American Pearl vs. Mikimoto
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“Browse at Mikimoto, buy at American Pearl” is excellent advice!
Mikimoto Company has been in the business of cultured pearl production since the early
1900s. Their grading system and quality of pearls have been a hallmark of distinction
among those in the pearl business. However, with the name Mikimoto on their box, these
pearls come with a high price tag. The customer willing to pay for the Mikimoto markup
wants to be sure the pearls they acquire are of the highest quality.
But what if you, the consumer, care more about the quality of your pearls than the
quantity of a brand name? What if you could find pearls of identical quality but at a
fraction of the price? You would turn to one of the oldest and most knowledgeable
wholesalers of pearls available- American Pearl. Begun by Charlie Bakhash in the 1950s,
the company is currently run by his business and computer saavy son, Eddie. Father and
son share a passion for both quality pearls and modern business sense.
American Pearl’s products, which are of the same quality as Mikimoto, can be offered to
the consumer at a fraction of Mikimoto’s price tags. This is thanks to the wholesale
business model now possible through the rise of the Internet. In a traditional ‘brick and
mortar’ retail operation, the cost of a product is marked upwards of 300 percent to
support the premises and its employees. The drastic mark ups found in a retail site like
this are not found at American Pearl! Although American Pearl has a ‘brick and mortar’
establishment in Manhattan, most of their business is conducted on line. These savings
are passed on to the consumer.
The quality of Mikimoto pearls is certainly undisputed, but American Pearl matches that
quality. First, both Mikimoto and American Pearl buy from the exact same pearl farms.
In fact there are several pearl farms that used to do business with Mikimoto but now sell
to American Pearl instead. Further, American Pearl is the supplier for many of the finest
retail stores in the country! Having cut out the middlemen, who add their own charges
and markups as the product passes through their hands, American Pearl can offer truly
wholesale prices for the highest quality product.
The quality of a pearl is subjective, and as they are naturally formed within a living
animal their appearance varies considerably. There are many standards used for grading
pearls, but Mikimoto’s grading standard is often seen as the best. American Pearl uses
this exact same system- so any AAA quality pearl you see at Mikimoto will be the same
at American Pearl- but for far less.
The prices are lower, the quality is the same! An educated and wise consumer will have
no problem deciding on the wisest course of action, to browse at Mikimoto but buy at
American Pearl. Many customers have written in testimonials attesting to this fact.
A satisfied customer from Seattle raves “I took the pearls to one of Seattle’s oldest
jewelry stores and asked what it would cost me to replace the strands with Mikimoto.
Under a bright light and careful scrutiny of a Mikimoto dealer, I was told at least three
times what I paid.” Another says “Perhaps the best aspect of this experience was the price – getting a good deal, rather than paying the exorbitant Mikimoto and Tiffany prices for
pearls of similar, but inferior, quality.”
Now that you the consumer know that the only difference between Mikimoto and
American Pearl is the markup of the name brand, it is time to start thinking about the
specifics of your pearl purchase!
The most classic pearl necklace is a 16 inch white colored strand of Japanese Akoya
pearls, 7.5 X 8mm in diameter. This type of necklace is perfect for almost any occasion.
However, for those concerned with tradition or for those who are seeking some basic
guidelines for their pearl shopping, there are other aspects to consider. These aspects can
include the type of pearl, the color, and the roundness of each individual pearl. But the
best place to begin a pearl buying adventure is to consider what diameter of pearl may be
appropriate for your occasion.
For young teens, 12 to 16 years old, the petite 5.5 X 6mm diameter is always appropriate.
These pearls will never overwhelm a delicate neck or ear, and make perfect gifts for
Confirmations, Bat Mitzvahs, and Sweet Sixteens. However these can also be the perfect
size for a petite woman, or for the woman who loves the look of pearls, but wants to
make a subtle statement.
High school or college graduation often calls for a classic gift from a proud family. Any
young woman will remember her family’s pride in her accomplishments for years to
come with pearls 6 X 6.5 mm. But for her first day on a new job 7 X 7.5 mm pearls,
either set on a necklace and bracelet, perhaps with matching earrings, will advertise her
ability to make a mark. 7 X 7.5 mm is also an excellent size for a number of different
occasions: Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or even a baby shower. This is also an
excellent gift for a groom to give his bride on the day of their wedding!
7.5 X 8mm diameter pearls are often for women ages 30 and up. Necklaces, bracelets,
and earrings in this size are excellent for every occasion. This necklace can be dressed up
or dressed down, and will always suggest an upwardly mobile sophisticate. A necklace of
this size pearl also makes a perfect “push present” to celebrate a birth.
Ages 35 and up are suited to the 8 X 8.5 mm pearl. Pearls of this size are rare. In fact,
they take more than twice as long to grow which also makes them harder to farm.
However, this is the most affordable of the second tier price range, so for a customer
wanting to make a statement of success, this is an ideal size. A necklace of this size pearl
is at home both in the boardroom and at a black tie event. This is also an excellent entrylevel size for those looking to begin investing in pearls that will appreciate in value.
Jackie Onassis wore 8.5 X 9mm pearls; this is a size ideal for a woman in her late 30s and
40s, or for the powerfully successful early 30s. As one of the more rare sizes of pearls,
these advertise power and elegance, breeding and strength. For the regal woman who will not settle for anything but the very best, the 9 X 9.5 mm
size of pearl says she has arrived. However the 9.5 X 10mm tops the list of the most
majestic size of pearl. Either of these sizes says, with decorum and elegance, that the
woman who wears them is not to be underestimated. They are fit to receive a king, to
head the table at a Fortune 500 company, and to attend an opening night at the opera.
However, these are general guidelines, and should not be considered rules: fall in love
with any size that speaks to you. Nothing is right or wrong when it comes to pearls. They
are classic no matter what their size. Further they are chic accessories that were hailed by
Allure magazine as one of the hotter trends among the young starlets in Hollywood. You
can never go wrong with pearls of any size, shape, or color!
 |
|
