Mikimoto Crown
| Mikimoto Phoenix Crown | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Details | |
| Made | 2002 (current version) |
| Owner | Miss Universe Organization |
| Weight | 1.06 kg (2.3 lb) |
| Arches | Two |
| Material | Yellow gold White gold |
| Notable stones |
Diamonds South Sea pearls Natural Akoya pearls |
The Phoenix Mikimoto Crown, (Kanji: 御木本不死鳥王冠) also informally known as Mikimoto Crown is a pageant crown worn by Miss Universe titleholders from 2002 to 2007. The crown was made by the Mikimoto Pearl company in Toba, Mie Prefecture, Japan and is one of the most elusive crowns used by the Miss Universe Organization, which was preceded by a modernised variant design of the traditional Lady Crown used since the 1970s. Among beauty pageant connoisseurs, the crown is highly reputed as one of the most iconic crowns sought by beauty queen titleholders.
The elusive crown was designed by Japanese artisan Tomohiro Yamaji in 2000 and was created out of the sponsorship of the Mikimoto Pearl company in 2002 for the commemorative 50th year anniversary and as the official jewel sponsor of the Miss Universe Organization. It accompanied a similar diadem which was given to the winner after her reign. It was first unveiled at the Fifth Avenue Mikimoto store in New York City and was first officially worn by a title holder at the Intercontinental Hotel located in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 25 May 2002 by former Miss Universe Organization owner Mr. Donald Trump and former brand president, Mr. Toyohiko Miyamoto.
The Mikimoto crown is made of both yellow and white gold, measuring from three millimeters to 18 milimeters. It has a traditional Asian design ascribed to the seven auspicious feathers of a Fenghuang phoenix, a design derived from traditional Japanese Buddhist iconography. The crown is adorned with diamonds totalling to 18 carats, with both 120 naturally white South Sea and Akoya pearls obtained in Japan giving a grand total weight of 29.7 carats. Due to its delicate nature, a security detail was attached to the crown wherever it traveled, along with an insured value of $250,000 USD for its threat against loss or damage.
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