Pearl Perspetives

Welcome, we are passionate about pearls and committed to helping you increase your share of this market.

Japanese market report

In May of this year we gave a report concerning the Japanese Akoya pearl situation.

The highlights of the report were that there was a 30% decrease in the production of 6x6.5mm with a corresponding price increase of 35%. For 7mm there was a decrease of 25% in production with a price increase of 10% and 8mm had a decrease in production of 20% with a 10% price increase. The quality in general has improved. Our most recent trip has confirmed these statistics.

What is surprising is that medium to high quality in any size is selling out as quickly as it is processed. The higher prices along with the reduced quantities seemed to have sparked a demand for the better pearls, a trend which is especially true in the US. This is however creating a problem for the Japanese. What to do with the lower quality pearls which make up approximately 70% of the production? One of our suppliers told us that by the end of the year the he suspected that Japan would sell $135,000,000 worth of cultured pearls which cost $ 250,000,000 to produce. This of course is unsustainable and many cultivators are expected to go bankrupt. To this add the fact that there are no young people succeeding their elders in the cultivating business and we see that the cultured pearl industry in Japan has major problems.

We, at Imperial, are fortunate to have excellent relations with the strongest cultivators and processors in Japan and will be able to supply our customers with the high quality Japanese Akoya they have come to expect

Increase your share of this market

In my travels, I talk with Jewelers about pearls especially those that have had substantial increases in pearl sales. Karen's Jewelers in Oak Ridge Tennessee is one of them. Martha Hart agreed to give me some thoughts on what has contributed to her pearl success.

These tips may help you sell more pearls. Thank You, Martha.

Pearl Selling Tips

I love pearls—I think they are the easiest thing to sell in a jewelry store. Love your product—you should be able to help almost everyone find a pearl piece they like—many times I show a customer pieces I like—they thought they didn’t like pearls because they had never really looked at them and realized the diversity of designs and pieces available. I can reduce any objection you usually encounter with diamonds or many other gemstones: more

Setting up your Pearl Department

It took us many years to finally get our pearl department where it is today, but it is now one of our most profitable showcases. We devote one showcase to mostly Akoya pearls, with just a few Tahitian and South Sea pearl pieces and a couple of spectacular freshwater pearl pieces. more

If you have anything you think will help to understand the world of pearls please contact me (click here)

Education

It is our belief an enhanced knowledge of the cultured pearl product category results in greater sales and an increased passion for pearls.

AKOYA CULTURED PEARLS

Because of the relatively small size of the mother oyster, which grows to only about 7cm or 8cm in diameter at maturity; these pearls are correspondingly smaller. Generally, they range from 2mm to 9mm or very rarely, 10mm. First cultivated in Japan, the Akoya has been the traditional cultured pearl for almost a century. more

Akoya Pearls and Black Tahitian Pearls farmed in Australia

Australia has been known for its production of white South Sea pearls but there have been initiatives to produce the traditional Japanese Akoya and the Tahitian Pinctada margaritifera Black Pearl.

Akoya

While the Australian pearl industry is based on the silver lip pearl oyster Pinctada maxima, there is increasing interest in pearl production from other species. One such species is the Akoya pearl oyster, Pinctada imbricata, which is abundant in Australian waters.

In July 1998, researchers at NSW Fisheries, Port Stephens Research Centre began investigations into the possibility of establishing a pearl industry in Port Stephens, an industry based on the Akoya pearl oyster, Pinctada imbricata.

Abrolhos Black Magic

Several species of pearl oysters are found in Australian waters. The main pearling industry is based on the silver lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima), which produces high quality cultured pearls known as South Sea pearls. Map - Abrolhos

This species is found across the central Indo-Pacific region from India to New Guinea and the Philippines, and in Australia from Carnarvon on the west coast to south of Cairns on the east coast.

Other species farmed on a much smaller scale include the black-lipped pearl oyster (P. margaritifera), the shark bay pearl oyster (Pinctada albina), the Winged Oyster (Pteria penguin), and the Akoya pearl oyster (Pinctada imbricata).

The color of Abrolhos pearls is quite different from that of the Tahitian black pearls and may prove to be a useful marketing tool More

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Akoya Pearl Shell

We are making some Akoya shells available for you to show to your sales staff and customers. I think the most interesting fact you will find is how small an Akoya shell is. You will better understand why it is so difficult to get 9mm plus pearls from these shells.