The Other M in Pearls

At The Pearl Girls, we don’t just design and sell new pearl jewelry—we also love bringing old treasures back to life through pearl repair and restringing. Every so often, a piece of jewelry crosses our workbench that sparks curiosity and teaches us something new.

Recently, one of those pieces was a bracelet featuring a small charm stamped with the letter M. Naturally, our first thought was Mikimoto, the world-famous Japanese pearl jeweler known for their cultured pearls. They love adding M charms to their newest pieces. But when we examined the bracelet, the pearls weren’t cultured at all—they were imitation.

That discovery led us down a fascinating path. If these weren’t Mikimoto pearls, what did that “M” really stand for?

Mikimoto: The Legendary M

For many jewelry lovers, the letter “M” immediately brings to mind Mikimoto. Founded in Japan in the late 1800s, Mikimoto was the pioneer of cultured pearls, creating timeless jewelry pieces that are still revered worldwide. Each authentic Mikimoto piece is crafted with precision and is often marked with their signature “M” clasp or charm.

So when you see a piece stamped with an M, it’s easy to assume you’ve uncovered a little piece of pearl history. But not all M’s are the same.

Majorca: The Other M

The M we spotted on that imitation bracelet turned out to belong to Majorca (often branded as Majorica), a line of high-quality imitation pearls from the island of Mallorca, Spain.

Since 1890, Majorica has specialized in creating man-made pearls using a  glass bead core coated with an organic substance designed to mimic the look of real pearls. The result is lustrous and convincing, making Majorica jewelry a popular keepsake for travelers to Spain and beyond.

Majorca pearls aren’t cultured—they’re imitation—but they’re beloved in their own right for their beauty and durability.

Why the Confusion?

Both Mikimoto and Majorca start with M. Both use an “M” charm. And both are well-established names in the world of pearls. The difference is that Mikimoto represents the birth of cultured pearls, while Majorca represents the art of imitation pearls.

So when you see that little M, the key is to look closer. Are the pearls themselves natural or cultured, or are they imitation? That will help you uncover which “M” you’re really dealing with.

Final Thoughts

At The Pearl Girls, we love uncovering the stories behind the jewelry that comes our way. Whether it’s the timeless prestige of Mikimoto or the travel-inspired charm of Majorca, both “M’s” remind us how pearls—real or imitation—carry history, beauty, and meaning.

And if you’re ever unsure about the origin of your pearls, we’re always here to help you solve the mystery. After all, every piece of jewelry has a story—and sometimes, the story starts with just one letter.

Our staff did an amazing job restoring this bracelet back to a wearable piece of art!

Love,

India

Founder of ThePearlGirls.com