Maiko Makito | Co-owner and Managing Director of Pearl FALCO
Born and raised in Ise Shima, Japan, the birthplace of cultured pearls and the origin of world-renowned female pearl divers, Maiko Makito is the Co-Owner of the family’s Japan-based luxury pearl jewellery business, originally founded in 1985. A dynamic personality with aspirations to play a significant role in the pearl industry, Maiko’s overall responsibilities include management, growth and development of Pearl FALCO Corporation, based in Mie Prefecture, Ise Shima Japan, as well as its Singapore subsidiary.
Prior to Pearl FALCO, Maiko majored in Economics at Keio University in Japan. In 1999, Maiko began her career in the sales and marketing department at NEC Corporation in Japan where she quickly rose through the ranks in various management positions before becoming the Business Manager of IT Telephone Systems of NEC Asia Pacific in Singapore.
Career Journey and Background
Maiko first took the helm of Pearl FALCO in 2016 and has since expanded the brand’s footprint into South East Asia with the opening of a new Singapore Gallery in 2019. The company has since attracted a devoted clientele and industry accolades from around the world, acknowledging Maiko’s vision to create timeless works of art that enhance people’s beauty. Her fervent passion and devotion to Pearl FALCO’s success is what pushes Maiko’s can-do attitude and has led to year after year growth since 2019. Maiko is intent on sharing her appreciation of luxury pearl jewelry in Singapore and beyond, timeless multi-generational gifts of love, ranging in price from S$300 to S$10,000.
Embodying her brand, Maiko’s vision for Pearl FALCO is to pass her knowledge of pearl jewelry on to future generations while sharing the story of her hometown, Ise Shima Japan, to the world. In 2018, Maiko established the 1st Annual Akoya Pearl Jewellery Grand Prix in Ise Shima. In its third year in 2020, the competition has grown substantially, with multiple entries from students, graduates and professionals from 10 different countries, presented in an exhibition in Singapore for the very first time.
Vision for Pearl FALCO
Also very close to Maiko’s heart, Maiko devotes herself to causes around the world. In 2018, Maiko launched a charity fund – The Pearl of Hope Project – in an effort to grant educational scholarships to underserved children throughout Asia.
In 2024, she initiated The Pearl Legcy Project with a filmmaker to share a behind-the-scenes look at pearl farming, showcasing the artistry and dedication involved. This makes the process more understandable and relatable to a wider audience.
For Maiko, Pearl FALCO is so much more than a luxury pearl jewelry business. Through the sale of luxury pearl jewelry, Maiko strives to change lives, whether through tuition assistance, design impetus to the next generation of new designers, or to celebrate intricately designed pearl jewellery with her clients, complementing their strength and beauty, beautiful timeless works of art that her clientele can share with family members today, and for those they have have yet to meet.
