Pearl Island, Japan

The Mikimoto Pearl Island is an excellent museum about pearls, pearl cultivation and Mikimoto Kokichi, the first person who succeeded in cultivating pearls. The island is located in the Bay of Toba, accessible via a bridge.

Mikimoto Kokichi was born in Toba in 1858 and became the first person to successfully cultivate pearls in the year 1893. He opened the first Mikimoto Pearl Store in 1899. The Mikimoto Kokichi Memorial Hall introduces his life story.

Also located on the island, the Pearl Museum provides detailed explanations about pearls and the cultivation of pearls in Japanese and English. In the adjacent Pearl Plaza you can view and purchase a wide variety of pearl jewelry.

The Mikimoto Pearl Island also offers hourly performances by female pearl divers, known as Ama (lit. "sea women"), who have traditionally been planting and harvesting the oysters (and other seafood).

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Ne-Opening After Inventory Update!

We at NY City Jewelry have just re-opened after inventory updates! They are offering you beautiful AA+ and AAA quality pearls for amazingly low prices. The price advantage is brought to us by our buyer/supplier who is an American Jeweler with pearl farms in China. Each of the pearl items, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and sets, are carefully inspected and quality classed to pass the Gemological Institute of America's rigid standards. NY City Jewelry guarantees their pearls to be as described. Although it is August now...Christmas will be here before one realizes. Our motto is: Give her pearls for Christmas, give her pearls for her Birthday, Give her pearls for your Anniversary or just give her pearls!

Among the offerings are Freshwater pearls of magnificent quality ranging from fun shapes and colors to the ultimate in quality. Freshwater pearls are the most versatile of all pearl varieties. Freshwater pearls come in a variety of natural colors, are affordable yet beautiful and versatile.

Of course they also offer Saltwater Akoya Pearls first cultured by Kokichi Mikimoto of Japan. Still the world’s most popular pearl. Their prices will give you joy and allow her to wear the finest!

Also offered are Tahitian and South Sea pearls..the epitome of the pearl world. Go take a look NY City Jewelry While you are there follow the link to our Consulting Jeweler Edward L. Chavez, GIA's site and see some inspired Native American original designs.

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Cultured Pearl Smarts

A pearls' lustre is very important. AA+ pearls glow with an iridescence, and are neither dull or chalky. The surface of each pearl should have an absence of pitting or bumps (called scaring). If you are buying a strand of cultured pearls make sure that they are strung on silk thread and are knotted between each pearl. If your pearls are knotted and the strand breaks all of your pearls will not slide off the silk string and scatter to the far corners of the room. Many people do not realize that the knots serve another purpose. They keep the pearls from rubbing against each other causing blemishes. The better matched the pearls are the higher quality the strand. If they are graduated pearls check to see if they are well graduated. Fine pearls, well taken care of, will last for generations.

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