Tonight we're attending the opening of the V&A's Pearl Exhibition.
In association with the Qatar Museum's Authority, Mikimoto has lent a number of key pieces for display.
The exhibition explores the history of pearls from the early Roman Empire to the present day. This includes the introduction of the cultured pearl, which significantly changed the pearl industry ensuring that Kokichi Mikimoto's dream "to adorn the necks of all the women of the world with pearls" became a reality.
On display is a selection of early pieces from Mikimoto Pearl Island Museum in Japan featuring the Japanese Akoya pearl. These include ornate sash clips used to secure the sash belt of a kimono and a single strand of 39 cultivated Akoya pearls belonging to Marilyn Monroe.
