founder of the Mikimoto jewellery maison, introduced the world to cultured pearls for the first time. This was a true revolution in the jewellery industry and played a role in the Japanese brand’s success story. In 2013, the company celebrated the 120th anniversary of this occasion with the release of a very special piece of jewellery: the Dreams & Pearls crown, something I have been itching to tell you about for a long time now.

Why, almost ten years later, am I deciding to write about this? In all honesty, I just like to talk about timeless jewellery masterpieces and to examine them in detail. For me, it’s like tasting a rare wine, when all your senses are sharpened in anticipation of a special taste. You then begin to filter out the ruby liquid and you start to feel the way in which your pleasure hormones are actively being produced. The same thing happens to me when I am admiring exquisite jewellery that would be impossible to replicate even if you wanted to.

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls transformable crown and necklace, designed to celebrate the brand's 120th anniversary in 2013

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls transformable crown and necklace, designed to celebrate the brand's 120th anniversary in 2013

But back to Dreams & Pearls. Kokichi Mikimoto, known as the “King of Pearls”, developed the first cultured pearl in the 19th century in an attempt to adorn every woman’s neck with a pearl strand. Whereas a century ago the founder probably imagined a simple string of pearls, now his successors have broadened the horizons of jewellery design significantly, creating a complex multifunctional piece of jewellery in Mikimoto’s Meguro atelier – the Dreams & Pearls crown – that has been transformed into a luxurious necklace.

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls crown contains rare conch and melo pearls in 12 uniquely designed floral arrangements

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls crown contains rare conch and melo pearls in 12 uniquely designed floral arrangements

Mikimoto imbues each creation with an aesthetic and grace that originated in Japan and has been influenced by different cultures around the world. We also pride ourselves on an unsurpassed workmanship, a passionate approach to our craft and the innovations we have developed throughout our history over more than a century, say the company’s representatives.

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls crown can be worn in 11 different ways

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls crown can be worn in 11 different ways

Dreams & Pearls is not only an homage to cultured pearls, but also a creative way to showcase the diversity of marine “minerals”. The festive design is a bouquet of 12 flowers adorned with rare pearls from different parts of the world: melo, conch, black, gold and white South Sea pearls, as well as Akoya. The number 12 was not chosen by chance, as each flower represents a decade in Mikimoto’s history.

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls crown contains diamonds and coloured gemstones, alongside rare golden, conch and melo pearls

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls crown contains diamonds and coloured gemstones, alongside rare golden, conch and melo pearls

Incidentally, each central pearl boasts not only high-quality characteristics, but also an impressive size. For example, one of the melo pearls is 18.88 x 18.93mm, the black South Sea pearl is 16.76 x 16.66mm, the gold one is 15.26 x 15.21mm, and the conch pearl is 6.77 x 8.48mm. Each of these beauties is a rare representative of its kind. So that you can appreciate the importance and significance of these numbers, I will add a few dry facts. Usually, pearls mined in the waters of the South Sea do not exceed 15 millimetres in size, and the record price for melo pearls was set at the end of the last millennium in Hong Kong: $488,000. I think that figure speaks volumes about the rarity of this material, which often occupies a central place in works of high jewellery.

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls crown can be worn as an elaborate necklace

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls crown can be worn as an elaborate necklace

Natural orange melo pearls and pink conches are the highlight of this ensemble, which is set against a backdrop of 18 carat white gold and numerous cultured pearls of the highest quality and colour. Diamonds weighing 107.98 carats, and coloured gemstones – aquamarines, sapphires, garnets, tourmalines and spessartines – make the whole thing gleam. Let’s not forget about the transformations that this crown is capable of as it can be worn in 11 different ways! It can be turned into a stunning necklace, and each flower can be removed to create a set of earrings, brooches and rings to attach to a bracelet or belt.

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls crown is a bouquet of 12 flowers adorned with rare pearls from different parts of the world, including melo, conch, black, gold and white South Sea pearls, as well as Akoya

The Mikimoto Dreams & Pearls crown is a bouquet of 12 flowers adorned with rare pearls from different parts of the world, including melo, conch, black, gold and white South Sea pearls, as well as Akoya

The Dreams & Pearls crown embodies everything we love so much about the work of this Japanese jewellery maison and has become a dazzling ‘page’ in its rich and unique history. At the moment, it can only be seen at events and special exhibitions organised by Mikimoto.

Seeing Double: The Twins Creating Fine Jewellery Together

continue reading

Haute Couture 2025: Boucheron Explores Shades of Grey with the Impermanence High Jewellery Collection 

With its Carte Blanche High Jewellery collections, Boucheron's Creative Director Claire Choisne has the power to explore whatever fantastical avenue she pleases, which in 2025 centres on flowers and the natural world.

by Sarah Jordan

Haute Couture 2025: The Unconventional Lines of the Vhernier Ardis High Jewellery Collection 

Let's take a closer look at the pieces that launched at Paris Haute Couture week, including the sculptural necklaces we simply couldn't leave without photographing.

by Sarah Jordan

Haute Couture 2025: The 70s Depths of the Piaget Shapes of Extraleganza High Jewellery Collection

Through the Piaget Society, a circle of artists, collectors and freethinkers, the Maison helped shape the cultural zeitgeist of the 1970s.

by Claire Roberts

Haute Couture Week 2025: The Gentle Flutter of Mikimoto Les Pétales High Jewellery

Let’s take a closer look at some of the aristocratic highlights of this latest Mikimoto offering…

by Sarah Jordan

Elevated Expression: Examining The Jade Dynasty Collection by Austy Lee

Austy Lee is someone we return to time and again here at KaterinaPerez.com, largely because the designer's work never fails to impress. Let's hear what he has to say on China's most emblematic mineral…

by Sarah Jordan

Haute Couture 2025: The Biggest High Jewellery Trends to Emerge from Paris 

Transformability was a recurring theme, as were bold uses of colour, sculptural silhouettes and rare gemstones with compelling stories. Here are the key trends that defined the 2025 high jewellery season.

by Joshua Hendren

Flower Power: The Uplifting Energy of Jewels in Full Bloom 

Florals have long been a favourite in fine jewellery, and they never lose their charm. This year’s Couture show in Las Vegas proved just how inventive floral jewellery can be, bursting with colour, craftsmanship, and imagination

by Hirshi Sujanti

You’ve Got the Moves: Kinetic Jewellery with Moving Elements

Sometimes, at the Couture Show, you encounter a trend that feels perfectly attuned to the times we’re living in. This year in Las Vegas, that trend was movement. Or, more precisely, moving elements that speak to that very human desire to keep our hands busy, our senses engaged, and our minds soothed.

by Claire Roberts

Verified in Vegas: The Biggest Jewellery Trends of the Couture Show 2025

The Couture Show presents a curated view of the best in craftsmanship, design, fresh ideas and originality, which is why it’s such a vital place to forecast the ‘next big thing’. Here’s what I have gleaned from this year’s State-side events

by Sarah Jordan

Instant Charm: Celebrating New Creations with Karina Choudhrie Jewels

Let's take a closer look at the latest pieces that have emerged from Karina's incredible imagination…

by Katerina Perez

Key Facts About Gold: An Ancient Symbol of Power and Luxury

In an age where digital currencies rise and fall, gold remains a universal symbol of stability, beauty, and lasting worth. It is worn on the skin, locked in vaults, and passed down through generations as a living legacy.

by Hirshi Sujanti

Little Legends: The History and Power of Pinky Rings

Pinky rings have long carried cultural weight - from Ancient Mesopotamian seals to Egyptian signets and Japanese kamon heirlooms. Today, the style is experiencing a resurgence, thanks to contemporary designers and a growing list of high-profile wearers, including Meghan Markle, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Victoria Beckham, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski

by Joshua Hendren

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Epic Evolution:Miseno Launches the Arco Collection to Celebrate a Fabulous Decade

I am pleased to present to you my highlights of the new Arco High Jewellery collection, which was formally showcased to the jewellery world at Couture from June 4-8, 2025

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

In Conversation:Discussing Paraiba - The Legacy of a Color

with Vogue Singapore

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.