Mikimoto?

[Square]

Hello-

I volunteer at a non-profit that serves women and children and this necklace was recently donated. I have not seen anything like it before. Does anyone know how old it is? If it has value what is the best way to sell it? We don't operate a thrift store. I would like to get money for my awesome non-profit but am also very curious about this piece. I appreciate any knowledge shared. Thank you!

 

[ennui]

I'm waiting to see what the experts think.

 

[CortezPearls]

The pearls look like Akoya and the clasp has the Mikimoto logo...the style of necklace is not very common, yet not rare....can't recall how its called.
It looks beautiful, very well matched and arranged.

 

[Square]

The pearls look like Akoya and the clasp has the Mikimoto logo...the style of necklace is not very common, yet not rare....can't recall how its called.
It looks beautiful, very well matched and arranged.

Any idea on the date of this style? They are very well matched and have such a lovely color and sheen. Knowing nothing about pearls even I could tell they were nice

 

[pattye]

Welcome, Square! Looks like genuine Mikimoto to me and in good shape. There are 5 rows of pearls, so that is many more than on a single strand necklace. Logo is accurate with apparently high quality pearls. I would describe it as a woven pearl collar (necklace). This could be from the 50's or earlier. Did it come in a signed box? The piece definitely would have value. You might want to contact Langantiques.com and send them photos to see if they want to buy it. They describe on the website how to take the photos and who to send them to.
Sometimes local jewelry stores take pieces on consignment. I don't believe we've seen a Miki piece like this before and I couldn't find anything similar in a search.
I am not an appraiser, but estimating this piece could possibly have a value of $2,000 - $4,000 or more.
What do others think?

 

[BWeaves]

I'm with Pattye. Contact Lang Antiques, or even Mikimoto America. It's quite an unusual piece. I'm thinking more in the $5 to $10 thou range, since it's so unusual.

 

[Pella]

I don't disagree with either Pattye or BWeaves. It is lovely. There is a necklace on Mikimoto's American site, that involves diamonds, akoya and South Sea pearls for an eyewatering price. It is a similar weave which they call a Lace necklace.

What is it strung on? I can see what looks like thread and also what appears to be monofilament (like fishing line)? See the way the gimp sits on the pearls closest to the clasp - are they drilled twice to get the gimp to sit apart like that?

It needs a good clean and being vintage, it may need to be restrung, which is not going to be an easy task.

 

[Pella]

Just as a follow-up, I am not suggesting that the price on Mikimoto's website is indicative of what this would realise but merely to show that they have done a similar threading/weaving which I hadn't seen before. As we know pearls do not hold their value that well but if this is Mikimoto and the clasp I have seen before and looks right to me, then the price will be significant for a necklace of 293 Akoya pearls of graduating size.

 

[pattye]

This is certainly a piece deserving a close up examination! I'm curious to know what the necklace measures, too.
Thank you, Pella, for finding that current Miki "lace necklace" and bringing it to our attention.

Here's a preowned Mikimoto "lace necklace" listed on Ebay for $4530 4-7.5mm (More photos on the listing)

 

[Square]

I don't disagree with either Pattye or BWeaves. It is lovely. There is a necklace on Mikimoto's American site, that involves diamonds, akoya and South Sea pearls for an eyewatering price. It is a similar weave which they call a Lace necklace.

What is it strung on? I can see what looks like thread and also what appears to be monofilament (like fishing line)? See the way the gimp sits on the pearls closest to the clasp - are they drilled twice to get the gimp to sit apart like that?

It needs a good clean and being vintage, it may need to be restrung, which is not going to be an easy task.

I don't disagree with either Pattye or BWeaves. It is lovely. There is a necklace on Mikimoto's American site, that involves diamonds, akoya and South Sea pearls for an eyewatering price. It is a similar weave which they call a Lace necklace.

What is it strung on? I can see what looks like thread and also what appears to be monofilament (like fishing line)? See the way the gimp sits on the pearls closest to the clasp - are they drilled twice to get the gimp to sit apart like that?

It needs a good clean and being vintage, it may need to be restrung, which is not going to be an easy task

This is certainly a piece deserving a close up examination! I'm curious to know what the necklace measures, too.
Thank you, Pella, for finding that current Miki "lace necklace" and bringing it to our attention.

Here's a preowned Mikimoto "lace necklace" listed on Ebay for $4530 4-7.5mm (More photos on the listing)
View attachment 472416

I'm with Pattye. Contact Lang Antiques, or even Mikimoto America. It's quite an unusual piece. I'm thinking more in the $5 to $10 thou range, since it's so unusual.

Thank you to everyone for sharing knowledge. It looks like it is strung on a very thin filament. I will to post close-up photos. And thanks for the tip about contacting Lang Antiques and Mikimoto America. These seem so special. From the moment I pulled them out of the chaos of a bag of donated costume jewelry I could tell they were unique. And the pearls seemed to glow they were so pretty.

 

[Pella]

Thank you for the extra photos Square. As a beader I find it interesting how these things are done.

Please keep us posted on the outcome of your enquiries and good luck with it.