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Review Fine jewelry necklaces

Mikimoto Golden South Sea Strand review: worth it or skip?

Buy8.5/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you want rare pearls. Why: south Sea pearl strand. The catch: very pricey.

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Mikimoto Golden South Sea Strand

Our verdict on the Mikimoto Golden South Sea Strand

Buy it if
you want rare pearls.
Skip it if
you want value.
Best for
Golden pearls
Key feature
South Sea pearl strand
Typical price
$20,000–$45,000
Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

Metal18k gold clasp
StonesSouth Sea pearls
Size45 cm
ClosureClasp

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

  • you want rare pearls
  • value rare
  • can spend around $20,000–$45,000

Skip it if you

  • you want value
  • mind this: very pricey

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Rare
  • Superb

Cons

  • Very pricey

The verdict in one breath

The Mikimoto Golden South Sea Strand is a fine jewelry necklace we would point most people to. What earns it the buy: south Sea pearl strand. In our list it is the pick for: golden pearls.

Reasons to buy

  • Rare
  • Superb

Reasons to skip

  • Very pricey

The details that matter

  • Metal: 18k gold clasp
  • Stones: South Sea pearls
  • Size: 45 cm
  • Closure: Clasp

Worth knowing

Heirloom.

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you want rare pearls. Skip it if you want value; the Tiffany & Co. HardWear Graduated Necklace is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best fine jewelry necklaces.

Alternatives worth considering

Tiffany & Co. HardWear Graduated Necklace

Tiffany & Co. · Fine jewelry necklaces

Tiffany & Co. HardWear Graduated Necklace

Buy it if you want bold.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Bold links
Typical price
$12,000–$18,000

Pros

  • Bold

Cons

  • Heavy
Bulgari Serpenti Viper Necklace

Bulgari · Fine jewelry necklaces

Bulgari Serpenti Viper Necklace

Buy it if you want Bulgari.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Serpent
Typical price
$8,000–$16,000

Pros

  • Distinctive

Cons

  • Pricey

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Mikimoto Golden South Sea Strand?

Buy it, if you want rare pearls. Why: south Sea pearl strand. The catch: very pricey.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want value. The Tiffany & Co. HardWear Graduated Necklace is the better buy then.

What does the Mikimoto Golden South Sea Strand cost?

Usually $20,000–$45,000 in the US. Luxury houses raise prices often, so check the current price before you buy.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

Mikimoto Golden South Sea Strand: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Mikimoto Golden South Sea Strand worth the money? Short answer: buy it, if you want rare pearls. This review explains what this Mikimoto piece gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs and which fine jewelry necklace to buy instead if it is not right for you.

What the Mikimoto Golden South Sea Strand does well

The headline: south Sea pearl strand. The details: Metal: 18k gold clasp; Stones: South Sea pearls; Size: 45 cm; Closure: Clasp. In our list it is the pick for: golden pearls. It usually sells for $20,000–$45,000 in the US.

Heirloom.

The trade-offs

Good: rare, superb. Not so good: very pricey. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want value.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Tiffany & Co. HardWear Graduated Necklace ($12,000–$18,000): graduated gold links. Better if you want bold.

Instead, consider the Bulgari Serpenti Viper Necklace ($8,000–$16,000): viper necklace. Better if you want Bulgari.

Instead, consider the Tiffany & Co. Victoria Pendant ($6,000–$14,000): victoria cluster pendant. Better if you want diamonds.

Before you buy

Chain length: 40–45 cm sits at the collarbone; layering needs 5 cm steps. Clasp: a lobster clasp is more secure than a spring ring for daily wear. Diamonds: ask for the grading report (GIA or similar) for any stone over about 0.3 carats.

Buyer tip

A small motif pendant in 18k gold is the most worn piece of fine jewelry; buy that before a statement necklace.

Buying in Europe: gold jewelry in the EU and UK is often hallmarked (750 for 18k gold). Ask for the hallmark and, for any diamond over about 0.3 carats, a grading report from GIA, HRD or IGI.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.