Mikimoto’s new high jewellery collection has everything a jewellery lover could wish for – exquisite pearls and diamonds, vibrant, colour-drenched gemstones and superb craftsmanship. But that’s not all. The Bows collection reintroduces jewellery connoisseurs to the Maison’s beloved design motif, the ribbon, making us fall in love with it all over again.
The Bows Collection
Aptly named, The Bows collection was unveiled earlier this summer at the Hôtel d’Evreux in Paris’ Place Vendôme during Haute Couture Week. The collection is Mikimoto’s spectacular tour de force and showcases the versatility of jewellery, blurring the lines between haute couture and haute joaillerie.
Every piece is a study in lustre, an ode to the perfection of pearls. Exceptionally fine Akoya pearls feature prominently in this collection. Set with diamonds, the pearls reveal their iridescent beauty as they take on different interpretations of the iconic ribbon motif.
But the collection is also a joyful symphony of colour and sparkle. The brand has never shied from colour and The Bows collection gives us bright and limpid daubs of it.
The Bows Collection: Stand-out Pieces
While the entire high jewellery collection is spectacle of exquisite gems, design and craftsmanship, there are a few pieces that are true showstoppers.
The necklace has been designed as a bow, with a gleaming, hand-woven mesh of white Akoya pearls held at the knot by a mesmerizing mint-green tourmaline. Diamond accents add an ethereal glitter to the piece while the diamond-briolette fringe at the edge of the lace-like pearl ribbons is an elegant finish to the headline piece of the collection.
Inspired by the Rococo style, this necklace is designed to convey a feeling of airiness, with the ribbons and bows motif repeated throughout the piece in perfectly measured graduation. The open-work design of the necklace allows us to appreciate the skilled craftsmanship that has gone into making this piece. Larger white South Sea pearls are set beside white Akoyas. Their lustre, colour and overtones match perfectly, an awe-inspiring triumph, given these are two different types of cultured pearls. Gems in pastel colours allow light to pass through them, once again reinforcing the delicate “airiness” of the piece.
Mikimoto never ceases to amaze! The edgy design of this dress jewellery is in striking contrast to the elegant and classic design aesthetic Mikimoto is known for. But this piece is a true head turner and calling it a necklace would be shortchanging it. A pearl and diamond haute couture shrug, the piece features two large sculpted, 18k white gold and diamond bows, resting on either side of the neck, held together by iridescent ropes and swathes of white Akoya pearls that seamlessly melt into diamonds. An avante garde piece, this jewelled body adornment elevates the central motif of the collection in an altogether unexpected way.
Inspired by one of Mikimoto’s archives, this necklace places a deeply saturated cabochon-cut Tanzanite at the centre of a billowing ribbon of 18k white gold and diamonds which is finished with a graceful fringe of sapphires. The ribbon motif detaches and can be worn as a brooch, giving this piece delightful versatility. As most jewellery lovers would have noticed, this is the year of the Tanzanites and the gorgeously glowing Tanzanite set in this necklace shows us just why!
The Ribbon – A Brand Motif Evolves
Very often, high jewellery Maisons bring back a beloved design motif and present it in new, exciting and unique ways. This is the case with Mikimoto’s ribbon motif.
Ribbons have featured prominently in many Mikimoto pieces. For instance, many vintage Mikimoto floral brooches are accented with delicate festoons of ribbons. More recently, the brand’s Jeux de Rubans collection centred on the ribbons motif, with gold bows embellishing pearl jewellery pieces. The Bows collection sees a contemporary evolution of this popular and beloved, legacy design motif.
The appeal of the motif is universal but its symbolism is of a more personal nature. For some, it is a reminder of the happy and carefree days of childhood, for others it embodies style and sophistication. It evokes the thrill of unwrapping a gift or the satisfaction of perfecting a polished, formal look.
The ribbon is a ubiquitous symbol and Mikimoto has made it their own. As a design motif, it has positive emotional connotations. For jewellery lovers and consumers alike, ribbons and bows will now have a strong association with the Mikimoto brand. This will not only help Mikimoto with brand recognition but also, and more importantly, with strong brand recall.
Mikimoto’s The Bows Collection
The Bows collection is another wonderful addition to Mikimoto’s high jewellery repertoire. The iconic ribbon motif is masterfully presented in exquisite jewellery pieces. The collection is as much a walk down memory lane as it is a sparkling pageant firmly rooted in today.
