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Impossibly Rare Akoya “Twin Pearl” Necklace, 16" 18k Gold 1950s
$9,400
£7,105.31
€8,150.09
CA$13,103.99
A$14,264.76
CHF 7,571.74
MX$171,635.75
NOK 95,944.24
SEK 87,912.04
DKK 60,864.37
About the Item
An extraordinary offering for the serious pearl collector or Akoya connoisseur: this midcentury (circa 1950s) 16" necklace is composed entirely of exceedingly rare twin Akoya pearls—a natural accident of cultivation so uncommon, many lifelong collectors have never encountered a complete strand, let alone one of this length and quality.
Each of the 64 twin pearls in this necklace was formed when two nuclei were accidentally implanted side by side in the same Pinctada fucata oyster. Rather than rejecting one, the oyster coated both in nacre simultaneously, resulting in a bonded pair—twins. This phenomenon occurs so rarely in Akoya cultivation that it’s estimated fewer than 1 in 10,000 cultured Akoya pearls are twins. For context, conch pearls—the rarest naturally occurring pearls—are found in approximately 1 in 10,000 conch shells. Twin Akoyas are the cultivated world’s conch pearl: a freak of nature, made only more precious by the sea’s hand.
These are not the freshwater twin pearls occasionally found in lower-end jewelry; these are Akoya twins, also known in the trade as “Akoya Twins.” They are exclusively saltwater, and this necklace is a museum-worthy survivor from an era when Mikimoto still experimented with unconventional cultivation. Mikimoto no longer produces Akoya pearls in sizes over 10mm or in necklaces over 16", and certainly not from twin pearls.
The nacre on each twin is spectacularly thick, giving the pearls an arresting orient—a spectral iridescence beneath the surface—that modern Akoya pearls rarely, if ever, display. This orient is a hallmark of early cultured and natural, non-nucleated pearls from the turn of the previous century. Simply put: it is a visual echo of pearls long past and never to be made again.
The strand has been professionally restrung and fitted with a new, high-quality 18k yellow gold clasp crafted in Japan, in homage to the necklace’s origins. The original clasp, also 18k, was damaged beyond repair and has been preserved for provenance.
Weighing a substantial 70 grams, this 16" strand is not only rare—it is luxurious in feel and presence. Its luster is soft but radiant, its orient unmistakable, and its story unparalleled.
The price for this strand reflects both rarity and market value for exceptional, collector-grade vintage Akoya. Comparable modern strands from Mikimoto of lesser rarity and without orient often list between $5,000–$7,000, and no full twin Akoya strand of this quality is currently available anywhere on the market.)
- Metal:
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- Weight:70 g
- Dimensions:Length: 16 in (406.4 mm)
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:Replacements made: Restrung on German silk with a replacement clasp.
- Seller Location:Northampton, MA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1589126837392
About the Seller
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