Mikimoto Pearl Course - 1Earth Jewelry, Gemstone & Appraisals Magazine

Mikimoto Establishes First Scholarship for GIA's Pearl Program Longtime GIA benefactor and cultured-pearl pioneer Mikimoto (America) Co., Ltd. has continued its philanthropic tradition with another financial donation – this time $120,000 to establish the Mikimoto Pearls Course Scholarship, a first at GIA. In recognition of the gift, Mitsuhiro Mitsui, president of Mikimoto (America) Co., Ltd., will be inducted into the League of Honor at GIA’s annual dinner on Sept. 19 in New York. The program will provide 10 scholarships to Distance Education students each year, beginning in 2006. Mitsui said he was honored to establish this first-ever pearls scholarship to make the GIA course available to more people, especially retail sales associates. “We value GIA as the industry leader in education,” Mitsui said. “Mikimoto is always expanding its training in the quality of pearls, so we look to GIA for teaching what we value the most – quality.”
The Pearls course covers GIA’s 7 Pearl Value Factors™ (size, shape, color, luster, surface quality, nacre quality, and matching) among other key topics – all of which help set industry guidelines, said Robert Artelt, senior vice president of Retail and Marketing for Mikimoto (America) Co., Ltd.	Mikimoto (America) Co., Ltd. President Mitsuhiro Mitsui (left) shakes hands with GIA President William E. Boyajian at the company’s New York headquarters. Photo by Elizabeth Schrader.
“We feel these standards can, and will, work to improve all cultured pearl jewelry, both in production and design, and that it will benefit consumers worldwide,” Artelt said. “Mikimoto has been a leading force in establishing pearl quality standards, and we look forward to working with GIA to expand these standards for our industry.” Mikimoto founder Kokichi Mikimoto produced a semi-spherical cultured pearl in 1893, the first ever known to be grown by man. He continued his research, eventually culturing round pearls and receiving a patent in 1905. Today, Mikimoto produces a large variety of cultured pearl products and operates retail establishments worldwide. GIA and Mikimoto also have a history of working together to resolve industry issues. During the 1990s, researchers from both organizations studied unusually large (10+ mm), near-spherical, freshwater cultured pearls from China that were causing many to question their nucleation process. The joint investigation concluded, however, that they had been created through traditional tissue nucleation. “Mikimoto’s longstanding dedication to the Institute and to the quality assurance of cultured pearls aptly culminates in their new Pearls course scholarship opportunity,” said GIA President William E. Boyajian. “By supporting GIA’s efforts to teach many more in the industry about cultured and natural pearls, Mikimoto is helping us uphold our public service mission.” Mikimoto previously gave GIA $500,000 to help build the Institute’s world headquarters in Carlsbad. The Mikimoto Rotunda was named in its honor. The application process for the Mikimoto Pearls Course Scholarship runs from June 15 to Oct. 15 for the 2006 school year. Contact GIA Student Loan Collections Coordinator Bruce Honer for more information.