The entrepreneur tweaked his technique specifically to create round pearls. His pearl empire drew the attention of American inventor Thomas Edison, who called his discovery “one of the wonders of the world”. At a 1927 meeting, Edison told Mikimoto, “This isn’t a cultured pearl; it’s a real pearl. It is something which is supposed to be biologically impossible.”

From there, Mikimoto declared his dream was to “adorn the necks of all women around the world with pearls”, and his discovery inched the world closer to that reality. No longer reserved for royalty, strings of pearls became popular symbols of Roaring Twenties decadence, as art nouveau and art deco styles thrived.

As Japanese cultured pearls hit the international market, they were integrated into more affordable costume jewellery designs, though purists were sceptical and natural pearls continued to be prized above others. Multi-strand pearl layering became the norm in the 1920s and Thirties; designer Coco Chanel was rarely seen without several pearl necklaces, a preference which would become a quintessential part of her eponymous brand’s identity.

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Although pearls fell out of fashion for a time, they returned with a vengeance in the 1950s. Stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy made single-strand necklaces synonymous with sophistication. Pearls would return to the realm of royalty in the 1980s thanks to Princess Diana, who popularised multi-strand pearl chokers again as she bore the weight of the Lover’s Knot Tiara, her iconic pearl and diamond tiara, created in 1913, which the Duchess of Cambridge continues to wear.

Gone are the days of stuffy aristocratic connotations, as designers continue to chart bold new territory. As the likes of Sonia Rykiel and Alexander McQueen have popularised baroque pearls, others such as Phillip Lim have given pearls a punk makeover in the past. Experimental designers like Y/Project have turned them into gigantic hoop earrings, while pearls have remained front and centre at Chanel shows.

Over the past couple of years, pearls have entered the realm of menswear, with Mikimoto launching a gender-neutral line with Commes des Garçons, and Harry Styles’ pearl necklaces dominating headlines, inspiring dancing teenage boys on TikTok to follow suit. Brands such as Eliou and Timeless Pearly have transformed pearls into playful everyday pieces, stringing them with everything from charming messages to rainbow beads. Although pearls are more prone to wear and tear than diamonds, stars including Emma Stone and Ariana Grande have recently flashed beautiful engagement rings featuring stunning pearls, ushering a new wave of interest in unconventional pearl pieces.

See also: The Most Expensive Watches And Jewellery Sold At Auctions Through The Years