Mikimoto’s newest collection is a ballet on the seasons

The Retail Jeweller World discovers the Japanese jeweller’s craftsmanship, replete with the transparent flow of all things beautiful

Mikimoto, a famous jewellery brand in Japan, has launched its new collection, ‘Blossoms’, taking a cue from the floral beauty that percolates through the nation at the helm of summer.

Mikimoto adapts the shifting of the seasons in Japan into a new line of high jewellery items, which are inspired by the country’s appealing nature. Mikimoto’s emphasis on fine craftsmanship mixed with modern design continues more than a century after the company’s founder created the world’s first cultured pearl in 1893.The new collection ‘blossoms’ in a short film starring Japanese supermodel Ai Tominaga.

Beginning in the spring, a brooch that portrays the vitality of a waterfall running fast with melting snow pays homage to Japan’s ukiyo-e art movement. The transitory beauty of Japan’s blooming season is captured by the elegant column of water and the dazzling green of the pine trees.

The akoya cultured pearl necklace and earrings framing a stylized wave design reflect the collection’s play on the complexity of nature and its patterns. Opals are known for their magical light, which invokes sensuality and adds a layer of rich texture to fine jewellery.

Mr Haga, general manager of the merchandise development department, says the collection is infused with an acceptance and love of natural beauty. ‘As a Japanese jewellery brand, we developed these items in the hopes of portraying the spirit of Japanese beauty.’ The fan brooch is based on this concept, and is made up of three motifs: a fan, a moon, and a Japanese bush clover.

The collection’s sculptural forms pay homage to both traditional high-jewelry techniques and a contemporary vision. Mikimoto designers, for example, sketch using ink and fine-point brushes because ‘ink does not disintegrate for a long length of time, and utilising fine-point brushes allows the designers to express subtle details,’ according to Haga.

It’s a method inspired by the bokashi blurring technique in ink painting, and it’s referenced in a necklace and earrings from the current collection. Simultaneously, the organisation adopts computer-aided design in order to fully realise the potential of pearls. The result is a timeless interpretation of Japanese beauty.

Courtesy: Retail Jeweller World News Service