Pearl News

Chinese pearls hit Hyderabad's trade

2010-09-28T02:01:00.000-07:00

September 27, 2010 10:59 IST Hyderabad may still be the 'City of Pearls', but it is increasingly pearls from China that are dominating the city's trade in pearls.

Pearls from Japan [ Images ], Australia [ Images ], Indonesia, Burma, Venezuela and Tahiti are also coming into the market. Chinese pearls are more affordable and have taken the business away from big players and to the smaller retailers.
"But there is nothing Hyderabadi about these pearls," says Satish Agarwal, managing director of Kundan Jewellers. The result: volume of trade, which had touched 120 tonne a year, is now down to 70-80 tonne.
"Similar pearls are available elsewhere at the same price," rues Agarwal. No wonder many like Agarwal have shifted to the business of gold and diamond jewellery.
Hyderabad's pearl legacy is as old as the city itself. The nizams, who ruled the city, were great patrons of the gem. This encouraged merchants to get the best pearls from Basra, Tahiti and some Gulf countries. The trade flourished, despite the absence of a river or a sea for pearl farming.
With plenty of skilled labour, drilling, assorting, threading and processing formed the bulk of the business. Besides Hyderabad, a few villages such as Chandampet in Medak district were exclusively dedicated to pearl drilling. Today most of them have moved to agriculture.
The decline in tourists, a result of the political disturbance in the state and the economic slowdown, have also hit the pearl business, worth Rs 500-700 crore (Rs 5-7 billion) a year. "Tourists contribute about 40 per cent of sales," says Naresh Agarwal, managing director, Mangatrai Pearls.
But the story is not over for the Hyderabadi pearl. Retailers, who are rejoicing in the small-value, big-volumes game, say, "The demand from domestic customers is good." With gold prices touching the sky, the pearl floats on hope.

Source: http://business.rediff.com/

Akoya and South Sea Pearls: 'Inaugural Party-goers Sport 'Accessible Chic' With Classic White Pearls,' Says PearlParadise.com Retailer

2009-01-23T19:08:00.000-08:00

Source: http://www.prweb.com

"Classic white Akoya and South Sea Pearls made for great fashion-watching during President Obama's historic Inaugural," reported the owner of the world's largest online pearl store.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 23, 2009 -- "Classic white Akoya and South Sea Pearls made for great fashion-watching during President Obama's historic Inaugural," says Jeremy Shepherd, owner of the world's largest online pearl store.

Classic white Akoya and South Sea Pearls made for great fashion-watching during President Obama's historic Inaugural
I've had the TV on day and night just like everybody else
and it won't surprise anyone to know that I focused on the pearls so many ladies were wearing. Mrs. Obama's love of pearl necklaces obviously made an impression on the women who came to celebrate
You saw pearl jewelry at the receptions and at the swearing-in ceremony -- and of course, at the balls. And no one could ignore the pearls California Sen. Diane Feinstein wore as she presented gifts to the Obamas and the Bidens at the Inaugural luncheon. They looked like white, luminous marbles.
clearly favored the clean, classic look of white Akoya and South Sea pearls. There's a reason that well-bred, fashion-conscious women gravitate to classic white Akoya and South Sea pearls
They are quintessentially American. Beautiful, yet practical. Dress them up, dress them down. Classic white pearls are accessible chic for memorable occasions. 'Accessible chic,'
really describes what PearlParadise.com is about.
We always encourage customers to compare our pearls to those pearl necklaces sold in fancy jewelry stores because we know they'll notice the price difference.
a fun and fashionable way to introduce young ladies to the timeless beauty of pearls.
PearlParadise.com has no middlemen the way typical retail jewelry stores do
We own our own pearl farm and deal with our own suppliers directly.
"I've had the TV on day and night just like everybody else," he says, "and it won't surprise anyone to know that I focused on the pearls so many ladies were wearing. Mrs. Obama's love of pearl necklaces obviously made an impression on the women who came to celebrate," says Shepherd.

"You saw pearl jewelry at the receptions and at the swearing-in ceremony -- and of course, at the balls. And no one could ignore the pearls California Sen. Diane Feinstein wore as she presented gifts to the Obamas and the Bidens at the Inaugural luncheon. They looked like white, luminous marbles."

He noted that Sen. Feinstein -- like so many fashionable women attending the Inauguration -- "clearly favored the clean, classic look of white Akoya and South Sea pearls. There's a reason that well-bred, fashion-conscious women gravitate to classic white Akoya and South Sea pearls," he says.

"They are quintessentially American. Beautiful, yet practical. Dress them up, dress them down. Classic white pearls are accessible chic for memorable occasions. 'Accessible chic,'" he says, "really describes what PearlParadise.com is about."

Shepherd says that Pearl Paradise sells pearls 80% below the average retail price of pearls sold in upscale jewelry stores.

"We always encourage customers to compare our pearls to those pearl necklaces sold in fancy jewelry stores because we know they'll notice the price difference."

In honor of the new First Lady, who often wears classic white pearls both in single and multiple strands, Shepherd offers the following specials on classic Akoya and white South Sea pearls.

* For $240 - A 16-inch, AA+ Akoya pearl necklace with a lustrous white bodycolor with 14-karat white or yellow gold ball clasp.
* For $425 - An 18-inch AA+ double-strand white Akoya Sea Pearl necklace with 14-karat white gold or yellow gold ball clasp.
* For $920 - An 18-inch, AA white South Sea high-luster baroque pearl necklace with 14-karat white or yellow gold clasp.

In honor of Sasha and Malia Obama, Shepherd offers "a fun and fashionable way to introduce young ladies to the timeless beauty of pearls."

* For $35 - A 10-11 mm. drop-shape freshwater pearl leather necklace with a sterling silver or 14-karat white or yellow gold clasp.

How can Jeremy Shepherd afford to sell Akoya and white South Sea pearls at 80-percent off retail?

"PearlParadise.com has no middlemen the way typical retail jewelry stores do," he says. "We own our own pearl farm and deal with our own suppliers directly."

The online pearl retailer's unique business model attracts media attention. In the last three years alone, he and his discount luxury pearls have been featured in dozens of media outlets, including:

* "Fox Business News"
* "The New York Times"
* "The Los Angeles Times"

For more information about classic white Akoya and white South Sea pearls, shop online at www.pearlparadise.com or call Shepherd's Los Angeles store at (310) 474-8788.

Pearl price by December 2008

2008-12-22T17:31:00.000-08:00

Source: JCK

Akoya Pearls (by the strand)

	Fine	Extra-Fine
18-in. strands, 6 to 6.5 mm	$650-$850	$1,000-$1,200

Round Tahitian Black Pearls

	Good	Fine
8 to 8.5 mm	$30-$60	$60-$120
10 to 10.5 mm	$35-$90	$90-$150

Mussels targeted for their pearls

2008-12-18T20:20:00.000-08:00

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

By Euan McIlwraith
Reporter, Landward, BBC1 Scotland

Euan McIlwraith reports on Scotland's endangered freshwater mussels

Despite being protected since 1998, Scottish freshwater mussels have been increasingly targeted by thieves who kill the mussel to get at a possible pearl inside.

Most don't contain a pearl and the discarded shellfish are left to die on the bank.

Following recent cases on the Spey, the police in Moray are calling for the public to help to report the lawbreakers, before the mussels become completely extinct.

Douglas Darling, a wildlife crime officer with Grampian Police, said: "What we found on the river bank was literally hundreds of these small pearl mussel shells, just discarded.

"The shells themselves, there's no way you would get any size of a pearl, if anything at all inside them. They're very young indeed.

"Action like this potentially would clear out one pool - one area of the pearls."

Scotland is a stronghold of the freshwater mussel with about 60% of the world's population living in our waters.

Strict licence

Freshwater pearls have been extremely sought after throughout Scottish history.

They're in the crown jewels in the vaults of Edinburgh Castle and it was even one of the reasons that Caesar invaded Britain.

Euan Lindsay, of romanscotland.org.uk, said: "Caesar in particular was interested in these and he was noted for actually weighing them in his hands before the financial transaction was done which was rather unusual for Rome's aristocracy and their elite to actually do that."

The selling of pre-1998 pearls is now strictly licensed and in fact there are only two jewellers in Scotland who are allowed to sell Scottish pearls.

But the mussel is still under threat - apart from illegal fishing, it's threatened by pollution and declining salmon stocks. So what's the connection with salmon in this whole process?

Ben Ross, from Scottish Natural Heritage, explained: "Without salmon there isn't any mussels, the larvae has to attach to the gills of a salmon or trout though it's not fully known why - but it may be that the salmon take it up the river and allow the species and the population to spread."

Even touching a freshwater mussel can be punished with a £10,000 fine, but it appears even that threatened sanction is not enough to deter the collectors.

Pollution's Impact on an American Icon

2008-09-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.carteretnewstimes.com/

(ARA) - Disappearing plant species, endangered wildlife and adverse health effects for humans - all grab headlines whenever talk turns to the impact pollution has on our world. But pollution also affects production of pearls, the gem American pop culture has made an icon of exemplary womanhood.

From June Cleaver to Marge Simpson, a perfect strand of pearls has come to represent the essence of feminine perfection in American culture. The bestowing of an heirloom strand from mother to daughter is a treasured rite of passage in many families. Yet pollution's effect on the mollusks that produce pearls may mean fewer pearls - and higher prices - in the future.

Pearl production and a pristine environment are tightly linked. Pearl-bearing mollusks are filter-feeders. To get their microscopic food, they filter as much as 106 gallons of seawater a day. Filter-feeding makes the mollusks extremely sensitive to pollutants in the water.

Pearl-bearing mollusks are also very sensitive to water temperature. Mollusks that produce pearls evolved over millions of years to live in very specific environments. Although those that live in temperate latitudes are accustomed to seasonal fluctuations in water temperature, an unusual rise in summer can kill them. Pearl-bearing mollusks that live in tropical latitudes can survive only within a very narrow range of water temperature. A small rise at any time of year can kill them.

People Can and Do Help

The mollusks' sensitivity to temperature increases and pollutants make people who are dependent on the mollusks' productivity acutely aware of environmental factors. Pearl farmers -- people who grow cultured pearls -- have a stake in mollusk health and productivity. That stake makes pearl farmers good stewards of the environment. If water pollution or temperature increases kill their mollusks, pearl farmers lose their livelihood.

Jewelmer, a pearl-farming company in the Philippines, has been especially active in promoting environmental preservation. The company has strongly lobbied the Philippine government to outlaw cyanide and dynamite fishing in the islands. Those fishing techniques produce big, easy catches, but they're environmentally destructive, and they adversely affect the mollusks on the pearl farms.

"Jewelmer produces some of the finest golden South Sea cultured pearls," says Jeremy Shepherd of PearlParadise.com, Inc., a leading online pearl-seller, "and the company has been among the most aggressive in protecting the pearl-farming environment."

Forum for Pearl Lovers

Pearl-Guide.com is a pearl forum that has more than 3,000 members, many of whom contribute posts about pearls every day. Since pearls are the members' passion and reason for participating in the forum, they are naturally concerned with pollution's and global warming's effects on pearl culture. Without protecting the delicate environment mollusks need to produce pearls, Pearl-Guide.com members and other pearl lovers around the world would lose their favorite gems.

Pearl industry frets over sinking prices and image

2008-09-14T01:34:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.globeinvestor.com/

RUJUN SHEN

Friday, September 12, 2008

SHANGHAI — The prices of the lustrous strings of pearls that line display cases in Shanghai jewellery stores are more eye-catching than the glossy gems: some pearl sets cost under 10 yuan, or $1.50 U.S., even before bargaining.

“All kinds of people come to buy pearls, Chinese and foreigners,” said Wang Caijiao, who has been selling pearls in a two-storey shop on Shanghai's bustling Nanjing Road for seven years.

The massive volume of freshwater pearls on the market have made the gem affordable to the masses.

That might be good news for the migrant labourers and factory workers who can now afford pearls but it is bad news for the pearl industry which frets over the sinking prices of pearls and the damage to the gem's once exclusive image.

Now, local Chinese governments, concerned about environmental damage to lakes and reservoirs from pearl cultivation, are beginning to rein in production.

And what's healthy for the environment may end up being healthy for the industry as well.

“The pearl industry has not been doing well in the past two years because the output is too high,” said Li Jiale, a professor at Shanghai Ocean University.

“The industry needs to reduce quantity and improve quality.”

In 2007, China produced 1,600 tonnes of pearls, over 95 per cent of the world's total output, the Gems and Jewellery Trade Association of China said on its website.

Most are rough-edged, elongated orbs. Perfectly shaped salt water pearls that are formed by nature can fetch millions of dollars.

The massive quantities of pearls produced by China's pearl industry carry a hefty environmental cost.

Lake waters where the pearls are cultivated are greenish, cloudy and often foul-smelling from a mixture of pollution and fertilizers dumped into the water to help the mussels produce pearls faster.

“The disorderly growth of freshwater pearl cultivation in some regions, resulting in the dumping of large quantities of fertilizer into lakes and reservoirs, has seriously damaged those water bodies,” said a document on the website of the agriculture department of central China's Hubei Province.

Hubei, one of China's biggest pearl producers, last year banned pearl cultivation in lakes and reservoirs, and restricted pearl-producing mussels to ponds.

Several cities and regions in southern China have also banned or restricted pearl cultivation in recent years.

But experts said mussels, used to produce the gems in freshwater, while oysters produce pearls in saltwater, should not pollute the environment if they are raised properly.

“Mussels eat plankton in the water and can therefore actually purify it,” said Pan Jianlin, secretary-general of the Jiangsu Province Pearl Industry Association.

“But some farmers are not raising pearls properly. They use fertilizer to feed the plankton,” he said.

Overly dense mussel populations compound the pollution, experts said.

“If mussels are raised in an enclosed body of water, it can easily lead to eutriphication,” or a rise in chemical nutrients that causes a severe deterioration of water quality, said Cheng Wen, a professor at Xi'an University of Science and Technology.

Environmental damage from pearl culture is minor compared with industrial emissions, heavy fertilizer runoff and untreated sewage that have fouled many Chinese rivers and lakes over three decades of break-neck economic growth.

Local governments are now under pressure to attack all sources of pollution.

Hit by the restrictions, as well as rising costs and falling prices, China's pearl output is expected to fall to 1,400 tonnes in 2008 and 1,000 tonnes by 2010, down more than one-third from last year, the Gems and Jewellery Trade Association of China said.

Lower production might not hit profits. Experience in other pearl-producing regions has shown that producing smaller quantities of higher quality gems can actually bring better returns for the industry as a whole.

“It's important that pearl farmers know that producing 100 kilograms of pearls is not more profitable than producing 20 kilograms,” said Qiu Zhili, associate professor of earth sciences at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong province.

The quality of China's freshwater pearls is starting to improve and if cultivated properly, with lower densities of mussels in ponds and longer cultivation times, experts said they could look more like the smooth, perfectly round saltwater pearls from Japan and the South Pacific that command far higher prices.

But that is not likely to happen either quickly or easily.

“I'd like to see output fall to 100 tonnes. Then our pearls would be priced at the same levels as Tahitian pearls and South Sea pearls. That would be great,” said Du Kunlin, secretary general of Zhejiang Province Pearl Industry Association.

But he added: “Tens of thousands of pearl farmers live off of them. You can't just let only 10,000 of them survive.”

Overproduction takes shine off Chinese pearls

2008-09-09T21:17:00.000-07:00

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The prices of the lustrous strings of pearls that line display cases in Shanghai jewelry stores are more eye-catching than the glossy gems: some pearl sets cost under 10 yuan ($1.50) even before bargaining.

"All kinds of people come to buy pearls, Chinese and foreigners," said Wang Caijiao, who has been selling pearls in a two-storey shop on Shanghai's bustling Nanjing Road for seven years.

The massive volume of freshwater pearls on the market have made the gem affordable to the masses.

That might be good news for the migrant laborers and factory workers who can now afford pearls but it is bad news for the pearl industry which frets over the sinking prices of pearls and the damage to the gem's once exclusive image.

Now, local Chinese governments, concerned about environmental damage to lakes and reservoirs from pearl cultivation, are beginning to rein in production.

And what's healthy for the environment may end up being healthy for the industry as well.

"The pearl industry has not been doing well in the past two years because the output is too high," said Li Jiale, a professor at Shanghai Ocean University.

"The industry needs to reduce quantity and improve quality."

Pearl farms now earn less than 2,000 yuan per kilogram of pearls, down from a peak above 20,000 yuan more than a decade ago, Li said.

In 2007, China produced 1,600 tonnes of pearls, over 95 percent of the world's total output, the Gems and Jewellery Trade Association of China said on its website ( http://www.jewellery.org.cn ).

Most are rough-edged, elongated orbs like those threaded into necklaces in Wang's shop. Perfectly shaped salt water pearls that are formed by nature can fetch millions of dollars.

POLLUTING PEARL FARMERS

The massive quantities of pearls produced by China's pearl industry carry a hefty environmental cost.

Lake waters where the pearls are cultivated are greenish, cloudy and often foul-smelling from a mixture of pollution and fertilizers dumped into the water to help the mussels produce pearls faster.

"The disorderly growth of freshwater pearl cultivation in some regions, resulting in the dumping of large quantities of fertilizer into lakes and reservoirs, has seriously damaged those water bodies," said a document on the website of the agriculture department of central China's Hubei Province ( http://www.hbagri.gov.cn ).

Hubei, one of China's biggest pearl producers, last year banned pearl cultivation in lakes and reservoirs, and restricted pearl-producing mussels to ponds.

Several cities and regions in southern China have also banned or restricted pearl cultivation in recent years.

But experts said mussels, used to produce the gems in freshwater, while oysters produce pearls in saltwater, should not pollute the environment if they are raised properly.

"Mussels eat plankton in the water and can therefore actually purify it," said Pan Jianlin, secretary-general of the Jiangsu Province Pearl Industry Association.

"But some farmers are not raising pearls properly. They use fertilizer to feed the plankton," he said.

Overly dense mussel populations compound the pollution, experts said.

"If mussels are raised in an enclosed body of water, it can easily lead to eutriphication," or a rise in chemical nutrients that causes a severe deterioration of water quality, said Cheng Wen, a professor at Xi'an University of Science and Technology.

LESS IS MORE

Local governments are now under pressure to attack all sources of pollution.

"It's important that pearl farmers know that producing 100 kilograms of pearls is not more profitable than producing 20 kilograms," said Qiu Zhili, associate professor of earth sciences at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong province.

In French Polynesia, where Tahitian pearls are cultivated, the local industry association compiles output plans and strictly regulates market access. Pearls that do not meet gem grade standards cannot be sold as jewelry, Qiu said.

But that is not likely to happen either quickly or easily.

"I'd like to see output fall to 100 tonnes. Then our pearls would be priced at the same levels as Tahitian pearls and South Sea pearls. That would be great," said Du Kunlin, secretary general of Zhejiang Province Pearl Industry Association.

But he added: "Tens of thousands of pearl farmers live off of them. You can't just let only 10,000 of them survive."

($1=6.839 Yuan)

(Editing by Edmund Klamann and Megan Goldin)

Lebanon chef finds 26 pearls in single oyster

2008-09-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

TYRE, Lebanon (AFP) - A Lebanese woman working in a restaurant kitchen found 26 pearls in an oyster she was preparing for the table and is to submit the find to the Guinness Book of Records.

Amal Salha, 50, said she was helping out her son in his Al Fanar restaurant on the waterfront in the southern port of Tyre, when she made the astonishing find on Monday evening.

"I couldn't believe it," she told AFP.

"I was in the process of opening the shells when I found a number of shining pearls inside one of them," she said. "I was so startled I screamed.

"It was so beautiful. It looked like a bunch of grapes."

After counting them, there turned out to be 26 pearls of varying sizes. The oyster had been harvested off the Lebanese coast.

Pearl oysters are unrelated to the oysters normally eaten in Europe but Salha said they were still popular with the French and Italian soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping force deployed in south Lebanon.

"We buy these oysters at 10 dollars a kilo (less than five dollars a pound)," said Salha's husband, Raymond.

"Generally we find one or two pearls but 26 is very rare," he said, adding that the couple hoped their find would merit an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

Five Pound Pearl is a Record Says EGL USA

2008-09-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.diamonds.net/

RAPAPORT... EGL USA authenticated one of the largest pearls ever to be discovered and documented. The brain-shaped specimen — a giant non-nacreous natural blister pearl — weighs an incredible five pounds (2.267 kilos) and measures some six inches in length. It was found in the waters off the Philippines in the giant clam, Tridacna Gigas.

A team of EGL USA expert gemologists, led by Nicholas Del Re, analyzed the pearl (pictured) using a combination of advanced technologies: Digital radiography, close magnification, and data provided by a handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) unit.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime look at one of nature's most unique treasures," said Mitch Jakubovic, director of EGL USA. "A pearl this size is not only the largest ever seen at EGL USA, it is among the largest ever seen anywhere. We were pleased to be able to provide the expertise and experience necessary to assess such a rare and valuable specimen."

David Bidwell, senior appraiser of EGL USA's appraisal affiliate, Universal Gemological Services (UGS) provided additional confidential counsel to the pearl's owner, Hadjzad Biteng. "This is clearly one of the most valuable pearls of its kind in the world today," said Bidwell. "Mr. Biteng is currently considering many exciting opportunities regarding its future. To coin a famous phrase, one could say that the pearl world is his oyster."

Snail that produces £30,000 pearls under tight security

2008-09-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

An aquarium in Britain has splashed out on a painstaking security operation to protect one of its more unusual exhibits.

A giant sea snail is being closely guarded at Birmingham's National Sea Life Centre.

It can produce rare and valuable pearls which can fetch up to £30,000 each.

"These snails occasionally produce pearls which can fetch anything between £5,000 and £30,000 each," said curator Graham Burrows.

"The snail forms the pearl around any foreign object that gets inside its shell. The biggest one recorded was the size of a golf-ball."

The sea snail is about 20 times bigger than the British garden equivalent.

"Of course only a very few snails contain pearls, and the odds are very much against our snail having one," Mr Burrows said.

"With the prices they can fetch, however, we need to be extra vigilant to make sure no one is tempted to kidnap the snail in the hope that it contains hidden treasure.

"We've also got CCTV covering every possible access point when we're closed, as well as a sophisticated alarm system," Mr Burrows said.

Pearls of Gulf 'most precious'

2008-09-07T01:58:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.kuwaittimes.net

KUWAIT: The radiant-white natural pearls of the Arabian Gulf are seen as the most precious and rarest in the world, as history tells of how Alexander the Great and 80 of his followers gave pearls to their wives as dowries. These hard, round objects were known to be traded since the Roman era, and according to historian Dr Abdullah Al-Ghunaim in his book titled "Pearls," Julius Caesar invaded Britain after allegedly hearing it had pearl sources.

Produced within the soft mantle tissue of a living shelled mollusk, pearls are composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth.
Al-Ghunaim says in his book that a lot of people of the Arabian Peninsula joined pearl divers in their quest to hunt for the dear gemstone, especially during summer onboard ships taking off from coastal areas in the Gulf such as Kazma, Darine, Awal and Julfar.

Cultural researcher Saleh Al-Misbah said that pearls were often white or cream-colored, but the shade varies significantly according to the species of mollusk.
He explained that it was the shape and shade of the pearl that gave it its name, and that accordingly the price and value varied. Pearls could also be black, or various pastel shades, although black pearls are considered the rarest in terms of color. In addition, pearls-especially freshwater pearls-could be dyed yellow, green, blue, brown, pink, purple, or black.

He noted that natural pearls could easily be told apart from cultivated pearls through the use of x-rays, which cannot penetrate a cultivated pearl.
Meanwhile, diving trainer Khalid Al-Sumait said that one of the main features that determined a pearl's value was its shine and luster, adding that what was distinctive about pearls of Gulf waters was the white glow they had. -- KUNA

MARINE RESOURCES AND AQUACULTURE

2008-08-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/

Over 75 years ago, Japanese innovator Kokichi Mikimoto shovelled 720 000 pearls into a burning furnace. His actions reverberated around the world and across time itself. By showing his willingness to destroy so many pearls, he made a commitment to sell only the very best and to destroy the rest. To this day, Japanese pearls demand and receive a premium. As a result, many try to pass off their pearls as Japanese, even though they may come from elsewhere. Now two scientists from Germany have developed a method to determine the birthplace of pearls.

Pearls have long held the imagination of people around the world.
© Shutterstock

Pearls: their beautiful translucent nature has captivated the hearts and minds of people for centuries. Up until the beginning of the 20th century, pearls had to be hunted by expert divers. These divers would free dive up to 40 meters below the water's surface and gather pearl oysters from the ocean floor. It wasn’t until two Japanese entrepreneurs were able to apply the pearl culturing technique an Australian scientist that pearls were able to be farmed.

Since then, Japan has been the heart of pearl farming, producing some of the world's finest round cultured pearls. More recently however, China has managed to outstrip Japan in terms of pearl production, but not in terms of price. Japanese pearls still cost up to ten times more than their competitors' across the sea of Okhotsk. As a result, some sellers have been trying to masquerade Chinese sweet-water cultured pearls as Japanese.

This poses a big problem for both consumers and scientists, because even experts find it difficult to distinguish between the two with the naked eye. That’s why two scientists from the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz Germany have devoted the past two years to coming up with a solution to this problem. What they were able to develop was a trace-element analysis technique which is able to determine a pearl's place of origin.

The two scientists in question, Ursula Wehrmeister, a gemmologist, and Dorrit Jacob, a geochemist, initially suspected that the Chinese manufacturing process consisted of high-production volumes accompanied by high levels of stress for the animals used in the cultivation process. According to Ursula Wehrmeister, Chinese farmers implant up to 60 cores into one oyster — a form of biological mass production. The stress caused by such mass production would result in a number of unusable or misshapen pearls, which would not be able to be processed by jewellers.

The problem of vaterite would also become more common. The scientists from Mainz found that Chinese pearls contain more vaterite, not only within the pearls, but also on the outside, where the substance forms a matt surface with white spots, rendering the pearls unsuitable for sale.

The scientists were therefore able to use a process known as laser ablation ICP mass spectrometry, to determine whether pearls contain vaterite, as well as determine whether certain sapphires have been subsequently treated. Specifically, a UV laser is used to cut a microscopically small sample, roughly an eighth the diameter of a human hair. This micro-sample is then rinsed into the analysis device with the aid of an inert gas and the content of trace elements. Based on the outcome of this process, the birthplace of a pearl is able to be determined.

This technique according to Dorrit Jacob, is also applicable to gems other than pearls. 'The large number of especially orange- and blue-coloured sapphires currently on the market cannot all be natural. This means that sapphires with a less marked coloration, which would normally not be marketable, have been coloured more brightly with beryllium,' he said.

With such a wide potential for this technique's application, consumers can begin to rest assured that they are getting what they pay for.

Pearl passion

2008-08-17T03:44:00.000-07:00

Source: http://thestar.com.my

by Sandra Low

A pearl wholesaler who gets first choice of the finest pearls is inspired to do more than supply.

WHEN it comes to pearls, few know these luminous, fascinating organic gems better than Rene Hodel.

The Swiss CEO and founder of a luxury pearl brand, Hodel HK Ltd, has spent almost three decades in the industry, first as a wholesaler before expanding his business to designing collections that bear his name.

Hodel, 54, was in Kuala Lumpur recently with his Hong Kong-born wife, Linda, 48, who supervises their design team, to launch the brand’s Spring-Summer 2008 collection.

A model wearing the most prestigious line for Hodel Pearls, which is the St Moritz where only one of a kind pearls or precious stones or diamonds are used.

The couple met in Hong Kong over 25 years and have been inseparable since, their relationship cemented by their shared passion for pearls.

They have been married for almost 24 years and they have two teenage sons, Andrew, 19, and Adrian, 17.

“I was captured by the beauty of pearls over 20 years ago and I am still very much so till today. I think what keeps both Linda and me in the business all these years is our unceasing love for pearls,” Rene says.

He was initially a behind-the-scenes pearl wholesaler but his company has evolved from a traditional wholeselling into that of an international luxury pearl manufacturer with its own in-house designs.

“We still supply wholesalers all over the world with pearls that we buy in bulk from pearl producing countries. Our company does business in Europe, United States, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Dubai,” he says.

Hodel’s Tears of God collection consists of South Sea Pearl earrings set with Keshi pearls and diamonds.

Rene started his pearl journey in his mid-20s with a jewellery company in Lausanne, Switzerland. Thanks to his acute business sense, he was sent to Hong Kong to run the company’s pearl department. From there, he was sent to a pearl farm on Iki island near Fukuoka, Japan, to learn the trade from the shell up, and then on to Kobe, the heart of the pearl trade. Under his guidance, the Hong Kong operations blossomed.

In 1986, after leaving the company that he had worked hard to develop, he approached Schoeffel, the largest pearl company in Europe, and offered to set up a Hong Kong office.

He established Schoeffel HK Ltd which grew to be one of the leading pearl trading houses in Asia, with offices in Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur.

In 2005 Rene decided to up the ante again by buying out Schoeffel and the company was renamed Hodel.

Rene explains that they have separated their merchandises into the Classic Collection and the Hodel Collection. The Classic Collection is where loose pearls, pearl strands and simple designed collections are sold to any interested buyer, while the Hodel Collection comprises their own signature designs which are sold only to their brand carriers around the world.

While Hodel is fast becoming label synonymous with fine pearls and designs, the wholeselling part of its business is on its last legs.

Rene explains why: “Hong Kong today is the pearl centre where importers, manufacturers, traders and retailers meet to buy at auctions. The traditional wholesale function of supplying to these people is slowly diminishing as everyone is trying to buy direct. It is an unstoppable process.”

A singular white South Sea pearl sits prettily on top of a cross ring studded with diamonds.

Unlike pearl manufacturers who come up with designs and then place the pearls within the designs, Linda says Hodel creates “designs around the pearls”.

“We match the stones according to the shapes and colours of the pearls. Our aim is to bring out the best in our pearls, to extract their character and present them as jewellery pieces with flair and a personality.

Linda works closely with an in-house Swiss chief designer, Vanessa Martinelli, whose work carries a strong Italian influence.

“I have always loved art and I have an eye for beautiful things. With pearls, they are each uniquely shaped with lines and curves that are exquisite,” adds Linda.

According to Rene, pearl lovers are those who truly appreciate their unique beauty.

“You buy pearl jewellery for the love of it. Because unlike, say, diamonds, if you want to return it to the seller, you will never get the price that you paid,” he cautions.

The Hodels buy their pearls, ranging from South Sea to Tahitian to freshwater, from Australia, Indonesia, Tahiti, China and the Philippines.

Rene explains that 99% of the pearls today are cultured and natural pearls, while very rare, may not actually be of good quality.

He bemoans the fact that although the production of pearls has increased greatly over the years, it is, unfortunately, at the expense of quality.

Owner of Hodel Pearls HK Ltd, Rene Hodel, with his wife, Linda Hodel, who is the chief designer.

“The more oysters are produced in one square metre of water, the more pollution occurs, so subsequently, the quality diminishes,” he sighs.

If anyone thinks that selling pearls is an unexciting and relatively safe job, the Hodels will tell you otherwise.

Rene tells the story of how he wanted to buy the harvest of an Australian pearl farmer some years back but was rejected because the farmer had another potential buyer. Three weeks later, the farmer came to Hong Kong offering Rene the pearls (after the sale with the potential buyer fell through).

“I declined because we were so disappointed by his refusal earlier. He got annoyed and started throwing chairs around and beating me up!” Rene recalls.

He recovered well enough to remain in the business and with no regrets.

After all, the Hodels feel the world is still their oyster with a lot of potential, including the Malaysian market which is quite receptive to new trends and ideas.

All it takes to generate greater interest is make available more information and awareness of the types of pearls in the market. that’s what the Hodels aim to do. That and fabulous designs.

The Hodel Collection is available at DeGem jewellers; prices start from RM5,000.

U.S. economy slams pearl sales for Man Sang

2008-08-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com

August 15, 2008

New York—Man Sang Holdings Inc., a purchaser and processor of Chinese cultured and freshwater pearls, saw its pearl sales slip 18.7 percent in the first quarter, mostly the result of weakness in the U.S. economy.

According to a release from Man Sang, pearl sales decreased from about $12.89 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, to about $10.48 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008.

The decrease in net sales for pearls, the release states, was "primarily due to a decrease in market demand in the United States due to a relative weakness of the United States economy."

The earnings show that net sales in the U.S. market declined 46.4 percent in the first quarter, dropping from about $4.36 million to about $2.34 million.

Because of the drop in U.S. sales, Man Sang altered its sales strategy going forward and plans to focus on the European market, where "stronger market conditions...have mitigated the effects of weak market conditions in the United States."

The company expects pearl sales to increase in Europe over the next three months and, thereby, help the company maintain steady growth, the release states.

"Our pearl operations are geographically diverse, and we believe we are well-positioned to react to fluctuating global market conditions. We therefore expect to maintain steady growth in our pearl operations, the release states.

Chocolate Pearls News: PearlParadise.com Introduces New Collection; Smacks Down Price on Hip Gems With Yummy, Lustrous Color

2008-07-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.prweb.com

"Chocolate pearls have turned from trend to uber-trend," says Jeremy Shepherd, the Los Angeles pearl expert who is introducing a newly-acquired collection "that will level the playing field in pricing these exotic bronze beauties."

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 11, 2008 -- "Chocolate pearls have turned from trend to uber-trend," says Jeremy Shepherd, the Los Angeles pearl expert who is introducing a newly-acquired collection "that will level the playing field in pricing these exotic bronze beauties."

"Chocolate pearls have been riding the popularity wave for the past year but that status only worked for people who could afford the big price tag." says Shepherd, who owns PearlParadise.com. Inc., the world's largest online pearl company. (www.pearlparadise.com) "We've changed that."

With this collection, Shepherd says he has evened the stakes on AAA-rated Tahitian and freshwater chocolate pearls and is selling them for less than half "of what the Tiffany crowd is getting."

The former Northwest Airlines flight attendant who 12 years ago turned a $25 string of pearls bought in a Beijing market between flights into a mega Internet pearl company "my competitors love to hate," says owning his own pearl farm and cutting out the middlemen is the reason he can sell the high-quality pearls for up to 80-percent off retail.

How did Shepherd land in the exceptional position of negotiating pearl deals in another language with business owners who live a world away in a culture so different from his own?

Living in Japan as a child and having to learn the language had something to do with it, he says. It also didn't hurt that he later took the time to study the Mandarin Chinese dialect and obtain a business degree. "This job is made for me," he says. "I love selling exotic gems like AAA-quality chocolate pearls at prices no one expects. We sell pearls to everyone from college guys who want a beautiful gift for their girlfriends to movie stars who can afford to shop anywhere."

Exactly what are chocolate pearls?

"Think of them as pearls that have undergone a hip, high-fashion makeover. Freshwater and Tahitian pearls are treated with a proprietary, pigment-altering heating process, or organic dyeing process, that transforms them into a lustrous, iridescent chocolate color. Chocolate pearls," says Shepherd, "are born where human intervention meets nature's pearl-bearing oysters."

Who wears chocolate pearls?

"They're a real favorite among women with a fashion-forward sensibility, women who enjoy dressing with an unpredictable flair," he says. "One customer put it this way: 'This is not my grandmother's pearl necklace.'"

"Still," says Shepherd, "women who've always worn classically-colored pearls also love chocolate pearls -- just because they're beautiful." The fact that clothing designers continue to show earth tones year-after-year is another reason chocolate pearls are attracting attention. "They are a perfect match for what women are wearing today," he says.

Shepherd, whose pearls recently showed up in Oscar winners' gift bags, is no stranger to celebrity, himself. He and his pearls -- and the discount prices he sells them for -- have been chronicled in dozens of publications including:

"USA Today"
"The New York Times"
"The Wall Street Journal"
"Entrepreneur"
"Modern Bride"
"InStyle"

For more information about chocolate pearls and other pearl jewelry, shop online at www.pearlparadise.com, or call Shepherd's Los Angeles storefront location to speak with him or one of his pearl specialists, at (310) 474-8788.

China's pearl farms prosper away from pollution

2008-07-01T20:27:00.000-07:00

By Royston Chan- Reuters

ZHUJI, China (Reuters Life!) - For decades, the clean waters of Zhuji have fed China's rise to the world's top producer of freshwater pearls and now they are helping to turn this eastern city into a global trading hub for the lustrous gem.... Click for more

Gem of a lab opens

2008-07-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com

By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 1st JULY 2008

MANAMA: A state-of-the-art pearl and gem testing and grading laboratory was opened yesterday.

The new specialised centre is ranked among the best of its kind, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro said.

He was speaking as he opened the laboratory, which is located at the ministry-owned Khairiya Building in the Diplomatic Area.

He also hailed the new facility as reflecting the government's keenness to promote the sector of natural pearls in the kingdom.

Bahrain's efforts to further bolster control systems and acquisition of hi-tech equipment were also highlighted.

Businessmen and pearl and gem specialists also attended the ceremony.

The new laboratory is more spacious and boasts world-class technical and security equipment. It is specialised in testing and grading natural pearls to ensure they are distinct from cultured ones.

Bahrain is the only country in the world, which bans importing or trading in cultured pearls. Prohibitive laws were passed follwing directives from the kingdom's leadership.

The first such law dates back to 1928, in the era of the late Bahrain ruler Shaikh Hamad bin Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, who took over from his father the late Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa in 1923.

The new lab is also specialised in testing and grading gems, issuing world-standard certificates that are accredited regionally and internationally.

Large quantities of retail pearls, pearl necklaces, and gems are tested and graded monthly.

The lab is staffed with skilled Bahrainis, who were graduated and trained at leading international institutes. A highly-equipped diamond testing and grading unit was also inaugurated yesterday.

DMCC Launches Pearl Jewelry Design Course

2008-06-22T18:02:00.001-07:00

Source: http://www.idexonline.com

(June 22, '08, 10:52 IDEX Online Staff Reporter)

The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has created a two-year pearl jewelry design program – Pearl Essence – the Dubai International Pearl Jewellery Design Program. The course incorporates different categories of pearls, including Tahitian, South Sea Akoya and Freshwater.

The organizers note that Pearl Essence is a two-tier program incorporating both professional designers and jewelry design students, the first of which will constitute a custom-designed collection of pearl jewelry pieces, created by ten invited luxury brands, and the second, to incorporate a competition for final-year students from schools offering a minimum two-year full-time jewelry design course, spanning a broad geographical market.

For the professional designer tier, DMCC is currently in discussions with leading luxury jewellery brands including members of the Dubai Pearl Exchange to create one unique piece each for the collection. The entries will tour international jewellery trade exhibitions before being auctioned by Christie’s with the proceeds being donated to charity.

DMCC is also working with 44 jewellery design schools in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Lebanon, Singapore, South Africa and Turkey to solicit entries. The student entries will be judged by an international jury, chaired by DMCC and comprising trade journalists and professional jewellery designers, and evaluated for commercial design, wearability, theme-based creativity and the use of pearls as the main design feature.

A shortlist of 10 student designs will be fabricated into finished jewelry by DMCC-nominated manufacturers and pearl sponsors. The fledgling designers stand to win several awards including a 30-day internship with an international jewelry design house, a week's visit to the pearling operations of Paspaley Pearling Co in Western Australia, a seven-day course at Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA’s) Carlsbad campus and online pearl courses from GIA.

Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman of the DMCC, said, “This international pearl jewellery design programme will both highlight Dubai as a centre for the global pearl trade and increase the visibility of pearls in the fashion industry. Pearl Essence will invite participation from the global marketplace and provide a neutral and innovative programme for the international pearl community.”

Phu Quoc pearls may not be what they seem

2008-06-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.thanhniennews.com

At the Dinh Cau night market, where tourists often meander after a day at the beach, pearls are sold at same booths as souvenirs and toys for only a few hundred-thousand dong.

Dozens of stalls at the Ham Ninh Market sell pearl earrings for VND10,000 (US$0.6) apiece alongside snacks and drinks.

One pearl necklace costs VND300,000 ($18) while another that looks nearly identical costs VND3 million ($180).

Market vendor Hong Dao said the latter was made of real Phu Quoc pearls, worth much more than the Chinese pearls used to make the cheaper necklace.

Khong Thi Thanh Truc, a partner in a Japanese-Vietnamese pearl company, said Phu Quoc pearls are 10 times more expensive than Chinese pearls.

Vo Van Doi, a pearl trader in An Thoi Town, said he had just sold a 12-millimeter pearl to a foreigner for VND15 million ($903).

Doi said it was not easy to find genuine Phu Quoc pearls because fakes have flooded the market.

He explained that fake pearls were easy to make but could be discovered by rubbing two pearls together.

Fake pearls would loose their enamel this way, he said.

Doi also said that putting a flame to pearls was an easy way to tell a fake as imitation pearls would shrink or be deformed by high heat.

But few shop owners would allow their pearls to be tested that way, he said.

A veteran trader on the island, Doi said the local pearl market is more complicated than ever as shops don’t provide credible evidence of the origins of their pearls.

And the fake pearls are everywhere, he said.

Even fishmongers and motorbike drivers often approach Doi with cheap fake pearls, asking him to sell them to tourists for a commission.

As an established trader, Doi said he always refuses such offers.

And it is not only fake pearls or Chinese imports that are hindering the island’s reputation, but even some Phu Quoc pearl companies now sell lower-quality freshwater pearls as opposed to those taken from seawater oysters.

Phu Quoc is located some 115 km off the coast of Rach Gia, capital of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

Pearl Essence Dubai details unveiled

2008-06-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.xpress4me.com

Jewellery designers from all over the world are set to descend upon Dubai next year for what is dubbed as the Oscars of pearl jewellery design, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) announced on Tuesday.

“Pearl Essence” – an International Pearl Jewellery Design Programme, is a global design initiative for pearl jewellery initiated by DMCC, a government-backed commodity marketplace that seeks to revive the pearling tradition in the UAE and create a platform for the coloured stones trade.

Ahmed Bn Sulayem, Executive Chairman of DMCC, who launched the event in a press conference, said,“Dubai’s pearling industry has always been linked to the Gulf region and the outside world. It’s not a self-contained city. Dubai flourished the day it opened its doors and relaxed duties to merchants,” he said.

Highlighting Dubai’s long pearling tradition, Bin Sulayem said the event is an opportunity “to capture talent from the region and other parts of the world in designing pearl jewellery through competition.”

Organisers are expecting 1,000 entries from two categories – professionals and students of various jewellery design schools around the world.

The designs call for incorporating different categories of pearls, including Tahitian, South Sea, Akoya and Freshwater.

Two categories

The professional designer tier will constitute a custom-designed collection of pearl jewellery pieces, created by ten invited luxury brands inspired by the rich Arabian pearling heritage and represented in a modern and contemporary fashion.

The student tier is a competition for final-year students from schools that offer a minimum two-year full time jewellery design course, spanning a broad geographical market.

Bin Sulayem said: “This international pearl jewellery design programme will both highlight Dubai as a centre for the global pearl trade and increase the visibility of pearls in the fashion industry.

‘Pearl Essence’ will invite participation from the global marketplace and provide a neutral and innovative programme for the international pearl community.”

For the professional designer tier, DMCC is currently in discussions with leading luxury jewellery brands including members of the Dubai Pearl Exchange to create one unique piece each for the collection.

The entries will tour international jewellery trade exhibitions before being auctioned by Christie’s with the proceeds being donated to charity.

DMCC is also working with 44 jewellery design schools spanning Australia, China, India, Japan, Lebanon, Singapore, South Africa and Turkey to solicit entries before the early 2009 deadline.

The student entries will be judged by an international jury, chaired by DMCC and comprising trade journalists and professional jewellery designers.

The designs will be evaluated for commercial design, wearability, theme-based creativity and the use of pearls as the main design feature.

A shortlist of 10 student designs will be fabricated into finished jewelry by DMCC-nominated manufacturers and pearl sponsors.

The fledgling designers stand to win several awards including a 30-day internship with an international jewellery design house, a week's visit to the pearling operations of Paspaley Pearling Co in Western Australia, a seven-day course at Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA’s) Carlsbad campus and online pearl courses from GIA.

Gaiti Rabbani, Executive Director of Coloured Stones and Pearls, DMCC said: “Pearl Essence is a very exciting initiative. It pays fitting tribute to the gem of Arabia, while at the same time bringing together the international pearl community in a unique manner.

“Through Pearl Essence, we aim to enhance awareness and appreciation of the beauty of this gem, drawing on the artistic finesse of luxury jewellery designers as well as the budding talent in the industry. Key milestones have been crafted during the programme to create unique opportunities for networking amongst young talent and established professionals, with a view to career enhancement.

“We are very encouraged by the response we’ve had from the pearl community -- Paspaley Pearling Co has confirmed a support sponsorship role alongside official pearl sponsor for the student category.

“Damas, Dhamani, Mikura Pearls and Pinctada have confirmed participation as official manufacturers and the list gets longer as more partners sign up with Pearl Essence.”

Awards

DMCC’s two-year Pearl Essence programme will culminate in a gala event in Dubai, which will include an exhibition showcasing the pearl jewellery created by both the designer brands as well as the students and an awards ceremony to select and honour three winning students.

In addition, the final pearl jewellery collection will form part of a six-month traveling exhibition to major international jewellery shows.

The introduction of the Dubai International Pearl Jewellery programme is a vital new element of the DMCC’s comprehensive pearl strategy, which seeks to revitalise the Middle East’s leadership status in the pearl sector and re-establish Dubi as a centre for the global trade.

Pearl Essence complements DMCC’s recently announced “Pearls of Arabia”, a landmark project located on The World islands, featuring a high-quality offshore entertainment, education and retail centre.

DMCC’s dedicated Coloured Stones and Pearls Division, launched in 2007, seeks to foster relations with the international trade and develop industry services.

The current platforms in the portfolio of the Coloured Stones and Pearls Division include the Dubai Gems Club and the Dubai Pearl Exchange. These platforms are supported by other divisional initiatives such as the recently launched GemBureau Middle East and the Pearls of Arabia.

Event

Pearl Essence is an International Pearl Jewellery Design programme focused on the beauty and uniqueness of the pearl.
A global design concept of this nature, encapsulating different categories of pearls, is being developed for the first time.
Pearl Essence is a two-tier event with categories for both professional designers and students.

The Theme

The rich heritage of pearling in Arabia represented in a modern and contemporary fashion

Designer Tier

Top international jewellery brands will be invited “by invitation only” alongside Dubai Pearl Exchange members to submit a design and go on to produce a stunning “one of a kind” finished pearl jewellery piece inspired by the given theme.
Designs will be showcased during a glittering gala dinner and then form part of a travelling exhibition, offering exceptional visibility.
A nominated charity will receive the funds raised from auctioning the jewellery at a high-end charity evening in Dubai by Christie’s.

Student Awards

The award is designed to encourage creativity and innovation in pearl jewellery design and offer prizes to further enhance learning and career opportunities amongst design students.
The award is open to final year students in a minimum of two year full time dedicated jewellery design program from eligible institutes.
At present 44 institutes have been shortlisted in 9 markets with over 1,000 students.
The award will be marketed to the institutes through appointed representatives, posters, a dedicated website which is under development, student packs and roadshows.
The designs will be judged by an international jury who represent the pearl trade.
10 finalists will be selected and their designs will be fabricated into a finished piece of jewellery by DMCC nominated manufacturers, sponsored by pearl producers.
The finalists and their tutors will be invited and hosted for a glittering Gala event in Dubai in 2009, allowing them the opportunity to present their designs and network with potential employers
All finished jewellery pieces will form a traveling exhibition to international markets during specific jewellery events with an accompanying catalogue

The Jury

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC
Gaiti Rabbani, Executive Director, Coloured Stones & Pearls Division, DMCC
Tawfique Abdullah, Chairman, Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group and Damas
Jorg Gellner, Managing Director, Gellner GmbH & Co
Editors of two leading jewellery magazines
Two representatives from leading design brands

Categories

Akoya Pearls (Japanese)
Tahitian Pearls (French Polynesia)
South Sea Pearls (Australia, Philippines and Indonesia)
Freshwater cultured pearls (Chinese)
Any combination of the above

Prizes

The finalists will receive:

First prize: A month long internship sponsored by a leading international jewellery brand.
Second prize: A week long trip to the pearling operations and pearl farms of Paspaley Pearling Co in Western Australia
Third prize: A seven day pearl course at Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA’s) headquarters in Carlsbad, California
Prizes for all 10 finalists: An online pearl course courtesy of GIA
The award-winning pieces will be showcased in a dedicated area at the Pearls of Arabia experience centre

Confirmed Sponsors

Pearl Essence Support Sponsor: Paspaley Pearling Co
Official Manufacturers: Damas, Dhamani, Mikura, Pinctada
Pearl Sponsor - South Sea Pearls: Paspaley Pearling Co

Atlas South Sea Pearl reiterates profit forecast

2008-05-28T16:20:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.egoli.com.au

28/05/2008 By: Niraj Shah

Atlas South Sea Pearl Limited (ATP) has reaffirmed its 2008 net profit forecast of $5.7 million, down from $8 million in 2007. The pearl farmer said cash earnings excluding any fair market adjustments for the Agriculture assets were $3.6 million compared to a profit of $3.3 million in the previous financial year. The increase in profit in 2008 was mainly attributed to a one off adjustment relating to the fair market value of its pearls and oysters, resulting from a change in the adoption of AASB 141, the company said.

In addition, Atlas said revenue from retail operations had increased substantially in 2007 and was expected to grow strongly again in 2008 to around $1 million.

However, the 2008 forecasts did not take into consideration any gains or losses which may flow from the revaluation of pearls and oysters under AASB141.

At its AGM today, Atlas said it had continued the expansion of the retail outlets in Bali through the company�s own stores and through exposure in hotel retail facilities, which had increased the profile of its brand.

�Two new stores will be opened in the Bali tourist precincts of Seminyak and Nusa due by the end of 2008,� it said.

�A new site has been identified and local approval granted for the development of a backup juvenile nursery for an expanding oyster population in the event that existing juvenile oyster farm sites shows signs of degradation,� it said.

The company also said it planned to start a program of seeding oysters in Bali and transferring them to sites where faster oyster growth occurs.

Shares in Atlas South Sea Pearl picked up 0.5c to 44.0c .

related stories:

sources: source: http://news.smh.com.au

Atlas South Sea Pearl profit to fall

May 29, 2008 - 1:04PM

Pearl farmer Atlas South Sea Pearl Ltd has reiterated that its profit this financial year will be down by about 30 per cent but says a one-off accounting adjustment the previous year explains the fall.

The Indonesia-focused pearl group said its 2008 net profit is forecast at $5.7 million, down from $8 million in 2007.

However, it said the 2007 net profit was attributed mainly to a one-off adjustment relating to the fair market value of the company's pearls and oysters resulting from a change in the accounting standard.

The company said the projected forecast of $5.7 million was therefore an increase on a like-for-like basis from the previous year when fair market adjustments from a change in accounting policy were excluded from the profit result.

"Today, we presented the expected result for the year as we normally accounted it for in terms of the cash-profit position, or underlying profit," managing director Joseph Taylor told AAP after the company's annual general meeting.

"The accounting process and bringing in the agricultural assets, will increase that profit in a reporting sense quite significantly, but because of the way that (accounting standard) system works," Mr Taylor said.

"We don't really want to announce anything on that until a bit later in the year."

Revenue from retail operations increased in 2007 to about $700,000 and is expected to grow in 2008 to just under $1 million.

"The company's retail operations have continued to grow with an increase in revenue from the two showrooms and numerous hotel presentation cabinets in various Bali tourist hot-spots," the company said in a statement.

"The number of retail outlets will be increased to four by the end of the year."

The Perth-headquartered company, which produces pearls primarily at Alyui Bay in West Papua, is diversifying geographically.

It has identified a new juvenile nursery site in North Bali and plans a new hatchery at its existing site in East Bali, to be commissioned in October.

"The establishment of geographically diverse hatchery and farms sites has resulted in significantly higher productivity and survival rates of oysters," the company said.

"Increased seeding activities have commenced in Bali where it is cheaper to farm the oysters."

Freeform Pearls take centrestage at Paspaley

2008-05-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.arabianbusiness.com

Exquisitely crafted jewels feature dramatic Keshi pearls and pave diamonds set in 18kt white gold.

Paspaley, the purveyor of the world's finest pearls, presents rare, one-off pieces from its latest collection. It combines large Keshi pearls and pave diamonds in 18kt white gold settings to offer elegant colliers, necklaces, stud and drop earrings, and rings. Bold and dramatic, these creations exude a charming air that defies expectations, emerging as extraordinary options for the discerning jewellery lover.

"Freeform pearls have always posed a unique challenge to jewellery designers. Known as Keshi pearls, they come in a variety of charming shades and are known for their lustre and uncommon orient. In its 2007-2008 collection, Paspaley displays its design innovation through singular and marvelous pieces that focus on the natural beauty of the non-traditional shapes of these treasures", said Tawhid Abdullah, Managing Director of Damas, the exclusive partner of Paspaley in the UAE.

Paspaley's visionary excellence is highlighted with delectable effect in a sumptuous collier of large flowers created from Keshi pearls. White gold leaves encrusted with pave diamonds are interspersed with the pearl blossoms for maximum drama. This produces an organic piece resembling a garland of wild flowers that was casually strung together! It is matched with huge blossoms for stud earrings and an eye catching ring, all designed to put its wearer in the limelight.

In another set, large, hollow white gold ovals are lined by a sparkling row of diamonds with each oval nestling one sumptuous Keshi pearl. Paspaley then strings these enchanting settings to form necklaces, drop earrings and rings with seeming nonchalance.

Keshi pearls, also popularly known as seed pearls, are cultured in both freshwater and saltwater. Made up purely of nacre, this type of pearl does not have the nuclei present in round pearls as the oyster expels it. Their shapes evolve into highly unusual and interesting forms whose lustre is brighter.

Each Paspaley pearl is nurtured for up to 6 years in remote pearl farms on the Northwest coast of Australia, home to the largest beds of the world's most prized pearl oysters. The pearling pioneer's extraordinary partnership with nature began over 60 years ago when its founder Nicholas Paspaley discovered the first South Sea pearl, and has seen it present the world some of the finest gems from the sea. In these one-off pieces featuring Keshi pearls, Paspaley once again demonstrates its exceptional touch and mastery in pearl jewellery design.

Adorn yourself with finely crafted jewels featuring Keshi pearls now available at Paspaley boutiques at Saks Fifth Avenue - Burjuman Centre, Mall of the Emirates and Abu Dhabi Mall.

Notes and contacts

About Paspaley

Paspaley is the world's leading South Sea pearl company, growing the finest quality pearls in the world. Behind the simplicity and singular beauty of Paspaley South Sea pearls is a journey that began more than 70 years ago on the remote and unspoiled coastline of northern Australia.

Paspaley's involvement in pearling dates back to 1935 when Nicholas Paspaley's father, Nicholas Paspaley Senior MBE, first collected mother-of-pearl shell in Australia's northern waters. He established a family concern that has evolved to become the world's leading South Sea pearling company. Paspaley is still proudly family-owned and operated.

Paspaley nurtures its pearls on a remote network of over 20 farms, stretching more than 2500km across the pristine waters off the northwest coast of Australia - about the same distance as London to Moscow.

Paspaley's pioneering techniques have been widely acknowledged as world's best practice, positioning the company name at the forefront of the pearling industry. Consistent quality and supply are the hallmarks of Paspaley - a reputation achieved only through an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of excellence and the principles of quality.

These standards have ensured Paspaley South Sea pearls are much sought after by the world's leading jewellery houses and has made the Paspaley name synonymous with the most beautiful pearls in the world.

Man Sang Holdings, Inc. Announces Market Centre in China Pearls and Jewellery City Phase One Opens

2008-04-21T16:38:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.businesswire.com/

Breakthrough for Pearl and Jewellery Industry

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Man Sang Holdings, Inc. (“Man Sang” or the "Group") (AMEX: MHJ) today announced the opening of its market centre in Phase one of China Pearls and Jewellery City (“CP&J City”), a 55%-owned investment and development project of the Group in Zhuji, Zhejiang Province, China.

The Group chartered a flight in Shenzhen to take guests to the “home of pearl” – Zhuji yesterday to participate in the grand opening ceremony today. The opening of the centre and the pearl and jewellery procurement fair were timed to coincide with the “Third China•Zhuji Xishi Cultural Festival” and “Sixth China (International) Pearl Festival”, all held in the CP&J City, in an effort to promote the commercial and cultural aspects of pearl and jewellery trading to the world.

Deemed as a major construction project in Zhejiang Province and Zhuji city, CP&J City has strong support from the provincial and municipal governments. Officiating guests include government officials from the Zhuji Municipal Government and others. After the ceremony, CP&J City also signed a strategic partnership cooperative MOU with Gemological Institute of America (“GIA”) to foster cooperation between the two parties and promote development of CP&J City and China’s jewellery industry. Jewellers from around the world also actively participated in the first procurement fare of CP&J City.

Apart from officials of Zhuji city and the Shanxiahu Town Government, the opening ceremony was also attended by officials from Zhejiang Province, Guangdong Province, Shaoxing City, Nanchang city, Shenyang city, Tieling city and Beijing city, together with over a thousand jewellery traders, purchasers, and representatives from business associations, consulates in Hong Kong, the financial sector and the media. Guests from over 16 countries and regions such as the U.S., Germany, Finland, Holland, Denmark, Mexico, India, Dubai, Middle East, Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong were present at the ceremony.

Guests attending the opening ceremony were overwhelmingly impressed by the scale and supporting facilities of CP&J City and commented that putting sales, exhibition, manufacturing, processing, business and entertainment facilities all under one roof is a concept with obvious merits over presenting a pure exhibition venue. CP&J City is expected to become a brand new multi-functional value adding platform for pearl and jewellery trading and we expect it will develop into the largest pearl and jewellery tourist attraction and shopping hot spot in China.

The market centre in Phase 1 of the CP&J City has a construction area of 160,000 sq. m. accommodating about 2,380 shops and booths. When the whole CP&J City project is completed, it will have an estimated over 5,000 shops and booths and become the world’s largest of its kind and most up-to-date pearl and jewellery trading platform capable of offering one-stop service including manufacturing, processing, exhibition and sales solutions in the industry.

Mr Cheng Chung Hing, Chairman of Man Sang, said, “The opening of CP&J City is a very important milestone in the Group’s development, as it allows the Group, through cooperating with six other leading pearl enterprises in the country, to expand its business from pearl and jewellery manufacturing and trading to now also cover development and construction of this pearl jewellery trading platform and related supporting and logistic facilities. We co-organised the event with the Zhuji Municipal Government and are proud to have elites from various sectors, domestic and overseas, to come witness the transformation of Zhuji’s old pearl market into the largest-of-its-kind one-stop trading platform in the world capable of providing premium and most efficient jewellery trading and related value added services to jewellers. CP&J City will be a commercial hot spot incorporating exhibition, trade and related services as well as entertainment facilities for industry players. We strongly encourage world-class brands to choose CP&J City as the location for their flagship stores. In the long term, we hope to cooperate with pearl jewellers around the world to develop Zhuji City into an international pearl capital.”

Boasting a total site area of 1.2 million sq. m., CP&J City, which is being developed in phases, will deliver a host of functions including production, wholesale and trading of pearl, precious stones, various gems, gold and silver jewelley accessories, raw materials, finished products and manufacturing equipment, to name a few. It will also be divided into different zones including a market centre, a display area, a processing area, a supporting service area, a residential area and training centre.

CP&J City also plans to launch an e-business platform, with a database of tens of thousands of domestic and overseas buyers and purchasers, and a supportive platform offering import and export services, international finance and professional insurance services, as well as logistics services. This will allow customers to experience true one-stop trading services. New services that will be launched later included world-class training courses on gems and jewellery certification, pearl cultivation and processing and jewellery design to nurture pearl and jewellery professionals and enhance the standard of enterprises and expertise in Zhuji and the industry at large in China.

Mr. Cheng said, “CP&J City in Zhuji in central Zhejiang Province and Zhuji is known to the world as the “home of the pearl” (expected to soon be named the “capital of pearl”). It is the world’s largest freshwater pearl distribution centre boasting the most advanced pearl processing technologies in China. Its pearl products are sold to over 50 countries and regions around the world. 95% of the world’s freshwater pearls are produced in China, while 70% of the freshwater pearls in the world and over 80% of the freshwater pearls in China are traded in Zhuji each year. Zhuji is close to railway, roads, airports and ports, hence we can expect high customer flow. The Group expects to leverage Zhuji’s position in the world’s freshwater pearl manufacturing and trading industry to build the CP&J City brand and the project into a leading global pearl and jewellery trading platform, and thereby contribute to China’s standing in the international pearl and jewellery market.”

CP&J City is regarded as a core project by the Zhuji Municipal Government in establishing the world’s largest cluster of jewellery enterprises in the city. It has substantial support and commands attention from leaders at all levels of government including the Zhejiang Provincial Government, the Zhuji Municipal Government and the Government of Shanxiahu Town. The project is jointly developed by seven leading pearl companies, namely Man Sang, Zhejiang Shanxiahu Pearl Co. Ltd, Zhejiang Ruan’s Pearl Holdings Co. Ltd, Zhejiang Grace Pearl Jewellery Co. Ltd, Zhejiang Sanshui Jewellery Co. Ltd, Zhejiang Tears of Angel Jewellery Co. Ltd and Dexing Pearl Co. Ltd.

Please visit www.man-sang.com or www.cpjcity.com for more information on the CP&J City.

About Man Sang Holdings, Inc.

Man Sang Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (together the "Man Sang Group") are one of the world's largest purchasers and processors of Chinese cultured and freshwater pearls. The Man Sang Group is principally engaged in the purchasing, processing, assembling, merchandising and wholesale distribution of pearls, pearl jewelry and other jewelry products. In addition, the Man Sang Group owns and operates the Man Sang Industrial City, an industrial complex, located in Gong Ming Zhen, Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, PRC.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are, by their nature, subject to risks and uncertainties. This Act provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information about themselves so long as they identify these statements as forward-looking and provide meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ from the projected results. All statements, including statements regarding industry prospects and future results of operations or financial position, made in this press release are forward looking. Words such as “may,” "believes," “will,” "expect," "project," “estimate,” "intend," “anticipate,” “plan,” “continue”" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to: the Company's future performance, the Company's expansion efforts, the state of economic conditions and the Company's market. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors the Company believes to be appropriate in particular circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the Company's expectations and predictions depends on a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, any or all of which could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the Company's expectations, whether expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements (which may relate to, among other things, the Company's sales, costs and expenses, income, inventory performance, and receivables). Primarily engaged in the processing and trading of pearls and pearl jewelry products, and in real estate investment, the Company's ability to achieve its objectives and expectations are derived at least in part from assumptions regarding economic conditions, consumer tastes, and developments in its competitive environment. The following assumptions, among others, could materially affect the likelihood that the Company will achieve its objectives and expectations communicated through these forward-looking statements: (i) that low or negative growth in the economies or the financial markets of its customers, particularly in the United States and in Europe, will not occur and reduce discretionary spending on goods that might be perceived as "luxuries"; (ii) that the Hong Kong dollar will remain pegged to the US dollar at US$1 to HK$7.8; (iii) that customer's choice of pearls vis-à-vis other precious stones and metals will not change adversely; (iv) that the Company will continue to obtain a stable supply of pearls in the quantities, of the quality and on terms required by the Company; (v) that there will not be a substantial adverse change in the exchange relationship between the renminbi ("RMB") and the Hong Kong or US dollar; (vi) that there will not be substantial increase in tax burden of subsidiaries of the Company operating in the PRC; (vii) that there will not be substantial change in climate and environmental conditions at the source regions of pearls that could have material effect on the supply and pricing of pearls; and (viii) that there will not be substantial adverse change in the real estate market conditions in the PRC and in Hong Kong. This press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and with the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company will not publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements after the date hereof. Readers are urged, however, to review the factors set forth in reports that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts

Man Sang Holdings, Inc.
Mr. Martin Pak, (852) 2317 9369
martinp@man-sang.com
or
The Altman Group
Patricia Baronowski
Pbaronowski@altmangroup.com

EU Funds Study To Help Ailing Black Pearl Industry

2008-04-07T03:40:00.000-07:00

Source:
http://www.pacificmagazine.net

The European Union has earmarked some US$5.8 million as part of a plan to reform and boost French Polynesia's ailing black pearl industry, Maritime Resource Minister Keitapu Maamaatuaiahutapu announced late last week.

The scheme is part of the EU's 9th EDF (European Development Fund), which initially covered the 2002-2007 period, Maamaatuaiahutapu told reporters.

The project, which is scheduled to run over a three-year period from 2008 to 2010), involves on-site training by roving experts for black pearl farmers, with a particular focus on quality control and productivity.

Another facet of the project concerns a survey on the state of the international market opportunities for French Polynesian black pearls.

Once completed, the survey would give rise to recommendations on how the industry, which has been facing tough competition from neighboring Cook Islands and even Fiji, should rethink its international marketing strategy.

China Pearls and Jewellery City to open in April

2008-03-04T18:56:00.000-08:00

Source: http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/

March 04, 2008

Zhuji, China—China Pearls and Jewellery City (CP and J City), a manufacturing, importing, exporting and trading center, and year-round exhibition space for pearls and jewelry, will celebrate its grand opening at a ceremony on April 18.

Located in Zhuji, China, in the eastern coastal province of Zhejiang, the entire site will take up an area of 1.2 million meters squared, or nearly 300 acres.

Among the facilities and services available at CP and J will be a center for manufacturing, processing and trading pearls, jewelry, accessories and equipment; more than 5,000 shops and booths; a year-round platform for exhibition, display and trade; warehouse and logistics facilities; import and export, banking and insurance services; a five-star hotel, restaurants, entertainment and residential facilities; and an international jewelry appraisal and training center.

On April 18, phase one of CP and J's Market Centre, an area for pearl and jewelry shops and booths, will be open for business. Attendees of the grand opening event will also have the opportunity to visit the Third China Zhuji Xishi Cultural Festival and the Sixth China Pearl Festival.

For more information, e-mail info@cpjcity.com.

Detailed story from http://www.cpjcity.com/

China Pearls and Jewellery City (“CP & J City), situated in Shanxiahu Town, Zhuji, Zhejiang Province, is a core project that the Zhuji Government has undertaken. The total investment of the project is over RMB3 billion, and the planned site area of Phase 1 is about 410,000 m 2 .

CP&J City shall offer all- new growth potentials, ample business opportunities and comprehensive service to all business runners in the pearl and jewellery industry. Major product lines to be traded at the City shall include a full range of raw pearl, pearl products as well as pearl jewellery, including freshwater pearl, South Sea pearl, Tahitian pearl; other product lines shall include jewellery made of gold, platinum, silver diamonds, gemstones and semi-precious stones. The multi-functions of the city shall range from manufacturing, processing, assembling, research and development, designing, wholesaling, retailing, ordinary and bonded warehousing, delivering, e-commerce, convention, exhibiting and all the way down to a full range of related professional services.

With over 5,000 booths and shops, the project will serve as:

• a global pearl and jewellery production and processing centre,

• a distribution and logistic centre,

• a branded product display and trading centre,

• a capital circulation and industry information release centre,

• a jewellery cultural exchange, business travel and shopping centre, and

• a sales and marketing headquarters of local and international branded manufacturers.

CP&J City shall be divided into five major areas, namely the Jewelry Raw Materials and Accessories, Finished Products and Tools and Equipment Trade Area, Exhibition Area, Manufacturing and Processing Area, Business Service Area and Supporting Facilities Area. It is an integration of the prominent features of jewellery industry with a gigantic business scale and a comprehensive range of supporting facilities of a modern and international standard.

It is expected that Phase I of CP&J City shall have a site area of approximately 350,000 m 2 and a construction area of approximately 50 0 ,000 m 2 . The Trade Area in Phase I will consist of over 2,400 shops and booths, varying in different sizes (5m x 12m x 3 storeys, 4m x 8m x 2 storeys, or 3m x 3m x 1 storey etc.). They are installed with central conditioning or independent air- conditioners and within easy access to the flow of visitors from all directions. Other value- adding elements are their artificial intelligent functions as well as superb furnishings. Supporting facilities serving this gigantic pearl and jewellery trade platform shall include office buildings, five-star hotels, living quarters as well as leisure zones and green areas.

Christie’s set to host $25m auction

2008-03-03T17:21:00.000-08:00

source: http://www.business24-7.ae

By Maha Obeid on Monday, March 3 , 2008

(SUPPLIED)

The charm, style and elegance of legendary Egyptian singer Um Kulthum will be rediscovered when one of her most precious items of jewellery goes under the hammer next month. Um Kulthum was born to a poor family in a village in the Nile Delta of Egypt and carved her name in history as one of the most famous Arab singers of the 20th century.

Her repertoire included more than 300 songs with themes ranging from love to nationalism to religion. The majority were sung in colloquial Arabic; although some were in classical Arabic, written by famous poets.

She was born in 1904 and died on February 4, 1975. Fans all over the world mourned her death and more than four million people attended her funeral, which was the second largest in Egyptian history after President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Um Kulthum was a favourite of Nasser and presidents around the world, including Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late ruler of the UAE.

Sheikh Zayed, the founder and first president of the UAE, presented the singer with a magnificent natural pearl necklace. It is now in the public eye because the singer’s family have decided to sell it. Christie’s will auction it on April 29 at the Contemporary Jewels and Watches sale at Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai.

This will be Christie’s fourth series of sales of contemporary jewels and watches/international modern and contemporary art in Dubai. These sales, held in spring and autumn each year, began in May 2006.

The interest in art and jewellery is almost equal in the region – at the November 1, 2007 jewellery auction, sales reached $16.5 million (Dh61m). At the October 31, 2007 art auction, sales hit $15m.

The significance of the Um Kulthum sale centres around her as “one of the most famous Arab women in history”, Michael Jeha, Managing Director Christie’s Middle East, told Emirates Business. Christie’s expects a lot of interest in the pearl necklace, conservatively estimated at $80,000 to $120,000.

“We expect it to exceed its estimate. The provenance of the piece can affect its value, people love to buy provenance, they love to buy into history. It adds to the piece and increases its value.”

Christie’s opened its representative office in Dubai in April 2005 and has so far staged five auctions in the Middle East, achieving over $61m in sales. According to Jeha, the weakening of the US dollar has not impacted Christie’s sales.

“There are more people now looking at art as a form of investment. People see it as a way of diversifying their assets. We have such an extensive international base of clients, so the weakening of the dollar is not affecting sales.”

The combined fame of Um Kulthum and the fact that the late Sheikh Zayed donated the necklace makes it even more of a collector’s item, Jeha explained.

The necklace boasts approximately 1,888 pearls. It is an antique nine-row pearl necklace with multi-coloured enamel and white stone details, in the style of a traditional Indian Satlada necklace, and was created circa 1880.

“She used to treat the pearl necklace with absolute care and it was one of her favourites because it was given to her by the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nayhan, the founder of the UAE,” according to a member of the singer’s family.

The heirloom will be one of 33 lots of pearls in a special pearl collection. In addition to the pearls, there will be 180 to 200 lots of jewels and watches.

“For the first time in the Middle East, we have created a dedicated pearl section. It’s a very exciting section and it contains two of the largest pearls in the world. We think it’s a great idea because Dubai at one time was the centre of the pearl trade so it is steeped in tradition.

"Through this auction, we want to help make Dubai to the centre of the pearl market. The pre-auction estimate is $18 to $25 million – which will be the highest value we have ever had in the Middle East and we hope will take the market to a new level,” Jeha said.

Christie’s experts have collected from the pearls all over the world.

“They source them from around the world – from private sources as well as from the trade, from a huge base of clients. They spend three to four months flying around the world sourcing these. It is very much a global collection,” Jeha said.

The top lots include an exceedingly rare pearl, valued at $600,000 to $800,000. According to Christie’s, it is almost certainly the largest example of its colour in the world – a yellow to pinkish-orange natural pearl, 241.44 grains (60.36 carats).

It is the second largest round pearl ever recorded, and the fourteenth largest natural pearl. There is also a natural pearl and diamond pendent necklace, valued at $120,000 to $150,000.

According to Jeha, Christie’s is expecting at least 50 per cent of bidders to be international, from art capitals such as Geneva, London, New York, Paris and Hong Kong. The target market is also art collectors in the UAE and Middle East – including Arab, European and Indian expats.

In addition to that, Christie’s is seeing “more and more local participation”. The jewels and watches auction will act as a precursor to the art auction on April 30. The art line-up will include some of the finest works by Arab and Iranian artists.

Highlights include a work by Syrian artist Fateh Moudarres at $200,000/$300,000, Lebanese artist Paul Guiragossian at $200,000/$300,000 and Iranian sculptor Parviz Tanavoli at $400,000/$600,000.

The sale also features a strong Western section, with a sculpture from Robert Indiana’s love series, valued at $1m to $1.5m. The pre-sale value of the entire auction is approximately $10m to 12m.

Designer Jewels

The trend of celebrities showing off the most precious and beautiful jewellery has continued since Um Kulthum’s era and now the favourite place to show-off the latest designs is the red carpet.

At the 80th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood last month, Australian actress Nicole Kidman debuted a stunning rough and polished diamond sautoir necklace designed by L’Wren Scott.

The spectacular sautoir, worn with a long, black dress, contains a total of 7,645 diamonds including rough, faceted, and polished diamonds, which total nearly 1,400 carats.

The sautoir was produced and manufactured by Uni-Design Limited in Paris and

India

It uses a wide range of shapes and cuts of diamonds.

Each diamond was individually selected by Scott to fit together into an overall design.

The intricate design was handcrafted and required more than 6,200 hours to create.

L’Wren Scott is a former model and now a talented designer of both a luxury clothing line and diamond jewellery.

During her career in fashion she has established many loyal fans and she is one of the preferred stylists to celebrities and the fashion world alike.

RELATED STORIES

Source: http://www.dubaicityguide.com/

Christies To Auction Um Kulthums Pearl Necklace In The Middle East In April 2008

Magnificent Necklace Gifted To Um Kulthum By His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan The Late President Of The United Arab Emirates To Be Sold By Family Descendents

Christie’s is proud to announce the sale of a magnificent natural pearl necklace that belonged to Um Kulthum (1904-1975). Unquestionably the greatest Arab singer of the 20th century, Um Kulthum was known as ‘The Shining Star of the Middle East’ (Kawkab El Sharq), and her importance in the Arab countries was so great that she was received with the same ceremony as heads of state. The necklace, which was gifted to Um Kulthum by His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late ruler of the UAE, is being sold by family descendents. It is expected to fetch $80,000-120,000 when it is sold as a star lot in the forthcoming auction of Contemporary Jewels and Watches to be staged by Christie’s in Dubai on 29 April 2008.

“Christie’s is thrilled to be offering this historic jewel from one of the greatest icons of the twentieth century”, said David Warren, Director of Jewellery Middle East.

The antique nine-row pearl necklace with multi-coloured enamel and white stone details, in the style of a traditional Indian Satlada necklace, was created circa 1880 (estimate: $80,000-120,000), and consists of approximately 1,888 pearls. It was gifted to Um Kulthum by His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late ruler of the UAE and is being offered for sale at Christie’s by family descendents. “She used to treat the pearl necklace with absolute care and it was one of her favourites because it was given to her by the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nayhan, the founder of the UAE”, remembers a family member of the late star. This magnificent necklace is one of the highlights of a 33 lot strong selection of natural pearls to be offered in the forthcoming sale of Contemporary Jewels and Watches, one of the most significant offerings of natural pearls to the market for decades, and expected to fetch in the region of $7 million (please see separate press release).

Um Kulthum’s repertoire included more than 300 songs with themes ranging from love to nationalism to religion. The majority were sung in colloquial Arabic; although some were in classical Arabic, written by famous poets. She was extremely selective in the choice of verses and frequently had the authors change words if their resonance for her was not perfect.

Um Kulthum was relentless in her charitable work and was the spokeswoman for numerous good causes. She advocated governmental support of Arabic music and musicians, she endowed a charitable foundation and, most importantly, after the Egyptian defeat in the 1967 war, she began a series of domestic and international concerts for Egypt. She traveled throughout the Arab world, collecting contributions and donating the proceeds of her performances to the government of Egypt. Um Kulthum was entertained by heads of state, she toured cultural monuments, and, in interviews, repeated her views concerning the importance of support for indigenous Arab culture.

When on February 4th, 1975, Egyptian radio aired the chanting of the Qur’an, it was the sign that someone important has died. Um Kulthum’s funeral drew more than four million people to the streets of Cairo to publicly mourn her passing. In her honour the Egyptian government opened the Kawkab al-Sharq Museum at the Manesterli Palace (Star of the East), dedicated to the life and work of Um Kulthum. The museum contains many of her personal items as well as her dresses and even her famous eye glasses.

Almost 33 years to the day after her death, she is still heard daily on the radio and her albums are top sellers. Described as ‘The Incomparable Voice’ by Maria Callas, Um Kulthum was more than a musician - she became the voice and face of Egypt. Today Um Kulthum’s memory and image is widely celebrated; Egyptian artist Chant Avedissian, whose works regularly feature in Christie’s auctions of International Modern and Contemporary Art, is represented in the current ‘Word into Art’ Exhibition at the DIFC, Dubai with his homage to Um Kulthum

“Christie’s is proud to be offering for sale Um Kulthum’s necklace, one of the most famous Arab women in history, and we look forward with great excitement to our 29th April sale which will contain some of the finest natural pearls in the world” concluded Michael Jeha, Managing Director, Middle East.

Dubai unveils 'Pearls of Arabia' Project

2008-02-29T16:28:00.000-08:00

Source: http://www.jckonline.com

The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre on Monday unveiled plans for “Pearls of Arabia,” a project that will feature offshore entertainment, retail, and educational components. This project is the first stage of Dubai’s plan of reestablishing the emirate as a center for the global pearl trade.

In association with Paspaley Pearling Co. PTY Ltd, DMCC will establish a 6,000-square-meter "Experience Centre" at The World, a housing and business development of man-made islands in the shape of a world map off the coast of Dubai. The new pearl center will be built in Antarctica.

The project will include a pearl-themed cultural heritage centre, a performing arts theatre, an exhibition gallery, and a themed restaurant alongside boutiques inviting participation from the leading international names in the pearl industry. Visitors will travel to this destination by water ferries—transporting them across the manmade archipelago of 300 islands and into the region’s storied past. The facility is expected to be complete by the end of 2010.

"Less than a century ago, pearling was the very lifeblood of Arabia, accounting for some 80,000 jobs in the UAE alone and representing 95 percent of the country’s total revenues," said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman, DMCC. "Pearls of Arabia presents age-old wisdom in a modern and contemporary fashion to revive the region’s historic legacy for the benefit of future generations."

DMCC’s objective is to develop the global and regional pearl market with specific focus on trading, grading, trade events, and auctions alongside trade and consumer education. The Pearls of Arabia project represents a component of Dubai’s strategy. The Dubai Pearl Exchange creates important opportunities for the international pearl trade by providing an exclusive trading platform and a facilitated free-trade environment for regional and international pearl traders.

DMCC also will investigate the introduction of a uniform certification for pearls, based on globally recognized quality parameters. This certification would be developed in conjunction with leading gem certification bodies to generate increased confidence in the pearl trade. Certificates issued from the emirate would have the official imprimatur of the Dubai Government.

Left to right: Nicholas Paspaley, executive chairman, Paspaley Pearling Co. PTY Ltd; Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman, DMCC; and Gaiti Rabbani, executive director, Coloured Stones and Pearls, DMCC. During the unveiling of Pearls of Arabia at The World.

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Source: http://www.themedialine.org

Dubai’s Pearl Industry to Shine Again Written by Adam Gonn
Published Thursday, February 28, 2008

Nowadays Dubai is known as the miracle economy of the Gulf, managing to turn its oil wealth into a diverse economy.

Less than a century ago, however, the Gulf was home to some of the best pearls in the world, due to the formation of the seabed, the temperature and shallowness of the water.

Some 80,000 men were involved in pearling in the UAE alone and the sale of pearls represented 95 percent of the country's revenues. It is this heritage that Dubai’s Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) plans to present in the new Dubai Pearl Museum, which will house special types of pearls from various regions.

The new museum will be the second one in the Emirate. The current pearl museum is located in the National Bank of Dubai (NBD) headquarters in Deira. The first museum was established when NBD's founder-chairman, Sultan Al Owais, one of Dubai's most important pearl merchants, poets and philanthropists, donated his pearl collection.

The plans for the museum are being presented in conjunction with the establishment of a Dubai Pearl Exchange in mid-April, which aims to re-establish Dubai as a global center for pearl trading.

The two centers will be located on "Antarctica" at The World, a man-made island cluster on the Dubai coastline, as part of the approximately 7000-square meter Pearl of Arabia cultural heritage center, which will also include a performing arts theater, an exhibition gallery and restaurants, alongside boutiques to be run by top pearl fashion houses.

Source: http://www.diamondintelligence.com

DMCC UNVEILS 'PEARLS OF ARABIA' PROJECT TO REVITALIZE DUBAI'S GLOBAL PEARL TRADE

The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) is unveiling “Pearls of Arabia,” a project intended to reestablish the emirate as a center for the global pearl trade. The project, which will feature an offshore entertainment, retail and education center, is expected to be completed in 2010. The DMCC’s objective with the project is to develop the global and regional pearl market with specific focus on trading, grading, trade events and auctions alongside trade and consumer education

In association with Paspaley Pearling Co. PTY Ltd., a south sea pearl company and producer, the DMCC will establish a 6,000-square-meter Experience Centre on Antarctica at The Worlds Islands. As part of the Experience Centre, there will be a pearl-themed cultural heritage center, a performing arts theater, an exhibition gallery and a themed restaurant alongside boutiques inviting participation from the leading international names in the pearl industry. The destination will be accessible to visitors by water ferries.

“Less than a century ago, pearling was the very lifeblood of Arabia, accounting for some 80,000 jobs in the UAE alone and representing 95 percent of the country’s total revenues,” says Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC. “‘Pearls of Arabia’ presents an age-old wisdom in a modern and contemporary fashion to revive the region’s historic legacy for the benefit of future generations.”

Nicholas Paspaley, Executive Chairman of Paspaely Pearling Co. PTY Ltd., says, “Historically, Dubai served as the world’s hub in the trade of fine-quality natural pearls. Now, almost 100 years later, we are delighted to collaborate with DMCC to revitalize the region’s traditional association with pearls…. Dubai will present to the world the best selection of pearls and pearl jewellery that the 21^st century pearling industry has to offer, and will showcase the beautiful history and story of pearls.”

As part of its Pearl Strategy, the DMCC plans to investigate the introduction of a uniform certification for pearls, in conjunction with leading international gem certification bodies.

First International Pearl Convention

2008-02-20T16:23:00.000-08:00

source: http://www.gia.edu/

Emmanuel Fritsch of the University of Nantes (France) and Stefanos Karampelas of the University of Thessaloniki (Greece) attended the First International Pearl Convention in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nov. 19-20, 2007. Following is their report on some of the highlights:

Organized by the Dubai-based Pearl Revival Committee to raise the profile of natural pearls from the Persian Gulf (referred to locally as the "Arabian Gulf") and to discuss related issues, the conference included a seminar dedicated to technical issues and a summit focused on production and marketing.

Technical Seminar

Figure 1. These natural pearls, shown on a shell from the host Pinctada radiata, were recovered from the Persian Gulf. Photo by Nicholas Sturman.

Kenneth Scarratt (GIA Thailand) described the wide variety of mollusks that can produce pearls and argued that the term "pearl" should be applied to both nacreous and non-nacreous materials, such as conch pearls. He also told participants to "keep their minds open" to the theory that pearls may nucleate on a grain of sand, and displayed X-radiographs of pearls with minuscule shells in their centers. Elisabeth Strack (Hamburg, Germany) pointed out that natural freshwater pearls come from numerous locations, including lesser-known ones such as northwest Russia. She also discussed terminology and taxonomy issues (e.g., the vast majority of pearl "oysters" are actually not classified biologically as oysters). Shigeru Akamatsu (Mikimoto & Co., Tokyo) reviewed the history of pearl culturing. Among other issues, he discussed the present status of the Japanese akoya product, which is suffering from "red tides" and over-warm water temperatures. He said there are plans to move to a smaller but higher-quality production, mostly by limiting the number of pearl farms and number of shells under cultivation to reduce stress on the animals.

Nicholas Sturman (Gem & Pearl Testing Laboratory, Bahrain) reviewed pearl testing techniques, saying he prefers X-ray luminescence over measuring manganese content to separate freshwater from saltwater pearls. He also reminded the audience that production of natural pearls in the Persian Gulf (figure 1) is quite small today, with pearl fishing more a hobby than a commercial enterprise. Stephen Kennedy (Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain, London) reviewed pearl treatments and their detection, noting that some "chocolate" pearls, for example, are created by the bleaching and subsequent dyeing of gray-to-black pearls.

These contributors pointed out the importance of unsubstituted, short, polyacetylenic molecules ("polyenes") in the coloration of freshwater cultured and many other pearls, rather than carotenoids, which are found only in the pen-shell pearls of the genus Pinna. Sutas Singbamroong (Dubai Gemstone Laboratory, UAE) presented a preliminary study of Persian Gulf natural pearls, which are mainly small, white-to-"cream" colored (with about 2-3 percent yellow), and grow in a variety of shapes.

The technical seminar concluded with a panel discussion on how pearl certification can help the industry. Among other issues, the point was made that nacre quality is as important as nacre thickness. Lower-quality nacre can be recognized by its chalkier appearance, the defects it induces around drill holes and the presence of thicker-than-average conchiolin layers just beneath the surface, as seen in X-radiographs.

Production

Figure 2. These 8+ mm cultured pearls were harvested in 2007 from the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. Photo by Douglas McLaurin.

A number of speakers addressed pearl production. Daniele Naveau (Robert Wan, Tahiti) discussed efforts to reduce the number of Tahitian farms in order to increase quality, in particular to ensure that nacre thickness exceeds 0.8 mm. Enrique Arizmendi (Perlas del Mar de Cortez, Guaymas, Mexico) described the history of natural pearl production in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico, which ended in 1914. Current efforts with the Pteria sterna have resulted in annual production of about 3.5 kg of multicolored cultured pearls (figure 2).

Three presenters addressed the incredible boom in Chinese freshwater cultured pearls: Shi Hongyue (Gems and Jewellery Trade Association of China), Dr. Qiu Zhili (SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou), and He Naihua (China's World Pearl Association). Production has risen from the first 0.61 kg of whitish "rice krispies" from Cristaria plicata in 1971 to the current 1,500 tons of larger, often colored cultured pearls from the Hyriopsis genus (an increase of more than a million-fold). Only about 5 percent of the cultured pearls are gem grade, and rounds represent less than 10 percent of the production. During the summit, Chinese delegates displayed several round white-to-purple freshwater cultured pearls of modest luster but very large size, about 17 mm. There is also a small production of saltwater cultured pearls from the Pinctada martensii (but the nacre is thin, 0.2-0.6 mm) and mabÃ© from the Pteria penguin.

Stephen Arrow (Arrow Pearls, Broome, Western Australia) presented the history and current status of large South Sea cultured pearls from Pinctada maxima on the northwestern Australian coast. Good-quality rounds do not exceed 21 mm in diameter and require about six years of cultivation. Sarkis Hajjar (Belpearl, Antwerp, Belgium) discussed the culturing of pink-to-purple freshwater pearls in Lake Kasumiga, Japan, based on the hybrid Hyriopsis cumingii x H. schlegelii. About 10 kg of such pearls are produced annually, with other cultivation sites currently being sought.

Economics and Marketing
Both speakers on economics and marketing lamented the lack of reliable statistics for pearl jewelry and the industry. Tawfique Abdullah (Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group) regretted the poor communication between producers, manufacturers and retailers, and argued for harmonization of standards among the various producing regions. He added that the pearl industry spends less than one percent of the production value on promotion, as compared to the 20-40 percent spent by other luxury goods. Naheed Anees (ARY Academy of Gems & Jewelry, Dubai) pointed out that the Gulf Cooperation Council countries represent 9 percent of the world's jewelry market, and that per capita jewelry consumption in UAE is about 20 times the world's average. She recommended developing programs to educate consumers about pearls, in particular about imitations, which are still common in the Middle Eastern market. She also proposed developing effective marketing techniques to show that pearl jewelry is no longer "old-fashioned," but rather can be innovative as well as inexpensive.

Atlas South Sea Pearl harvest results; targets

2008-01-17T16:43:00.000-08:00

source: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/

Sydney, Jan 17, 2008

Atlas South Sea Pearl Ltd (ASX:ATP) harvested 185,600 pearls (109,600 momme) in 2007, compared with 234,200 pearls (93,300 momme) in 2006.

Revenue from the sale of loose pearls in 2007 was $13.3m, against $10.8m in 2006.

Revenue from the sale of loose wholesale pearls increased 27pc in Japanese yen terms in 2007 versus 2006 but the stronger Australian dollar resulted in an increase of only 23pc in reported results.

The quantities of pearls sold in 2006 and 2007 were similar but with larger average pearl size in 2007, the weight was improved.

Atlas expects to harvest more than 200,000 pearls in 2008 and more than 250,000 pearls in 2009.

The group's total sales revenue for 2007 is in the order of $14.5m with the additional income generated from jewellery, by-product and other services.

Operating profit is expected to be around $5.4m, as previously projected.

The company's future objectives are to:

increase pearl production 60pc within five years from the introduction of the Malaysia project;

lift pearl sales revenue 80pc to $24m within five years;

expand the vertical integration of the business to take advantage of further value-adding opportunities, build strong brand recognition and increase geographic and product risk diversification.

Atlas South Sea Pearl reaffirms guidance

2008-01-17T16:40:00.000-08:00

source: The Sydney Morning Herald

January 17, 2008 - 5:32PM

Pearl farmer Atlas South Sea Pearl Ltd says it expects its harvest to increase in 2008 and reconfirmed its net profit guidance for calendar 2007.

Atlas expects a net profit of around $5.4 million for its just-ended financial year, which finished on 31 December 20007, although results are subject to audit and board approval.

The Western Australia-based company, which specialises in producing white, silver and gold South Sea pearls, harvested 185,600 pearls in 2007, down from 234,200 in 2006.

Atlas said although the quantity of pearls harvested declined in 2007, the average pearl size was larger.

It expects to harvest more than 200,000 pearls in 2008.

The company said pearl quality has been enhanced over the past few years.

"The ongoing genetics research that is being undertaken with James Cook University (in Townsville) is already having a positive impact on the company's farming practices," it said.

"Breeding has commenced with selected oyster families with strong growth traits."

Through its Indonesian subsidiary, PT Cendana Indopearls, Atlas operates pearl farms across the Indonesian archipelago, including Bali, Lombok and West Papua.

In 2008, a new pearling venture in Sabah, Malaysia, will begin, which the company says will allow it to expand its jewellery manufacturing capabilities.

"Malaysia is likely to provide better opportunities for expanding Atlas's pearl jewellery manufacturing capabilities.

"It has a strong jewellery industry and a well-educated and trained workforce."

Atlas said planning was underway for it to expand this part of the business.

"Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and other South-East Asian countries are attractive in terms of expanding the jewellery brand through retail outlets, either owned or licensed."

In 2007, Atlas paid a fully franked dividend of 4 cents per share.

Atlas shares closed up 2.5 cents to 41 cents.

World is their oyster for pearl divers

2007-12-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

source: http://www.gulfnews.com

By Marten Youssef, Staff Reporter
Published: December 01, 2007, 01:14

Abu Dhabi: Over the years thousands of people dived into the shallow depths of the Arabian Gulf searching for a treasure tucked away in the rugged shells of oysters.

Divers lived in dire conditions and risked their lives for the slight chance of a fortune being discovered in this tiny creature.

Pearls have been a symbol of wealth for centuries.

No region has produced more natural pearls than the Gulf.

"The oldest known natural pearl was found here in the Gulf and archaeologists say it is 7,000 years old," said Abdullah Al Muaini, head of the gemstone unit at the Dubai Central Laboratory.

The warm, shallow waters of the Gulf produced some of the world's most sought-after natural pearls.

"Our pearls were sold to Europeans and Asians until the 1960s when oil was discovered and Japan began to harvest oysters, mass producing pearls that looked as natural as ours, but at a fraction of the price," Al Muaini said.

"Pearling was an incredible asset for our economy. So many people were reliant on pearldiving for their livelihoods," he said.

Stories about pearldiving became legends, part of the folklore; books were written about the dedication to pearling. "All that withered away and the chapter was closed for what many people thought was definite," Al Muaini said.

Gay Gahan, a pearl and jewellery enthusiast and collector dedicated to reviving the pearl industry, said the unique thing about the pearl is that it takes as long as nine years to form.

"Your average buyer doesn't know these things and can't tell the difference between a pearl from Tahiti or a pearl from China," said Gahan.

The process of making a pearl has changed drastically since companies have figured out a way to manipulate the oyster either genetically or physically.

Knowledge

"Long before techniques were discovered to produce a round pearl, the oyster yielded all kinds of shapes. You inserted a tiny ball into the shell of the oyster around which it wraps a material called nacre, creating the pearl."

He said today there are hardly any natural pearls. "What we have today are cultured pearls. This is the process where a foreign body is encased by the oyster's nacre.

"That is often a thin coating and can take years for the oyster to produce. You cannot tell the depth of the nacre without an X-ray," said Gahan.

For the average consumer, the depth of the pearl is irrelevant. "It is the size that counts."

A group of jewellers, enthusiasts and collectors is now committed to bringing the shine back to the pearl industry.

Nobody probably knows more about pearling and the pearl industry than Khalid Al Sayegh. Born into a family of jewellers, Al Sayegh inherited the passion for pearls when he was just 13.

"When I was very young, I visited the late Shaikh Zayed several times to present him with some of the finest pearls. He would marvel at them. I remember him asking lots of questions and he became quite passionate about the pearling industry. Today, we are helping to fulfil the legacy he started," Al Sayegh said.

At 34, Al Sayegh is a founder of the International Pearl Revival Committee.

He financed the first International Pearl Seminar and Summit last month.

The four-day event in Abu Dhabi included delegations of world-renowned jewellers, gemologists, marine biologists, historians, educators and enthusiasts.

"Before we can speak to the public about pearls we needed to think together with the brightest minds about the future of pearling and the industry. We need to work together. I believe we must walk before we can run and this is only the first of many conferences to come," Al Sayegh said.

The delegates were flown to an island in the Gulf to get a glimpse and to reignite the image of pearling as it once was. This visit took the delegates to the island of Delma, 200 kilometres northwest of Abu Dhabi, to the pearl museum and the harbour where dhows ventured out to look for pearls.

"It's mind-boggling to imagine that people made fortunes on these shores," said Daniele Naveau, Managing Director of the Robert Wan Tahiti Jewellery, as she watched a dhow coming into te Delma Harbour.

The controversy over natural versus cultured pearls, and the layman's inability to distinguish between them is what motivates Naveau to pursue a standardisation system in which pearls would be graded, certified and valuated.

Genetic modifications

"The challenge with that is that you have China, which is able to produce thousands of pearls at such a fast rate. It usually takes us years to harvest our pearls whereas in China they have somehow been able to make as much 70 pearls from one oyster.

"They have clearly genetically modified the oysters to be able to change the colours and shapes of the pearls as well. And there is no international framework to guide them so they can really keep on doing what they want to do and that is hurting the industry and the culture of pearls," Naveau said.

Her company is on a small island off the coast of Tahiti.

"What makes Tahitian pearls so sought-after is that the conditions in which they are cultured allow the oysters to produce the most beautiful round shapes with incredibly deep colours," Naveau said.

One man who believes that the UAE has an industry for natural pearls is archaeologist Fat'hi Abdullah. Born and raised in Egypt, Abdullah has worked in Iraq and Syria. He came to Delma in 1993 and since then he has been dedicated to reviving thepearling industry.

"It is not a question of if it will be revived, it's a question of when," Abdullah said.

Pearl industry expected to grow into a $3bn industry by 2010

2007-11-23T04:22:00.000-08:00

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com
The global pearl industry is expected to grow into a $3bn industry by 2010, according to the first industry report on Pearl industry, which was released in Abu Dhabi

Currently, the global pearl farming is a $1.5-bn industry. In value terms, more than 50 per cent of this trade is composed of black pearls. The report was released by International Pearl Revival Committee during their first international pearl convention. The findings of the report were revealed in presence of Industry stalwarts and luminaries by Chairman of the Pearl Revival Committee Khaled Al Sayegh. 'Various socio-economic and political forces are driving the pace of change in the natural pearl industry. The report indicates that in the future, the world wide Pearl industry will see sluggish growth of pearl jewellery sales and also an emergence of new markets,' Khaled said during his speech. The study gives insight on the current size and scale of the value chain, identifying trends that will have an impact on the future, predicting the likely state of the industry by 2010, recommending initiatives, and developing a roadmap for various players given the expected changes in the environment.

Market for pearls
According to the statistics given in the report, recent changes in seawater pearl production have been quite phenomenal. Production volumes of South Sea pearls (SSPs) from the white-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada maxima, were forecast to exceed 2,400 kan, a Japanese unit of mass (or nine tonnes) during 2006. This is a record. It is a stunning 2.6 times more than just six years ago. In spite of this tremendous increase in weight, the value only increased from $217 m in 1999 to an estimated $248m in 2005. This is an increase of only 14 per cent. In terms of Japanese yen, the values remain unchanged at 26bn. As on date, cultured South Sea pearls account for only one per cent of global production of pearls. In terms of value, Australia is the leader, with a market share of almost 50 per cent. Australian pearls are also on top when we talk quality and size and, consequently, unit price. Indonesia comes first when we talk about the number of oysters operated, the number of pearls produced, and their weight, which exceeds this year the 1,000 kan mark. The white SSP, in the context of the total seawater pearl production, has further expanded its 'market share' and stands now at almost 50 per cent. In spite of the tremendous increase in the production weight of white SSPs, the global seawater pearl market has not expanded in value during the past six years. It hovers around the $500m mark.

sheikha mai opens first international pearl convention

2007-11-21T14:30:00.000-08:00

source: www.albawaba.com

1. Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Assistant Under-secretary for the Sector of Culture and Heritage in Bahrain’s Ministry of Information, opens first international Pearl Convention in Abu Dhabi on Monday. (pic attached as sheikha Mai)
2. Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Assistant Under-secretary for the Sector of Culture and Heritage in Bahrain’s Ministry of Information, Khaled Al Sayegh, Chairman of International Pearl Revival Committee, Dr. Gaitone Cavalieri, president of CIBJO at the opening ceremony of first international pearl convention. ((pic attached as IPC opening)
Abu Dhbai, November 19, 2007 - HH Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Assistant Under-secretary for the Sector of Culture and Heritage in Bahrain’s Ministry of Information, has opened the first International Pearl convention, the in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Convention expected to bridge yesterday’s tradition with tomorrows market needs corresponding to the changing fashion needs of new generation. “The convention will indeed lay the foundation for a remarkable and unique revival that gives us back our wonderful history within the pearl industry,” said Shaikha Mai, during her opening speech. “Currently, the global pearl farming is a $1.5-billion industry. In value terms, more than 50 per cent of this trade is composed of black pearls. Revival of the pearl industry is expected to boost the region's economy as a whole, which is now trying to tap more from non-oil industry,” she added.During his speech, Chairman of the Internatianal Pearl Revivival committee, Khaled Al Sayegh, said, “Though pearling has been an important economic activity in the Gulf region since ancient times, and pearling flourusihed from the latter half of the 19th century to the early decades of the 20th century, the discovery of oil and the invention of cultured pearls seemingly has put an end to the old days. But there is a purposeful effort to reestablish the pearling industry in the UAE. With this end in view, we have decided to host the First International Pearl Convention.”
Speakers at the four day long convention include Dr. Gaitone Cavalieri has now served as president of CIBJO for more than five years, Kenneth Scarratt Director of research for GIA Research Thailand and has 30 years of experience as a laboratory gemologist, Elisabeth Strack, from Gemmologisches Institut Hamburg, Germany, Stephen J. Kennedy Gemologist of the Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain. Worked and researched a lot in pearl treatment in past years, Nicholas Sturman gemological advisor of the Gem & Pearl Testing Laboratory, Manama, Bahrain, with experience more than 15 years in pearl testing, Shigeru Akamatsu General Manager, Sales Promotion Department, Mikimoto and Sutas Singbamorong Gem specialist Dubai central laboratory with experience more than 10 years in gemology had a lot of researches in gemstone and pearl.
"Historically, the world's best pearls came from the Gulf. They were naturally created and collected by breath-holding divers. The discovery of large deposits of oil put an abrupt end to pearl industry in early 1930's. Those who once fished pearls sought prosperity in the economic boom ushered in by the oil industry," said Abdulla Abdelqadir Al Muaini, head of Dubai Gemstone Lab Dubai Central Laboratory and officer on special duty, IPC & chairman of the organizing committee for seminars and summit.
"This initiative marks the re-initiation of our native trade which is also very close to our cultural heritage. In this region, pearl diving was the chief means of earning a livelihood, in the early 20th century. The seas surrounding the UAE were home to some of the best-known natural pearls, and local pearl divers made a decent living diving for pearls. We see great economic growth through the revival of the pearl industry via the global recognition of its point of origination," he concluded.

Majorica Pearls (Imitation Pearls)

2007-11-15T13:34:00.000-08:00

source: http://www.enjoy-darwin.com/majorica-pearls.html

Majorica Pearls are imitation pearls made using a secret formula and not to be confused with cultured pearls or South Sea Pearls produced in pearl farms by the Pinctada Maxima oyster.

As the old saying goes "Imitation is the most sincere flattery" and there is no doubt these manufactured pearls are popular because they closely imitate the beauty of natural pearls.
Large quantities of these "pearls" are produced by a factory in Spain using a closely guarded secret formula originally developed by a German immigrant Eduardo Hugo Heusch in the 1890's. A strict quality control system has enabled these jewels to become recognised as the best imitation or faux pearls on the market
Over the centuries many people have tried to duplicate the beauty of natural pearls. Many use a substance called “essence d’orient" or "pearlessence" made with quanine crystals that reflect different wavelengths of light and give fish their natural refflective colours. By coating glass or plastic beads with variations of this substance pearl-like products are created for the cosmetic jewel market.
Natural pearls are produced by mollusks such as snails, whelks and conchs and bivalves (mussels, clams, oysters), both in fresh water and salt water. When an irritant such as a grain of sand lodges in these animals, they cover it with a protective coating to reduce the irritation, forming a pearl.
Pearl farming in the Northern Territory uses natural oysters to produce some of the finest pearls in the world
When you are shopping for jewellery be careful that the items you buy are correctly labeled. While many manmade jewels are quite pretty, they do not achieve the same monetary value of natural jewels such as diamonds, opals or pearls.

Paspaley unveils its latest style sensations in jewellery

2007-11-07T02:21:00.001-08:00

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/137126.html

Paspaley, the pearling pioneer unveils its latest style sensations for the season with a spread of tantalizing jewellery creations featuring South Sea pearls, diamonds, rubies, 18k white and yellow gold in necklaces, pendant chains, drop earrings and stud earrings.

Offered in 4 sets combining neck pieces with earrings, each of these jewels stands out for the bewitching craftsmanship and finish for which Paspaley is now recognized the world over. And these creations are designed to perk up both the wearer and the viewer on a dark and chilly autumn day, blending the moonlight glow of South Sea pearls with the sparkle of diamonds and the deep blush of rubies. What's more, these jewels are perfect for an evening out in town or even as daytime wear for the daring amongst us.
"Paspaley once more regales its fans with a stunning display of its fabulous artistry. These one off pieces are sure to find instant admirers in the region due to their remarkable design, craftsmanship and finish. They strike a perfect balance between minimalism and traditional pieces which are generally heavy, to appeal to women of all ages,"said Mr. Tawhid Abdullah, Managing Director, Damas. The first delectable offering features luscious, golden South Sea pearls, strung at intervals on a slender, rigid chain studded with a neat row of tiny white diamonds and interspersed with yellow diamonds arranged in triangles. This chain in turn holds up, trophy-like, its bounty of priceless South Sea pearls of various sizes, arranged to form a pendant. It's a piece that will enhance the glow of its wearer's face and light up a thousand smiles on the way. Match it with drop-earrings that go perfectly to create a stunning look. The next creation is pristine in all its glory, stringing a slim and rigid white gold sphere encrusted with white diamonds, interspersed with pretty, pear-shaped rubies and diamonds that form flowers and buds at six points, before diving down into a triangle holding one awesome South Sea pearl. The sharp white of the gold and the brilliance of the diamonds provide a startling contrast to the deep pink of the rubies, which is further softened by the allure and luster of the pearl. What sets apart a Paspaley creation is its execution of design, perfect proportion and choice of the finest precious material which endows it with a halo of purity that's tangible. This is what makes this pearl enterprise a jeweller that's counted among the front ranking jewelers of the world today. The avian world is the source of inspiration for its next creation, where cherubic white South Sea pearls, sport fronds of white gold richly paved with white and yellow diamonds, to first become an extravagant stud earring and later a two-pearl pendant strung on a chain of white gold. The next two jewels include two spherical yellow gold pendant chains whose outer perimeters are lined with tiny white diamonds and rubies, with one single perfectly round South Sea pearl in the centre. Simple but avant garde, both are jewels which are sure to be embraced by the discerning jewellery lover. As a company whose world revolves around the fabulous South Sea pearl, Paspaley glows with the luster of a reputation for extraordinary standards of excellence in both enterprise and product, much akin to its bewitching merchandise from the sea. To select a jewel bearing its fabled name is to rejoice in one of life's magical moments. Paspaley's latest creations are now available at its exclusive boutiques in Dubai.

Debunking a Widely Held Japanese Myth

2007-11-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

source: http://www.pearl-guide.com

by C. Denis George Abstract by Anna Kerrigan

Historical Aspects on the Early Discovery of the Pearl Cultivating Technique

Japanese scientists, Nishikawa and Mise are typically recognized for discovering the technology that led to cultivating spherical pearls. C. Denis George was an Australian enthusiast who challenged the credit given to the Japanese for this discovery. George argues that Nishikawa and Mise's step-father were first exposed to successful pearl cultivation at Thursday Island under the guidance of William Saville-Kent, a British expatriate living in Australia. In his article, "Debunking a Widely Held Japanese Myth: Historical Aspects on the Early Discovery of the Pearl Cultivating Technique," George campaigns for William Saville-Kent to receive proper respect for pioneering fundamental pearl culturing techniques. By using texts and personal experience as evidence, George places Nishikawa and Mise's step-father in Australia during Kent's pearl operations on Thursday Island. This trip to Australia predates Nishikawa and Mise's application for patent. Furthermore, George cites Japanese reluctance to acknowledge Saville-Kent's pearl research in text and conversation as evidence of deception.

The evidence C. Denis George presents convincingly argues that Saville-Kent shared his bead and tissue-piece technique with the two Japanese, they went back to Japan, repeated the technique in akoya mollusks and claimed it as their own. Several of George's key points are:

Nishikawa felt the need to predate his pearl discoveries eight years to mask the information he probably gleaned while in Australia in 1900.

George highlights the unlikelihood that two Japanese scientists simultaneously discovered the technology that would produce cultured pearls. He notes that even the Japanese are not quite sure which of their pioneers (Mise or Nishikawa) truly discovered the pearl culturing technique. George deduces that the uncertainty of ownership stems from both of them becoming privy to "intimate information from someone else who was familiar with the subject of pearls."

George also practiced pearl cultivation techniques independent of Japanese research. He conducted his tests in Australia near Thursday Island. When George was asked to attend a pearl symposium in Japan, he presented his findings in detail, and his pearls were examined and accepted by the board. However, when he revealed that he believed pearls to have originated in Australia under the guidance of William Saville-Kent, George says that friendly discussion ceased and silence prevailed. George believes that the Japanese have intentionally neglected to respect early Australian pearling techniques and that their indifferent and cold response to his mention is evidence of the ongoing misconception that pearl techniques originated in Japan.

C. Denis George spent years encouraging others to give Saville-Kent the recognition and respect he deserves. George has written numerous reports, established "The William Saville-Kent Memorial Pearl Museum," and even named his pearling boat after him: "TSMV WILLIAM SAVILLE-KENT." George concludes his article by appealing for proper respect and honor to be bestowed upon William Saville-Kent and his groundbreaking pearl experiments.

To read the full story download this PDF, compliments of Pearl World: The International Pearling Journal.

DEBUNKING A WIDELY HELD JAPANESE MYTH

Healing powers of oysters could mend human bones

2007-10-30T05:56:00.000-07:00

Source: http://news.independent.co.uk

By Alex Duval Smith in Paris

Published: 30 October 2007

After at least 530 million years of clamming up, the oyster has revealed its secret curative properties to mankind. And they are not only aphrodisiac.

French biologists who have been studying the way oysters produce nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl, believe the process could be replicated to provide cures and preventative treatments for osteoporosis, arthritis and certain skin complaints.

"The key is biomineralisation," said Christian Milet at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. "Humans and oysters share the capacity for self repair. A human bone heals, as does a cracked oyster's shell. We now believe nacre can be used to stimulate bone growth."

Biomineralisation is as old as bivalve molluscs, which gives it quite a few million years on the human species. More than 4,000 years ago, the Maya people of central America realised that nacre was not only beautiful but extremely hard and durable. They used it to make false teeth. In other cultures, including ancient Chinese and Egyptian, paste made from crushed nacre was recommended as a beauty cream.

The aphrodisiac quality of oysters has been recognised for many years but never scientifically proven. However, the mollusc's high content of zinc, which in humans is required for the production of testosterone, could be one explanation. Other research has shown that the shellfish are rich in certain amino acids that trigger increased levels of sex hormones.

For the biomineralisation process to work there does not need to be an "R" in the month. But scientists already know that some oysters are better at it than others. Those we eat, and which do not produce pearls, are the least scientifically interesting.

The oysters that produce the largest quantities of nacre are those, such as the Pinctada oyster, which also produce pearls. This is because natural pearls are formed when an oyster, while taking a gulp of water containing plankton, inadvertently swallows a piece of grit. To avoid the discomfort of sharing its shell with a nasty, jagged foreign object, the mollusc envelops it with smooth nacre: the pearl.

News of the French biologists' progress in understanding nacre-making emerged with the opening of an exhibition, Perles, une histoire naturelle, at the natural history museum in Paris. Apart from showing some of the biggest pearls ever found – including a 171-gram seawater pearl – the exhibition provides a rare opportunity to view a globe made by the jeweller Mikimoto on which the oceans are represented by 12,000 cultured pearls, the continents are made of gold and the equator is drawn with 377 rubies.

But Mr Milet's discovery is not going appear in the world's hospitals immediately. "We have already carried out in vivo bone graft tests in which we have obtained a perfect bond between the nacre and the bone. The medical uses of the biomineralisation will be seen some years into the future," he said. "We have already asserted that not only can nacre be grafted on to bone and be accepted by the human body, it also releases active molecules which induce bone regeneration."

Antoinette's Necklace and PremiumPearl.com's Popularity Proof of Timelessness of Pearls

2007-10-23T23:32:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/pearl-necklace/premiumpearl/prweb563033.htm

Fine jewelry, like that offered through PremiumPearl.com, offers consumers a timeless heirloom. Recent jewelry auctions like that of pearls once owned by Marie Antoinette show just how lasting pearls are.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) October 23, 2007 -- Fine jewelry, like that offered through PremiumPearl.com, offers consumers a timeless heirloom. Recent jewelry auctions like that of pearls once owned by Marie Antoinette show just how lasting pearls are.
She was known for her extravagance, and despite the fact that 200 years have passed since France's last Queen was executed by guillotine, Marie Antoinette still fascinates many around the world. Now, a set of Marie Antoinette's pearls, which were made into a necklace in 1849, are slated to be auctioned at Christie's of London in December.
Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.premiumpearl.com/" alt="Link to website">Pearls are the perfect accessory whether a woman is wearing an elegant evening gown or casual work attire. You simply cannot go wrong with pearl jewelry. It's a story of which legends are made. Marie Antoinette, who gave her British friend Lady Sutherland the pearls for safekeeping, had hoped to one day be reunited with her prized jewels. Instead, only a short year later, she was executed. The pearls have remained in the Sutherland family for more than 200 years, spending recent years tucked away in a safe at a bank, until a family member decided to put the necklace up for auction.
Many historians hope that Marie Antoinette's pearls, which are expected to garner as much as $800,000, will be won at auction by a museum, like the Louvre in Paris, so that the public can have access to the timeless piece of jewelry.
The excitement surrounding the upcoming auction serves as a testament to the timelessness of pearls, according to Yan Berry, the founder and creative director of PremiumPearl.com, a leading online retailer of unique pearl jewelry that counts such Hollywood celebrities as Tamara Braun and Fergie among its clientele.
"For centuries, pearls have been the jewel of choice for women," Berry says. "Pearls are the perfect accessory whether a woman is wearing an elegant evening gown or casual work attire. You simply cannot go wrong with pearl jewelry."
Berry recommends that women, who want to go for a more casual look, choose such classic pearl jewelry as a single strand white choker or a princess length pearl necklace. Those women who want to accessorize their evening wear with pearls, on the other hand, might opt for exotic black Tahitian or golden South Sea pearl jewelry.
It is that appreciation and knowledge of the timelessness of pearls that has inspired Berry to design the unique pearl jewelry sold at PremiumPearl.com. Berry's jewelry features white, naturally black, pink, and golden pearls.
"PremiumPearl.com's aim is to provide women with stunning, uniquely designed pearl jewelry that they can pass down from generation to generation like the Sutherlands passed down Marie Antoinette's pearls from generation to generation," Berry says.
To learn more or about Berry's pearl jewelry, please visit http://www.PremiumPearl.com

Pearls on Actress Fergie, Fantastic

2007-10-08T22:13:00.000-07:00

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20071008/bs_prweb/prweb558415_1

A custom-made golden South Sea necklaces by PremiumPearl.com looks perfect on actress Fergie.

(PRWEB) October 8, 2007 -- PremiumPearl.com, a San Francisco-based online pearl jewelry site, custom-made an extraordinary pearl necklace for the actress and singer Fergie in June 2007. The necklace is made of three flawless round 9-11mm Golden South Sea pearls, with a gold chain connected to each pearl. The draping of the pearls creates a glamorous and sexy look. It is perfect for Fergie.
Golden South Sea pearls, grown in Indonesia, are rare and exotic; a perfect pearl costs several hundred dollars, and the largest 15-17mm (about 2/3 the size of a quarter) can cost thousands. Yan Berry, founder and creative director of PremiumPearl.com estimates that the necklace for Fergie costs about $2,000 in retail stores.
According to Berry, more Hollywood stars than ever are looking for beautiful and uniquely designed pieces of pearl jewelry. The most popular pieces are exotic large black Tahitian, and white and golden South Sea pearl jewelry. The Tahitian pearls are naturally black. The natural peacock, green, gray and blue undertones add character. Deep golden South Sea pearls are also naturally colored, and are stunning on people with darker skin tones.
Berry notes that choosing pearl jewelry is like choosing makeup; each piece needs to match the wearer's complexion and wardrobe.
For more information, please visit www.premiumpearl.com.

Dubai, Hong Kong and China join hands for trade

2007-10-08T22:09:00.000-07:00

8-Oct-2007
source: http://www.gowealthy.com/realestate/news/2948/detail.asp

Mr. Johnson Sin, President, Hong Kong Gemstone Manufacturers’ Association and Ms Gaiti Rabbani, Executive Director - Coloured Stones & Pearls, DMCC signing the MoU
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hong Kong Gemstone Manufacturers’ Association (HKGMA) to build industry-specific trade relations between Hong Kong, China and Dubai in the coloured stones and pearls sector.
Under the terms of this agreement, DMCC and HKGMA will design initiatives aimed at promoting the coloured stones and pearl trade through trade forums, exhibitions, seminars and jewellery events, including the Hong Kong Jewellery Fair.
This agreement will be overseen by DMCC’s Coloured Stones & Pearls Division that was created for the strategic development and promotion of Dubai as a hub for the global coloured stones and pearls trade, fostering relations with the international trade and developing industry services. Already established as a centre for gold and diamond jewellery, coloured stones and pearls represent the largest growth potential for the Dubai and Middle East market. Current DMCC projects under this division include the Dubai Gems Club, the Dubai Pearl Exchange and Pearls of Dubai, a joint-venture project.
Ms. Gaiti Rabbani, Executive Director – Coloured Stones & Pearls Division, DMCC, said: “Middle East, China, Hong Kong and Thailand are emerging economies with a strong trade in coloured stones and pearls. Together, the DMCC and HKGMA cover these important centres of gemstone production and consumption. Through this agreement with HKGMA, DMCC reinforces its commitment to the development of the trade. We are confident that this partnership will contribute significantly to the global jewellery, coloured stones and pearls industries.”
The MoU will also facilitate in sharing of local market knowledge and expertise, providing assistance in marketing joint initiatives, and continuously maintaining a dialogue of ideas towards the development of the gemstone trade.

Pearls Blast Off

2007-10-03T17:42:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6486004.html

The pearl market used to be cyclical. It looks as if the cycle has been replaced by a skyrocket.

By Gary Roskin, G.G., FGA, Senior Editor -- JCK-Jewelers Circular Keystone, 10/1/2007
Pearls have been selling strongly for several years, with more pearls and greater selection than ever before, and it doesn't look as if the boom will let up anytime soon. To paraphrase Armand Asher, if Iridesse can open 16 pearls-only stores, what are you waiting for?
Asher, of Albert Asher Pearls in New York, speaks well of Iridesse, Tiffany & Co.'s stand-alone pearl retailer. “If they're taking that kind of risk,” he said recently to an audience of retailers, “maybe now is the time for you to go for it.” If U.S. retailers do go for it, here's what they can expect in the coming year.

South Seas whites
Large, round, white South Seas bead-nucleated cultured pearls—the classics—come from Australia, Indonesia, and Burma, but Asher says the top qualities in anything 14 mm and up will most likely be Australian. Production continues to improve, so numbers should remain steady, and sizes could increase, says Aziz Basalely, of Eliko Pearl Co., New York. “There's a greater supply of larger rounds, 16 mm plus, in higher qualities,” Basalely notes.
Michael Bracher, manager of pearl distribution for Paspaley Pearls in Darwin, Australia, says his company's main focus is quality, and he notes that most Australian producers keep their oysters in the water long enough to produce top-quality pearls. Harvesting early can result in smaller sizes, thinner nacre, and a dull luster. Asher notes that chokers of top-quality large South Seas whites could range from $50,000 to $75,000 a strand wholesale.
Indonesian producers take a different tack. “The general supply from Indonesia has increased due to lesser regulation and governmental control of production,” says Basalely. “Consequently, the overall quality of Indonesian pearls tends to be more 'commercial' when compared to Australian production.” That's good news for U.S. retailers who are looking for more affordable pearls, but note that, besides being commercial quality, Indonesian pearls are usually smaller than 14 mm.

Akoyas
These bead-nucleated pearls, from Japan, China, and now Vietnam, are typically 7 to 9 mm. Demand for perfectly round, perfectly white specimens is still strong, and prices for top-quality akoyas are firm. Because of limited production in Japan, Japanese akoya is hard to come by.
Basalely notes that this year's production of pearls 7 mm or less was tight. Asher says production of larger pearls was even tighter. “The rare 9.5 to 10 mm akoyas—and these are only from Japan—are almost impossible to get,” he says, adding that top strands in this size range can cost upwards of $8—$10,000.
The supply of akoyas in the United States is limited, partly because of strong demand elsewhere. “In Japan, most of the pearl usage is akoya and South Seas black,” says Basalely. “At least 60 percent of the world's production of these is sold in Japan.”
Not all akoyas are from Japan, but most, if not all, are cleaned, bleached, drilled, set, and strung there, and will be labeled “Product of Japan.” Dealers stress that buyers should be more concerned about quality than locality. Chinese akoyas can be fine quality, but examine the goods. “Better quality is very limited,” says Basalely. The majority of the Chinese production ranges from 5 to 7 mm, sometimes 7.5 mm, rarely 8 mm.
Akoyas from Vietnam are in small supply at the moment, but quality is good. Vietnam is preparing to become a major force in the cultured pearls arena.

South Seas blacks
South Seas black pearls from the French Polynesian Islands are called Tahitian. Others are simply South Seas black pearls. These include the Cook Islands and Fiji. We also include Vietnam, where the farming possibilities look promising.
But despite demand, new farms, and willingness to pay, it's difficult to find top-quality South Seas black pearls in the United States, and it will soon get even more difficult to find large blacks. Martin Coeroli, general manager of Perles de Tahiti, sees not only an increased demand for larger pearls ranging from 13 mm and up but also one more increase. “I predict an increase in price in this category,” says Coeroli. Top Tahitian cultured pearls for 15 to 18 mm strands already are priced at $100,000. In 9 to 12 mm strands, $18—$20,000 is likely.
Instead, the U.S. market will probably see a lot of small pearls. “For a number of reasons,” says Andy Müller of Hinata Trading, Kobe, Japan. “They can make smaller sizes by harvesting after only 12 months.” This is less risky than trying to grow larger pearls with longer harvests. “To keep them in for 24 months or longer to get the bigger sizes means you need bigger oysters, which cost more. It's all about risk. It's just easier to go to smaller pearls.”
“Because of the price and availability of the commercial goods, especially circlé pearls, we will see more and more designs in this category,” says Coeroli. Peacock, though hard to find, remains the top color. The most popular variety, and still affordable in the United States, is dark green ranging from 9 to 15 mm. Expect to keep seeing multicolor strands, too.
The Cook Islands, Fiji, and Vietnam aren't producing enough to affect price and availability. The Cook Islands probably produce 10 percent of the French Polynesia output, notes Peter Bazar, of Imperial Deltah Pearls in East Providence, R.I., who has made several trips to the Cook Islands recently. Bazar estimates Tahitian production at approximately 5 million pearls a year. “If only 5 percent to 10 percent are fabulous, then that equates to 500,000 fabulous pearls,” he says. “Now if you're talking about the Cook Islands, well then you're talking about 500,000 pearls total production, and only 5,000 pearls that are really fabulous.”
Bazar continues, “What everyone should understand is that a fabulous pearl is rare. And that should be appreciated. The price of a fabulous pearl always stays high … and there are a lot of pearls that aren't as stunning.”

South Seas goldens
Indonesian and Philippine strands of golds can range from 14 to 12 mm, 16 to 13 mm, and 17 to 14 mm. These were quite rare just a few years ago. Apparently many dealers prefer Philippine golds over Australian and Indonesian golds. For smaller goldens, look to Burma, which produces pearls as small as 9 mm.

Chinese freshwaters
The Chinese are producing big and small sizes and various shapes including round. Round Chinese freshwater tissue-activated (no bead) cultured pearls have taken over the part of the market once dominated by small akoyas. Costs are substantially lower and selection huge for 5 mm and smaller rounds and off-rounds. The Chinese also are going after the large-round market. Rounds of 9 and 10 mm, scarce a few years ago, are readily available today. Rounds of 13 and 14 mm also are available, but at some cost to quality.
To obtain top-quality CFWCPs, buyers have to go to China and buy direct. “The supply has changed. The demand is high,” says Asher. “If you are at the farm immediately during the harvest, you find the better freshwaters. Prices don't drop, but you at least get the goods.”
To increase size, the Chinese have been working on spherical-bead-nucleated freshwater pearls. “Most of the production of these nucleated pearls tends to be baroque shape,” says Basalely. “For these pearls, 14 mm and above, the prices are extraordinarily high for freshwater, comparable to those of South Seas baroque pearls.”
In fact, Asher notes that while nice strands may be available at $1,500, single loose pearls can be as high as $1,000. Top-quality strands of 10, 11, and 12 mm perfectly rounds can go as high as $25,000.

American pearls
Supplies of U.S. top-quality (nonspherical fancy-shape bead-nucleated) freshwater pearls are still available, but competition from Chinese products is fierce. In the early 1990s, the Chinese realized they also could produce fancy shapes and created tons more product. Gina Latendresse, owner of American Pearl Co., Nashville, Tenn., says her company is not at the capacity it once was. “Our last commercial harvest was 89,000 pearls, and that was a small harvest,” she says.
Company founder John Latendresse mandated that 10 to 15 percent of every year's harvest be set aside for the future, and for 20 years the company has done so. “The one thing you can expect is the quality of the American pearl,” says Latendresse. American Pearl offers only natural colors in designer shapes, especially coins and bar shapes, with a minimum nacre thickness of 1.3 mm.

Going for Baroque
When size collided with price a few years ago, in came baroques, which made it possible to own larger pearls for less money, as long as consumers could appreciate baroques' unusual shapes. Consumers could, but baroques are in short supply. Improved cultivation techniques have increased the number of round pearls, reducing the supply of baroques, which are usually from a second- or even a third-generation growth from the same oyster.
“There is an especially strong demand for large baroque pearls, but the availability of 15 mm and up is low, and prices continue to rise,” says Aziz Basalely, of Eliko Pearl Co., New York. So although the actual value of a baroque pearl is lower than that of a round, demand for baroques has boosted their prices to nearly those of rounds of similar size. If you do go for baroque, think luster. “I love a fabulous baroque pearl,” says Peter Bazar, of Imperial Deltah Pearls, East Providence, R.I. “It's obviously all about luster and not shape.”
Armand Asher, of Albert Asher Pearls, New York, notes another option: “Many buyers are willing to go the route of slightly off-rounds, or what's called slightly pinched, such as buttons.”
Economic Reality of Top Quality
The continued weakening dollar matched against the euro and the yen creates healthy buying markets overseas, resulting in a scarcity of top-quality pearls in all categories in the U.S. market. In fact, more international buyers are coming to the United States than at any other time in recent history, trying to snatch up that bargain strand.
But a weak dollar doesn't mean the U.S. market doesn't have nice pearls. It just has fewer, and prices on those are very competitive. In top qualities, single pearls and mixed-origin strands are more available than full strands of the very best from one locality. “On top of that, the mass market of the U.S. likes to buy not the top 5 percent, but somewhere in the middle,” says Peter Bazar, of Imperial Deltah Pearls, East Providence, R.I. “Europeans have always bought the top-quality gems.” Bazar confirmed that while many Europeans look at gems as an investment, the majority of U.S. consumers look at price points.
“There's no question now that there's a shift in economics,” says Joel Schechter, chief executive officer of Honora, New York, specialists in Chinese freshwaters. “European markets are getting stronger. The change in the dollar obviously has a big impact on the exchange rates, and on the clientele.” And because of that, Schechter sees a large amount of fine goods ending up in Europe. “And a lot more medium goods being sold in the U.S.”
“People like Tara and Assael are still bringing in the finest in the world,” says Bazar. But it's usually Asian money that buys the multimillion-dollar strand of pearls. “Maybe some of the Europeans and some of the Asians recognize the value of pearls at the high end more than those in the U.S.”
Martin Coeroli, general manager of Perles de Tahiti, agrees. “The weak dollar is part of the reason.” Coeroli notes that the nouveaux riches from emerging markets like Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, are ready to spend more money for the finest goods. So you will also see their suppliers buying at the source. “International (mostly Japanese and Chinese) pearl wholesalers are buying directly from French Polynesia versus most American pearl dealers who are buying in Asia.”
Even then, the Asian market is tough. “More and more smaller European and Asian independent companies are attending auctions, and bidding only for the top quality,” says Coeroli. “It is becoming more difficult to get top goods because of the increasing competition among the buyers.”
But Bazar isn't worried. “The U.S. still is the biggest market in the world for pearls. We still have the wealth.”

Growing a Brand, Branding a Growth
Pearl wholesaler Honora has been on QVC home television shopping for 10 years and last year opened its first retail store, on 57th Street in New York. We asked CEO Joel Schechter how the company can maintain its independent retailer customer base and sell retail at the same time.
“TV to us is really not retail,” says Schechter. “We have one customer only—QVC. They buy it, they own it, and they stock it. It is really their retail business.”
Schechter acknowledges that retailers were upset the first year with Honora, but he says 10 years on QVC has elevated the Honora brand—to the benefit of retailers. “With all the hours we're on, with our logo up there, with me as company president up there being able to explain my company's position, it allows us to get our name out to the public,” he explains. “Now, after every QVC event, we see a spike in retail sales all over the country.”
He adds, “We have to keep the product separate and make sure that what gets sold on TV cannot be sold in retail stores, and vice versa.”
As for selling to the public at the 57th Street store, Schechter says the point isn't to generate revenue in retail sales. “We're looking to let consumers know who we are and know what we're doing,” he says. “And we hope what's going to happen is that they see it in our store, and then go back to places like Canton, Ohio, and buy it from their local retailer.”
Schechter says the New York store also assists the company in another way: “We get reaction from consumers, which helps us make decisions.” Honora can listen and learn what consumers want and translate that into wholesale products that get delivered to independent retailers carrying the Honora brand.
On the other side of the planet, an American is making history. Jeremy Shepherd, president of PearlParadise.com, with reportedly $20 million in sales last year, says he's the first American to own an akoya pearl farm in China.
The farm, located in Xuwen on the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong, is registered in China as Xuwen Jinhui Pearl Co. and Xuwen Pearl Paradise Farm. Xuwen Pearl Paradise is a Chinese-American joint venture for culturing and processing akoya pearls.
Three million nucleated shells are under cultivation in the farm's waters, and Shepherd expects the farm to yield between 1 million and 1.25 million usable pearls by winter 2008. The anticipated culture time of 10 to 15 months should yield an average nacre thickness exceeding 0.50 mm.

Do you know that freshwater leafage and mussels make pearls?

2007-10-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/071002/139/6lfxn.html

By Ram Chand Sahu

Bhopal, Oct.2 (ANI): Very few of us know about the many ways in which pearls are formed. If you want to know the answer, ask Vijayeta Rathore, a young scholar in applied aquaculture from Barkatullah University of Bhopal.
She has developed cultured designer pearls from freshwater leafage and mussels, the first-of-its-kind endeavour in Madhya Pradesh. .
Vijayeta, barely in her early twenties, says that the designer pearl culture is more bewitching but less expensive than cultured pearls normally available in the market.
She says: "If one takes up designer pearl production as a business, he or she will reap rich dividends because pearls market is second biggest after diamonds in the international market. If the designer pearls are of good quality, they will fetch good money."
She says: "These days in the market we have Chinese pearls, Japanese pearls and other types of pearls. These freshwater mussel designer pearls are no less in quality than the available pearls. Indeed, their rates are reasonable."
To make designer pearls, Vijayeta inserts beads with a punched shape of a deity or anything inside a freshwater mussel (that live on the bottom of rivers, irrigation canals and farm dams) collected from the River Vidisha.
The mussels carrying designer beads are then packed in netted bags, which are tied with a bamboo stick and the stick is left in a pond for 15 days.
After 15 days, the freshwater mussels are placed in the netted bags and sent for raft culture (resting in water for a few days) where the beads are gradually covered with nacre layer, Vijayeta explained.
Vijayeta makes flawless pearls as part of her study curriculum. She makes them in the shape of Lord Shiva, Buddha, Ganesha, the Holy Cross and others, shiny and bright with impeccable nacre (also known as mother-of-pearl).
She has plans to commence a large-scale designer pearl business soon.
Among all the students of the Applied Aquaculture Department of University, Vijayeta has conducted pearl culture experiments most successfully.
Dr. Susan Manohar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Aquaculture, of Barkatullah University, said: "We are making pearls in freshwater muscle. Generally, pearl oysters are found in marine water. Now scientists have found ways of pearl production in freshwater mussels. This is happening for the first time in Madhya Pradesh."
Manohar said: "The beads that stuck up with the shells are usually discarded but we are making designer pearls out of them. We give these pearls different shapes like Om, the Taj Mahal, Lord Buddha, Lord Shiva. These designer pearls can be worn as pendants with chains and in other forms of jewellery."
A Pearl is an organic gem, created when an oyster covers a foreign object with beautiful layers of nacre.
Earlier, thousands of oysters had to be searched to locate a pearl as such the pearls were rare and only the fortunate could manage one. Modern science, however, has enabled man to develop pearls through culture process.
In pearl culture, beads made of shell are placed inside a saltwater oyster or freshwater muscle, which is then returned to the water. The oyster covers the bead with layers of nacre and later the pearls are harvested. (ANI)
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Marie Antoinette pearls on auction

2007-09-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

Source: http://foreverjewelry-gemstonecollection.blogspot.com/2007/09/marie-antoinette-necklace-that-is-made.html

In the year 1973, Marie Antoinette, the French Queen gave pearls to a British government for safe keeping and after she was imprisoned the pearl was for auctioned. If you did not know who is Maried Antoinette. She is remembered for her legendary and heroic act during the French Revolution in 1793 and was executed by guillotine for the crime of treason.

Marie Antoinette, the French Queen
On 1770, Marie Antoinette was conveyed to the Royal Palace and married The Dauphin" Louis XVII. Just before the wedding , Marie Antoinette presented with the beautiful jewels that belonging to a French dauphine. The collection included an elaborate diamond necklace which had belonged to Anne of Austria and jewelry pieces which had also belonged to Mary Queen of Scots and Catherine de' Medici. The large collection of gems was valued at approximately 2 million lives. The Dauphin and Marie Antoinette were married, with the bride wearing a dress decorated by large white hoops covered in diamonds and pearls .According to Christie's , owner of Christie's Jewellery in London.Based on circumstantial evidence that the real owner of this pearl was the French Queen not to the Lady of Sutherland, Elizabeth Leveson-Gower. It were reportedly given to Elizabeth Leveson-Gower, wife of the British ambassador to France during the French Revolution, and were intended to help the queen if she managed to flee the country. Lady Sutherland is also believed to have guided the Austrian-born queen, her husband King Louis XVI, and their family in a failed attempt to flee France in 1791.Marie Antoinette, pearls necklace was now on auctioned and made of rubies, diamonds and are expected to raise up to $800,000 when they are sold in December. It is to be auctioned on Dec. 12 with an estimated price of 350,000 to 400,000 pounds sterling (US$705,320 to 806,080 or 499,589 to 570,959 euro).

Sotheby's: Calvin, Kelly Klein to Sell Pearls, Diamonds from Duchess of Windsor

2007-09-23T00:43:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.diamonds.net
By Jeff Miller

RAPAPORT... Sotheby's New York will offer three lots of magnificent natural pearl and diamond jewels from the collection of Kelly and Calvin Klein on December 4. The auction house calls the offerings of historical importance as the Kleins purchased the pieces during a 1987 Sotheby's Geneva auction of jewels from the Duchess of Windsor collection.

Sotheby's describes the top offerings as a single-strand natural pearl and diamond necklace (est. $1.5 million to $2 million,) a natural pearl and diamond pendant (est. $400,000 to $600,000,) and a pair of black and white natural pearl and diamond earclips (est. $300,000 to $500,000.)

In the 20 years since the Windsor sale, few pieces from that incomparable collection have been re-offered at auction, and none as significant as the iconic natural pearls acquired by the Kleins. The pearls will be featured extensively worldwide in a pre-sale exhibition before the December sale.

The necklace, pendant, and earclips will be offered as three lots in Sotheby’s December sale of Magnificent Jewels and carry a combined estimate of $2.2 million to $3.1 million.

In 1987 Calvin bought the natural pearl jewels from the Duchess of Windsor’s collection for Kelly, because of their extraordinary quality and provenance and classic style, Sotheby's stated. The Duchess of Windsor was often photographed wearing the necklace and pendant. The single-strand natural pearl and diamond necklace by Cartier, Paris, once belonged to Queen Mary, wife of King George V, who gifted it to her son, the Duke of Windsor.

“These pearls hold a very special place in my heart,” Kelly said. “They were a present from Calvin early on in our relationship. They represent passion, tenderness and a promise about the future. Pearls, in my mind, are different from diamonds or gold. They are warm, mysterious, a small miracle created by nature. They should be worn close to the skin, imbued with the essence of the wearer. It is my hope they will be given again, as they have been in the past, as a gesture of love and worn often and proudly.”

Lisa Hubbard, chairman of North and South America's international jewelry department for Sotheby's, said, “The sale of The Jewels of the Duchess of was the definitive iconic auction. Her jewels, in some cases literally with small inscriptions, spoke of the romance they celebrated and the glamorous lifestyle she shared with the Duke of Windsor. We are honored to be able to offer to a new generation of collectors these magnificent pearls on behalf of Kelly and Calvin Klein, with whom they have resided for the past 20 years. The classic style for which the Kleins are known has immeasurably added to the tale these jewels have to tell. Their beauty and rarity, and historic provenance, are a unique combination that will appeal to a worldwide audience of connoisseurs who seek to own the best of the best.”

The single-strand natural pearl and diamond necklace is composed of 28 natural pearls graduating from approximately 16.8 to 9.2 mm., completed by an oval clasp set with 2 emerald-cut diamonds weighing approximately 2.00 carats and 2 fancy-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 1.00 carat, bordered by 20 small round diamonds weighing approximately 0.70 carat. The length of the necklace is 14 inches, with a clasp signed Cartier, Paris. The necklace was lot 65 in the 1987 sale of The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor.

The natural pearl and diamond pendant, Cartier, Paris, circa 1950, may be worn as a drop on the aforementioned necklace. The large natural pearl drop of slightly baroque form measures approximately 18.4 mm. in diameter, drilled and capped by single-cut and round diamonds, on a detachable stirrup-shaped diamond-set pendant fitting. The pearl is stated to weigh 190.60 grains. This natural pearl pendant was sold to the current owners as lot 67 in the sale of The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor in 1987.

The collection also includes a pair of black and white natural pearl and diamond earclips, Van Cleef & Arpels, New York, 1957. According to the archives of Van Cleef & Arpels in New York, these earclips were made in 1957 and purchased the following year. Offered in the sale of The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor as lot 66, the earclips, mounted in white gold, are set with a black pearl measuring approximately 18.2 mm. and a white pearl measuring approximately 18.1 mm., within borders of 32 pear-shaped and 64 round diamonds, weighing a total of approximately 9.25 carats.

The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor, Geneva, 1987

On April 2, 1987, the personal jewelry collection of the late Duchess of Windsor, comprising magnificent examples of Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Harry Winston jewels, was sold for $50.3 million, seven times the presale estimate and a standing world record for any single-owner jewelry sale.

The unique collection brought to life the relationship of the Duke and Duchess, which was hailed the romance of the century. Many of the pieces were collaborative efforts between the jewelers and the Duke, who had an exemplary eye and a taste for creating innovative style. The elegant Duchess was for many years one of the world’s best dressed women, and she selected fashions as backdrops for the jewels loved by both her and the Duke. It was these elements of history, quality, design and romance that drew international buyers such as the Kleins to participate in the auction twenty years ago.

Intense bidding was relayed simultaneously in a tent overlooking Lake Geneva in Switzerland and in Sotheby’s New York salesroom, and many items sold for up to ten times their expected price.

Pearler of a price

2007-09-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz

5:00AM Thursday September 13, 2007
By Jessica Wauchop

Photo / Dean Purcell

Usually associated with maiden aunts and royalty, pearls are making a comeback among the fashion-conscious.

And model Zanita Whittington shows why they are now a must-have accessory for young Hollywood celebrities looking for a touch of glamour.

This $400,000 necklace features a rare and perfectly matched 17mm graduated to 14mm strand of pearls.

The necklace was designed by jewellery firm Autore, which provides stars including Scarlett Johansson and Angelina Jolie with pearls for premieres and awards ceremonies.

They are being displayed in Auckland as part of a fundraising fashion show today at The Westin hotel to benefit Breast Cancer Research.

Autore general manager Justin Schwaz said the pearls' lustre increased the value of the necklace.

Winners Named in Pearl Design Competition

2007-09-09T23:25:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.jckonline.com

The Cultured Pearl Association of America representing Pearls de Tahiti in the United States, named the winners of the 2007-2008 “The Song of the Stars” Tahitian Pearl Trophy - North American division.

Judging for the event, in its fifth year, took place at the Terrace Club in New York City on Aug. 22nd 2007. The jury was made up of Laurie Schechter, Stylists & Co., Elena Mauer senior associate editor Bridal Guide, Jean Francois Bibet, Van Cleef and Arpels, Amanda Gizzi, Jewelry Information Center, Kathleen Fritzpatrick freelance editor, Hedda T. Schupak JCK editor –in- chief, and Fran Mastoloni, Frank Mastoloni &Sons.

The following were the winners in each of the ten categories:

*. Ring – Avi Raz - A & Z Pearls 1st place, Adam Neeley - Adam Neeley Designs 2nd place

*. Male Jewelry – Larry C. Y. Ho - Maemura Designs 1st place, Yutao Liu - Yl Consulting Designs 2nd place, Nina Basharova - Albert Asher Pearls 3rd place

*. Necklace – Reena Ahluwalia 1st place, Maggie Davidson - A Thousand Visions Studio 2nd place, Jeong-Seon Han 3 rd place

*. Parure (set of 3) – Lisa Krikawa - Krikawa Designs, Inc. 1st place, Margarette Elie - Elie Design 2nd place

*. Pendant – Erica Courtney Inc. 1st place, Adam Neeley - Adam Neeley Designs 2nd place, Nina Basharova - Albert Asher Pearls 3rd place

*. Brooch – Nina Basharova - Albert Asher Pearls 1st place,Reena Ahluwalia 2nd place, Margarette Elie - Elie Design 3rd place

*. Bracelet – Evelyn Huang - Evelyn H. Jewelry Inc.1st place, Reena Ahluwalia 2nd place, Tara & Sons 3rd place

*. Accessory – Yutao Liu - Yl Consulting Designs 1st place, Larry C.Y. Ho - Maemura Designs 2nd place, Margarette Elie - Elie Design 3rd place

*. Earrings - Celine Boure - Kokass 1st place, Hugh Power - Hugh Power Designs 2nd place

*. Special – Larry C. Y. Ho - Maemura Designs 1st place

The first place winners will now submit their entry to the International jury for judging in the competition. More than 60 countries participated in the 2005-2006 event.

Innovation Continues in Chinese Freshwater Pearl Culture

2007-08-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.pearl-guide.com/

In April of this year, PearlParadise.com CEO Jeremy Shepherd and GIA writer Doug Fiske traveled with GIA photographer Valerie Power to the Weitang and Zhuji regions, centers of the Chinese freshwater pearl industry. For nearly a week, we interviewed farmers, traders, and even the chairman of one of the largest freshwater pearl production companies. The information we gathered gives a clear picture of where the industry is today and a detailed explanation of coin-bead/spherical bead (CBSB) freshwater pearls, some of which are called "fireballs."

Current Production
Several sources reported a 2006 total Chinese freshwater output of 1,500 metric tons, of which 800 metric tons are suitable for jewelry. Of the 1,500 metric tons, the vast majority are tissue-nucleated pearls. Although spherical bead nucleation is a reality in China, bead-nucleated pearl volume is relatively small.

Over the last few years, people in the industry have noticed a clear increase in the quality of Chinese freshwater output. Size, shape, and even color have improved remarkably. This is due in part to the fairly new practice of fewer nucleations in each valve of the mussel. In the past, up to 25 tissue pieces were inserted in the mantle of each valve. Today, only 12 to 16 pieces of tissue are implanted, producing a total of 24 to 32 pearls per mussel. The fewer-grafts method has had a direct effect on the quality and size of the pearls.

The Triangle Mussel

It is widely known that Chinese pearl farmers use the triangle mussel (Hyriopsis cumingi) to culture freshwater pearls. This mussel replaced the cockscomb mussel (Cristaria plicata) nearly a decade ago.The cockscomb mussel was responsible for the Rice Krispie freshwater pearls that China first became known for. The switch to the triangle mussel is significant in that it led to the higher-quality production seen today.

Introduction of the Biwa Pearly Mussel
Today, there's another new mussel in Chinese freshwater pearl culture. The transformation is leading to even higher quality freshwater cultured pearls in more saturated colors and larger sizes.

During an interview in Zhuji, the chairman of Grace Pearl mentioned a mussel that we did not know as native to China. The literal translation was “pond butterfly mussel.” Although culturing Chinese freshwater pearls in the mussel began within only the last few years, it is already responsible for about 30 percent of China’s production. We were unable to determine the scientific name of the mussel, so we turned to Chinese news articles and scientific journals. What we found was startling: The scientific name for “pond butterfly mussel” is Hyriopsis schlegeli. In Japanese, it’s ikecho. Its common name is Biwa pearly mussel. In effect, the Chinese have been producing Biwa pearls for several years.

The first report of the Biwa pearly mussel having been imported to China from Japan appeared in a scientific journal in 1997. The Hongmen City Reservoir Development Company began raising Biwa pearly mussels in hatcheries and experimenting with their pearling potential in China. They found that the mussel had greater vitality and produced better pearls overall. The advantages for the Chinese pearl industry were obvious. But researchers did not stop with the simple use of the Biwa mussel. They cross-bred it with the triangle mussel, thereby creating a hybrid that is better than either pure species with respect to pearl culture. There is no scientific or common name for the hybrid. Loosely translated, the Chinese call it the "leisure mussel."

Introduction of “Fireball” Cultured Pearls
The Biwa pearly mussel and its triangle-mussel hybrid have undoubtedly changed the course of Chinese freshwater pearl culture. At about the same time, a new pearl entered the scene and gained popularity. It’s a bead-nucleated freshwater pearl that the trade dubbed “fireball.” It’s called that because the pearl often has a tail that makes it look like a comet. An alternative term is CBSB, which is short for coin-bead/spherical bead. The term accurately describes the process that sometimes produces fireballs.

CBSB production has prompted great interest, particularly regarding the genesis of the tail. Stories abound of mythical “pearl nucleation” and organ implantation. But what is the real story?

CBSB production involves a number of steps, each equally important. Spherical bead-nucleated freshwater pearls are not, as many assume, created by the insertion of a piece of mantle tissue and a spherical bead nucleus. That is the common method of culturing bead-nucleated pearls in the gonad of saltwater mollusks. Freshwater mussels do not have the gonad anatomy nor the necessary space between the valves to bead nucleate in the mantle with a spherical bead when the mussel is young.

The Three-Step CBSB Process
Traditional tissue nucleation is done with mussels that are six months to one year old. For the first CBSB step, Mr. He Jainhua, a pearl farmer who specializes in bead-nucleated freshwater pearls, uses three-year-old triangle mussels. He begins with an incision, a coin bead, and 1-mm-square piece of mantle tissue. The host mussel’s mantle completely encloses the flat coin bead. The first step in bead-nucleated pearl production is the creation of a one-year coin pearl.

After that first year, there are two routes the farmer can take. He can remove the coin pearl and return the mussel to the water to create a keshi pearl in the existing pearl sac, or he can leave the mussel in the water to add nacre to the coin pearl. Either way, this second step takes an additional year.

The third step is the production of freshwater pearls that have a spherical bead nucleus. When the mussel is five years old, the farmer removes either the keshi pearl or the coin pearl. He then inserts a spherical bead nucleus in the existing pearl sac. Except that it’s in the mantle rather than the gonad, the technique is similar to growing second-graft Tahitian or South Sea cultured pearls. Both techniques use the existing pearl sac.

The pearl sac, which forms a bulge in the mantle, is a perfect nacre-producing pocket. The pearl growth period at this point can be one or two years. Because beads as large as 12.5 mm are implanted, the resulting bead-nucleated pearls can be of substantial size.

The Reason for the Tail
Why do the CBSB pearls often have tails? Although the reasons are not completely clear—even to the farmers in China—we observed two strong factors. The first factor is the insertion of a spherical bead into an existing pearl sac through an incision made to harvest the coin or keshi. The sac accepts the bead but can leave a void adjacent to the incision. If the sac envelops the bead and the incision heals, there will be no tail.

The second factor involves the elasticity of the pearl sac. An analogy is the pearl sac as a plastic bag and the spherical bead as a ball. If you press the ball into the bag, at least one section of the bag will be flush against the ball. If the capacity of the bag is greater than the size of the ball, the area of the bag that does not envelop the ball remains flaccid. The bag—the pearl sac—will produce nacre to cover the spherical nucleus and fill the void. The result is a spherical-bead-nucleated cultured pearl with a tail of some shape. Some CBSBs have the long, spiked tails that characterize fireballs.

Giant Clam Beads Likely
CBSB farmers use spherical nuclei that range from 9 to 12.5 mm in diameter. We asked about the origin of the beads. The answer was that the beads come from freshwater mussel shells. It was clear that the beads were not old freshwater pearls. That method had been tried, but it proved not economically or physically feasible.

Still, it remained hard to believe that the beads came from freshwater shells. Seven millimeters is the maximum for spherical beads from Chinese mussel shells. The only freshwater mussels that can produce nuclei between 9 and 12.5 mm in diameter are the mapleleaf (Quadrula quadrula) and the washboard (Megalonaias nervosa), which are both found only in the US rivers and lakes. American mussel shell beads are too expensive for Chinese freshwater pearl farmers. Even highly striated beads like those used in Tahitian and South Sea pearl production would be cost prohibitive in freshwater pearl production. The beads we saw were very large and very white.

Two nuclei were tested at GIA’s Carlsbad laboratory. They proved to be of saltwater origin. The only saltwater shell capable of yielding nuclei that size is Tridacna gigas—the giant clam.

The giant clam is the world’s largest bivalve mollusk. It can weigh as much as 500 pounds, and has a porcelaneous interior. While its size and shell color are ideal for nucleus production, the giant clam is a threatened species. Importing the giant clam or its derivatives is illegal in the US and other countries that are signatories to CITES, an international treaty intended to protect endangered and threatened species. China is not a signatory.

Conclusion
As they did by inventing blister pearl culture about 700 years ago, Chinese pearl farmers are again proving they are and will continue to be a force in the pearl industry. CBSB pearl production and the importation and hybridization of the Biwa pearly mussel are but two examples of continuing innovation in China’s pearl industry. Let’s wait to see what the future holds.

Paspaley opens boutique at Saks Fifth Avenue

2007-08-01T16:56:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.ameinfo.com

Paspaley, the world's leading and largest South Sea pearl company, has opened its newest boutique in the most exciting luxury shopping destination in Dubai, Saks Fifth Avenue at BurJuman Centre.

The pearling pioneer joins the prestigious Jewellery Court of Saks Fifth Avenue, home to the biggest names in jewellery and watches from around the world. The iconic New York store that brought a whole new meaning to luxury shopping is the ideal setting for appreciating the innate beauty of Paspaley's prime selection of pearl jewellery.

"Paspaley is the top-of-mind choice in South Sea pearls the world over. Equally well known are its dazzling jewellery collections featuring these beautiful pearls. With the opening of its boutique in Saks Fifth Avenue, Paspaley offers jewellery lovers a unique shopping experience in one of the most luxurious settings in the world today,' said Pegah Goldooz, General Manager of Paspaley in the UAE.

Paspaley is likewise celebrated for the outstanding design and craftsmanship of its jewellery. Its magnificent in-house collections are created in the company's workshop in Australia by master jewellers who specialize in South Sea pearls. Paspaley also collaborates with some of the most exciting international jewellery designers to create unique collections and one-of-a-kind pieces based around its pearls.

The much-awaited opening of the Paspaley boutique in Saks Fifth Avenue offers discerning buyers the pleasure of selecting from an exclusive range of Paspaley jewellery in a setting designed with the luxury shopper in mind. The boutique has well-appointed excusive VIP room where clients can view precious pieces in private and the well-trained sales staff provides a professional, yet friendly personalized service.

90% Budidaya Mutiara Masih Dikuasai Asing

2007-07-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.e-bursa.com/

Wednesday, 11 July 2007 03:19:00
JAKARTA, Investor Daily

Dirjen Perikanan Budidaya Departemen Kelautan dan Perikanan (DKP) Made L Nurjana menyayangkan tingginya dominasi asing di sektor budidaya mutiara di Indonesia. Saat ini, investor asing masih menguasai sekitar 90% budidaya mutiara di Tanah Air, padahal pembudidayaannya relatif gampang.

“Sekitar 90% budidaya mutiara masih dikuasai investor asing, yang berasal dari Australia dan Jepang. Ini sangat saya sayangkan, karena budidaya mutiara sebenarnya sangat gampang dan tidak tergantung cuaca,” kata Made kepada Investor Daily di Jakarta, baru-baru ini.

Made menegaskan, sedikitnya pemain lokal yang mengembangkan budidaya mutiara terutama karena kendala modal. Pasalnya, bank-bank besar masih enggan memberi kredit kepada pengusaha lokal, meski budidaya mutiara sangat menguntungkan.

“Investor lokal sulit mengembangkan usaha di budidaya mutiara, karena susah mendapat kredit dari perbankan. Saya menyesalkan kurangnya perhatian dari kalangan perbankan terhadap usaha budaya perikanan dalam negeri, yang memiliki potensi ekspor besar,” ujar Made.

Selain menguntungkan, menurut Made, budidaya mutiara bisa dikerjakan oleh rakyat dan bisa mengandalkan sumber daya alam yang sudah ada. Mutiara yang dihasilkan di Indonesia merupakan mutiara Laut Selatan ( South Sea pearl ) yang juga dijuluki The Queen of Pearls .

“Budidaya mutiara cocok dikerjakan oleh rakyat, karena kerang itu cuma butuh air asin, tidak perlu diberi makan. Investasinya membutuhkan modal sekitar Rp 20 juta untuk 30.000 bibit (dua long line ),” kata Made.

Pasok 50% Pasar Global

Pada periode 2000-2004, rata-rata volume ekpor mutiara Indonesia mencapai 21,38 kilogram (kg). Harga rata-ratanya sebesar US$ 2.333,60 per kg atau setara Rp 21.063 per gram. Sementara itu, harga e mas logam mulia sekitar Rp 186.500 per gram, emas 24 karat Rp 180.500 per gram, dan emas 22 karat Rp 170.000 per gram.

Menurut Made, jika mutiara Indonesia terus dikembangkan dengan baik, Indonesia bisa menjadi pemasok 50% perhiasan berharga itu di pasar global. Saat ini, produksi mutiara Indonesia sekitar 16 ton per tahun.

“Produksi mutiara Indonesia memang sudah termasuk cukup besar, namun seharusnya budidaya ini dikembangkan secara luas,” papar Made.

Made mengakui, ada sebagian pengusaha yang tidak menginginkan budidaya mutiara dikembangkan terlalu luas, karena khawatir bisa menurunkan harganya. Menurut dia kekhawatiran itu tidak beralasan, karena harga mutiara sangat tergantung kualitasnya.

“Meskipun produksi Indonesia berlimpah, harga mutiara yang berkualitas sangat tinggi di pasar ekspor. Sedangkan yang mutunya kurang baik bisa untuk pasar dalam negeri,” tegas Made.

Berdasarkan data Kementerian Negara Riset dan Teknologi, k erang yang berperan sangat penting di bisnis mutiara adalah jenis Pinctada . Mutiara itu dihasilkan secara alami dan lewat budidaya.

Di Indonesia, p usat pengembangan budidaya Pinctada maxima tersebar di Lampung, Jawa Timur, Bali, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Sulawesi Utara, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Maluku, Maluku Utara, dan Papua. Selain Pinctada maxima , kerang mutiara lain yang bisa dibudidayakan di sini adalah Pinctada margaritifera, Pinctada fucata, Pinctada lentiginosa dan Pteria penguin.

Di tempat terpisah, Kepala Badan Pusat Statistik Provinsi Gorontalo Soegarenda mengatakan, ekspor mutiara berkontribusi besar terhadap pendapatan daerahnya. Dari Januari 2007, ekspor mutiara cenderung meningkat.

“Pada Januari-Maret 2007, ekspor mutiara dan batu permata meningkat sangat tajam dibanding komoditas yang lain, yakni naik 42,25% menjadi US$ 67.994,” ucap Soegarenda seperti dikutip Antara .

Dia menjelaskan, ekspor mutiara dan batu permata kini menduduki peringkat I, mengalahkan bungkil kopra dan kayu yang selama ini merupakan komoditas andalan ekspor Gorontalo. Wakil Gubernur Gorontalo Gusnar Ismail menambahkan, bisnis mutiara di daerahnya berprospek cerah. Oleh karena itu, pihaknya memberi dukungan sepenuhnya kepada para pengusaha yang hendak mengembangkan budidaya kerang mutiara. (c107/en)

Black pearl producer to commercialise gem

2007-07-03T23:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.financialexpress.com/

NEW DELHI, JULY 4:
A self-taught Indian scientist who has produced the world's largest black pearl is looking to commercialise his pearl culture technique that has the potential to change the profile of the country's gem and jewellery exports in a single stroke.

Ajai Kumar Sonkar, who is often mistaken for a jeweller, feels that commercialisation of the technique could make India a net exporter of the magnificent gem -- tales of which abound in Indian history.

Although India's gem and jewellery exports stood at over USD 17 billion in 2006-07, the country last year imported USD 7.24 million worth of raw pearls.

Even the famed Hyderabadi pearls are simply finished products of freshwater pearls imported from China. Roughly 80 per cent of the world pearl market is dominated by Japan, followed by Australia and China.

Japan's monopoly was created owing to the fact it held the technique to create nucleus -- the raw material for pearl culture -- that is implanted in the oyster through a surgery.

Sonkar, who has mastered production of nucleus and had presented his work before President A P J Abdul Kalam in August 2004, said he had received offers from corporates for enabling mass production. But, Sonkar turned them down as they insisted on exclusivity over technology that he could conceive in future.

The scientist had earlier announced that he has developed a 22mm nucleus, besting Japan's record of 18mm. In other words, the bigger the nucleus, the greater the size of pearls.

"My aim is to create jobs for hundreds of thousands of people by making this technology commercial, but cannot allow my research to become a casualty to this process," said Sonkar, 35, who founded the Pearl Aquaculture Research Foundation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

His interest to mass-produce pearls is significant given the failure of government labs to perfect pearl culture despite over three decades of research.

"Being a valuable product, a project could earn huge foreign exchange... (besides) offer hundreds of jobs to the youth," he said.

Sonkar, who started working independently, perfected the technique to produce nucleated spherical pearls in freshwater and later transited activity to marine pearl culture.

According to him, the best pearls are those produced in marine water, as the freshwater mussels are irregular in shape and chiefly contain calcite calcium carbonate that lacks the pearly component.

Sonkar said the world's most prominent species of pearl oysters 'Pinctada Margaritifera', 'Pinctada Maxima' and 'Pinctada fucata' are available off the Indian archipelago and the climatic conditions were favourable for producing pearls.

His lab also hatches oysters, which are later selected and prepared for the nucleus implantation. The oysters are then transferred to the sea and brought back to the lab after six months to two years for harvest.

Arafura Pearls Holdings Announces a joint venture with Arrow Pearl Co Pty Ltd

2007-07-03T23:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.aspecthuntley.com.au/

Pty Ltd and associates to manage its pearling operation at Beagle Bay on the
Dampier Peninsula in WA for an initial term of 2.5 years, with options at
Arafura’s election to extend the arrangement for a further 12.5 years.
The Beagle Bay operation is one of Western Australia’s well known pearl farms
having produced quality pearl harvests since the early 1980’s. The farm has
15,000 annual wild shell quota allowing approx 18,000 shells to be put into
production this calendar year. However, the land and sea based infrastructure is
significant and is capable of handling much higher production and grow out shell
numbers.
Arafura Pearls CEO, Andrew Hewitt said the arrangement made strategic sense
for Arafura and was another significant milestone in the company’s development
giving it a Western Australian presence for the first time.
“We believe this will lead to other opportunities for the company in Western
Australia and assist in achieving our goal of becoming one of Australia’s leading
pearling groups”, he said.
As part of financing the JV arrangement, Arafura Pearls is finalising
documentation issuing $1.5 million in secured convertible notes to two existing
shareholders who are unrelated parties to the company. The convertible notes
have a three (3) year term, an interest rate 5.5% above the 180 day bank bill
rate, and may be converted at the greater of $0.45 and 80% of the volume
weighted market price at the time of conversion.
Mr Hewitt said that he was encouraged by the investor interest shown in the
convertible note issue at these conversion prices.

Further information visit arafurapearls.com.au or contact:
Andrew Hewitt
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: (08) 9382 4818
Mob: 0419 903 940
ahewitt@arafurapearls.com.au

Japan show attracts over 16,000 buyers

2007-07-03T23:18:00.000-07:00

http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/

July 03, 2007

Kobe, Japan—The 11th International Jewellery Kobe 2007 (IJK) brought in a record-breaking 16,167 professional buyers from Japan and abroad between May 17-19 at the Kobe International Exhibition Hall in Kobe.

The show also featured a record-breaking 633 exhibitors from 24 countries.

IJK show management cited the increased interest from attendees and exhibitors as an indication of the show's importance as a leading business venue for the jewelry trade.

In addition to increased attendance, IJK's gross available exhibition space has grown by 50 percent since a new extension wing was added to the exhibition hall in 2006. Country pavilions at the show included Hong Kong, Italy and Taiwan, and the record number of visitors to the show came from 33 countries.

The show features the world's largest exhibition of pearls, with leading companies from Ise, Kobe, Tokyo and others exhibiting their latest products. Also on display were diamond and colored-stone collections.

Exhibitors reported increased sales at the show this year, a trend that has characterized IJK.

"We were able to conduct very fruitful business negotiations at this year's IJK," said Shuro Uemoto, director of Australian opal company Mariora Corp. "More buyers are becoming aware of how convenient access to the IJK venue is from Kobe Airport, and this year we were able to meet important buyers from all over Japan. We regard IJK as a very important trade show where one is able to have good business negotiations with high-quality buyers."

The event is the largest of its kind in Western Japan, an area that accounts for more than half of the country's jewelry market.

Mother-of-pearl -- Classic beauty and remarkable strength

2007-07-03T02:09:00.000-07:00

MADISON -- While the shiny material of pearls and abalone shells has long been prized for its iridescence and aesthetic value in jewelry and decorations, scientists admire mother-of-pearl for other physical properties as well.

Also called nacre ("NAY-ker"), mother-of-pearl is 3,000 times more fracture-resistant than the mineral it is made of, aragonite, says Pupa Gilbert, a physicist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "You can go over it with a truck and not break it - you will crumble the outside [of the shell] but not the [nacre] inside. And we don't understand how it forms - that's why it's so fun to study."

Understanding the mechanism by which nacre forms would be the first step toward harnessing its strength and simplicity, she says. "We don't know how to synthesize materials that are better than the sum of their parts."

Writing in the June 29 issue of Physical Review Letters, Gilbert and her colleagues in the UW-Madison department of physics and School of Veterinary Medicine, the Institute for the Physics of Complex Matter in Switzerland and the UW-Madison Synchrotron Radiation Center, now describe unexpected elements of nacre architecture that may underlie its strength and offer clues into how this remarkable material forms.

Like our bones and teeth, nacre is a biomineral, a combination of organic molecules - made by living organisms - and mineral components that organisms ingest or collect from their environment. The aragonite mineral in nacre is made of calcium carbonate, which marine animals form from elements abundant in seawater.

Though a mere 5 percent of abalone nacre is organic, this small fraction somehow lays enough foundation for the mineral components to assemble spontaneously, Gilbert says.

"Ninety-five percent of the mass of this biomineral is self-assembled, while only 5 percent is actively formed by the organism," she says. "It is one of the most efficient mechanisms you can think of."

To gain insight into this self-assembly process, Gilbert and graduate student Rebecca Metzler examined the structure of abalone nacre using synchrotron radiation - light emitted by electrons speeding around a curved track.

When used to examine a cross-section of an abalone shell, previously seen to resemble a brick wall with layers of organic "mortar" separating individual crystalline "bricks," the polarized light from the synchrotron revealed that the nacre wall was not uniform.

Instead, the wall contained distinct clumps of bricks, each an irregular column of crystals with identical composition but a crystal orientation different than neighboring columns.

Since orientation affects how crystals emit electrons, "some of the columns of bricks appear white and others appear black and more appear gray, depending on their crystal orientation," Gilbert explains.

The overall effect resembles a camouflage pattern, each roughly columnar cluster a slightly different shade. More at http://www.eurekalert.org/

Other info can be found at: http://www.earthtimes.org/ and http://www.upi.com/

Contact: Pupa Gilbert
pupa@physics.wisc.edu
608-262-5829
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Thousands of pearls found in recovered treasure

2007-06-16T02:42:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.jacksonville.com/

The Associated Press

KEY WEST, Fla. - Shipwreck salvors discovered thousands of pearls Friday after opening a small, lead box they said they found while searching for the wreckage of the 17th-century Spanish galleon Santa Margarita.

Divers from Blue Water Ventures of Key West said they found the sealed lead box, measuring 3.5 inches by 5.5 inches, along with a gold bar, eight gold chains and hundreds of other artifacts earlier this week. They were apparently buried beneath the ocean floor in approximately 18 feet of water about 40 miles west of Key West.

"There are several thousand pearls starting from an eighth of an inch to three-quarters of an inch," said Duncan Mathewson, marine archaeologist and partner in Blue Water Ventures. "We have no idea exactly how many, because we haven't counted them yet."

James Sinclair, archaeologist and conservator consulting with Mel Fisher's Treasures, Blue Water's joint-venture partners, said the pearls are very rare because of their antiquity and condition.

"Pearls don't normally survive in the ocean very well once they've lost the protection of the oyster that makes them," Sinclair said. "In this instance, we had a lead box and the silt that had sifted into the box from the site of the Margarita, which preserved the pearls in a fairly pristine state."

An initial cache of treasure and artifacts from the Santa Margarita was discovered in 1980 by pioneering shipwreck salvor Mel Fisher. The pearls will be conserved, documented and photographed in an archaeological laboratory above the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West.

"Until they're properly cleaned and conserved we don't know their value, but it would seem they would be worth upwards of a million dollars," Mathewson said.

The Baroda Pearls; Another Auction Record at Christies

2007-06-10T17:28:00.000-07:00

The April 25^th Christie’s sale followed a now familiar patter of jaw dropping, world record prices for large rare gem. Previous records for Burmese Rubies and Kashmir Sapphires have been smashed. The Baroda Pearls (image left), a double strand of 68 natural pearls that were formerly the property of the Gawkwar of Baroda was auctioned along with matching brooch, earrings and ring for the record sum of 7.1 million dollars. At this same sale a 22 carat Kashmir sapphire also set a world record The April 25^th Christie’s sale followed a now familiar patter of jaw dropping, world record prices for large rare gem. Previous records for Burmese Rubies and Kashmir Sapphires have been smashed. The Baroda Pearls (image left), a double strand of 68 natural pearls that were formerly the property of the Gawkwar of Baroda was auctioned along with matching brooch, earrings and ring for the record sum of 7.1 million dollars. At this same sale a 22 carat Kashmir sapphire also set a world record... more at: http://gemwiseblogspotcom.blogspot.com/

Pearls and Global Warming

2007-06-07T21:36:00.000-07:00

Pearl farmers live in some of the world’s most beautiful places: sheltered lagoons with pristine clean waters and some of the world’s highest biodiversity. But this closeness to nature also means that they are also one of the most vulnerable industries to climate change. At this year’s GIA Gemfest in Basel, which featured leading pearl producers from all over the world, the topic of the threat of global warming to the quantity and quality of pearl production was one of the interesting topics raised. more...

Mikimoto introduces South Sea grading system

2007-06-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

New York—Pearl house Mikimoto has created a grading system for its South Sea cultured-pearl collections.

The proprietary system, similar to Mikimoto's Akoya grading system established in 1974, gives each pearl a grade based mainly on the luster and surface perfection of the gem. The system does not reflect a pearl's shape, size and color, but those factors do contribute to the pearl’s value.

Pearls receive grades from A to AAA. A AAA South Sea pearl represents the most perfect possible pearl.

more...

Week 11 - 17 Dec 2006

2006-12-11T19:18:00.000-08:00

Pelosi piques public's interest

Los Angeles Times - CA,USA... Rebibo fielded calls from more than four dozen women of all political stripes who wanted a muted, multicolor strand of South Sea Tahitian pearls, just like the ...

Arafura closes IPO, buys $3m pearl farm

WA Business News - Northbridge,Western Australia,AustraliaSubiaco-based Arafura Pearls has closed its $4 million IPO and gone ahead with the $3 million acquisition of pearl farm close to its exisiting Northern

week 27 Nov - 3 Dec

2006-11-30T19:16:00.000-08:00

Indonesian pearls as good as any in the region

Jakarta Post - Jakarta, Indonesia. Pearls have been cultivated since the late 19th century when the legendary Japanese noodle vendor, Mikimoto, implemented the surgical technique of implanting a ...

Imperfections spark creativity

Toronto Star - Ontario, Canada. "A pearl only a mother would love" ... Ron Dupuis is using the phrase to describe lots 604 in his upcoming auction ...

Source: Google News Alert

Week 20-26 Nov 06

2006-11-23T17:01:00.000-08:00

Man in pearls is a perfect gem
Toronto Star - Ontario, Canada
"I wear them every day and only take them off to shower," says Rocco Pistolesi when asked why he wears the delicate dove grey necklace. "I just like pearls. I think if you like something, you should just do it."

Rare pearls to go on show at festival
Gulf Times - Doha,Qatar
OVER 1,000 eye-catching and rare pearls are due to be on display during the 1st Abu Dhabi International Pearl Festival (AIPF) scheduled to be launched on December 10, said the Festival’s chief executive, Khaled al-Sayegh yesterday during a press conference held at Qatar National Museum.

Rare pearls to go under the hammer at Abu Dhabi charity auction
Dubai City Guide - Dubai,United Arab Emirates... world’s most famous jewelers and designers at the 1st pearl auction to be held in Abu Dhabi and will include a selection of unprocessed pearls, said chairman ...

The precious few
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia... different eras of design. There are Elizabethan-style pearls, Victorian diamond rings and contemporary neck pieces. She mixes black ...

Tiffany Pearls Book Published
New York fine art publishers Harry N. Abrams has just released a new book focusing upon the exquisite work of the master jewelers at Tiffany & Co. and entitled Tiffany Pearls. The 304-page, well-illustrated, book was penned by renowned Tiffany expert, John Loring, design director for Tiffany & Co. for the past three decades

Source: Google News Alert