Mikimoto Akoya Pearl Strand review: worth it or skip?

What the Mikimoto Akoya Pearl Strand does well

The headline: akoya pearl strand. The details: Metal: 18k gold clasp; Stones: Akoya pearls; Size: 45 cm; Closure: Clasp. In our list it is the pick for: the pearl strand. It usually sells for $4,000–$12,000 in the US.

The original cultured pearls.

The trade-offs

Good: superb pearls, timeless. Not so good: pricey. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want modern.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Tiffany & Co. Lock Pendant ($4,000–$9,000): lock pendant. Better if you want a modern Tiffany.

Instead, consider the Bulgari Divas’ Dream Pendant ($4,000–$8,000): fan pendant. Better if you want Roman motif.

Instead, consider the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant Malachite ($3,600–$4,900): malachite pendant. Better if you want colour.

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.