Mikimoto unveils new high jewellery collection
Mikimoto’s new jewellery collection nods to the passing of the seasons
Inspired by the alluring scenery of Japan, Mikimoto translates the changing of the country’s seasons into a new collection of high jewellery pieces. More than a century after the company’s founder created the world’s first cultured pearl, in 1893, Mikimoto’s emphasis on exquisite craftsmanship intertwined with modern design continues.
The new collection ‘blossoms’ in a short film starring Japanese supermodel Ai Tominaga.
Beginning in the spring, a nod to Japan’s ukiyo-e art movement is brought to life through a brooch that expresses the energy of a waterfall running rapidly with melting snow. The refined column of water and the luminous green of the pine trees capture the ephemeral beauty of Japan’s floral season.
A play on the intricacies of nature and its patterns runs throughout the collection, reflected in the akoya cultured pearl necklace and earrings framing a stylised wave pattern. The mystical glow of opals evokes sensuality and adds a layer of rich texture to the high jewellery.
An acceptance and appreciation of natural beauty runs throughout the collection, says general manager of the merchandise development department, Mr Haga. ‘As a jewellery brand founded in Japan, we created these pieces in pursuit of expressing this essence of the Japanese sense of beauty. Capitalising on this idea is the fan brooch – assembled with three motifs: a fan, the moon, and the Japanese bush clover.’
With its sculptural forms, the collection nods to both historic methods of high jewellery and a contemporary vision. Mikimoto designers, for example, traditionally draw with ink and fine-point brushes, because, says Haga, ‘ink does not deteriorate for a long period of time, and using fine-point brushes allows the designers to express intricate details’.
It’s a process referenced in a necklace and earrings from the new collection, inspired by the bokashi blurring technique in ink painting. At the same time, the company embraces computer-aided design to fully explore the potential of pearls. Here, the approach makes for a timeless take on Japanese beauty.
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