The Sun & Cloud necklace uses a three-color graduation to mimic the day as it passes from darkness to light. Photo: Mikimoto America.

 
BY JORDAN CLARY

Mikimoto dazzled attendees at Baselworld 2014 with several resplendent collections combining gemstones and pearls in new imaginative ways. The Sonnet collection uses pink opal and pink gold rondelles to accent, without overpowering, the white akoyas and South Sea pearls. The Florence collection includes a removable hand-carved cameo. An exquisite piece, the Sun & Clouds jewels, relies on a recent trend of color graduation to create a three-toned strand of perfectly blended pearls that flow from gray to white to gold. Yellow diamonds are placed by each pearl to represent the sun and a diamond-encrusted clasp works as a fastener. Morganites, aquamarines and star sapphires among other gems also made their appearance in various pieces. More baroque pearls, which are growing in popularity, were more apparent than in previous years.

—April 2, 2014