In 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto succeeded in producing the world's first cultured pearl. Since that day, MIKIMOTO continues to make history, creating its own distinctive style. MIKIMOTO has developed the highest standards of quality and consistency by devoting more than a century to understanding the sea and researching the oyster. Only the top 5% of the pearl harvest meets the strict quality standards of MIKIMOTO. A proprietary pearl grading system measures the quality of each MIKIMOTO pearl. This unique grading system provides the standard of excellence that distinguishes MIKIMOTO pearls from all others.