Pearl Perspectives

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

The VicenzaOro 2006 Show Report

Show season kicked off this week with the opening of the Vicenza 2006 Fair.

Over 1600 exhibitors from 28 countries gathered for the first major show of the year.

The major trend for pearls was that they were used in clusters mixed with pastel stones. Chunky pastel color stone necklaces were everywhere. The predominate colors being blue and pink. The soft gold mesh that was pervasive a year ago is gone. New link chains are appearing and I grabbed product that will keep our design people busy all year. There where gemstone beads in new and fantastic shapes to use in combination with unusual gold and silver beads, glass beads and other components, including pearls. Watch for the results from Imperial at JCK Las Vegas.

Italy continues it's curious labor problems with metal worker unions. They were demonstrating in front of the fair making it difficult to enter, although less disruptive than last years train strike. more

While traveling to Italy I read The World is Flat . In the book it discussed how culture affects business. The business culture in Italy makes doing business difficult, to say the least. To get pricing, delivery and invoicing is next to impossible. Last year the Italians blamed their poor response to our concerns on miscommunication due to language difference. This year we hired our own interpreter and we still have the same problems as before. We feel the real problem in working with Italy is their “dopo domaini” attitude. Simply meaning, it will get done the day after tomorrow. When it comes to creativity and styling, you can’t beat the Italians.

Market Trends

This section looks at trends both in the market and in the world of pearls.

In this issue, we are going to look at some of the more unique pearling operations in the world.

Report from Kobe on the 2006 Japanese Akoya Crop

Before giving you the preliminary results of the 2006 crop, it is necessary to give a brief lesson in cultivating techniques that not everyone is familiar with.

After the oysters have been nucleated, the farmers periodically take a random sample from the crop. They open the oyster and evaluate the condition of the pearl and of the oyster.

Based on their judgment of these samplings, the farmers make an important decision as to whether to harvest the pearls after one year or to leave some of them in the water for another year. The oysters that are taken out of the water after one year are called “Tonenmono” or one year oysters. Those left in the water for another year are called “Koshimono” or over one year oysters. In the past 10 years very few oysters have fallen into the Koshimono category. In 2003, 30% of the oysters operated on were left in the water for another year. These oysters, along with those nucleated in 2004 and, only staying in the water for one year, are what the 2006 crop consists of.

The pearl auctions will be over by the end of February. The condition of the “Hamaage”, or raw material, purchased so far is better than it has been in years. As a result of cleaner waters and healthier oysters there is an increase in production and the pearls have a heavier coating and better color and luster. The down side, which is a problem for the American market, spotting. The American market is more concerned with spotting than other countries. This spotting will affect half drilled pearls that are used for earring, rings and pendants more than it will affect necklaces. And, just because there is a larger production doesn’t mean that there will necessarily be more medium to high quality pearls. The increase could all be in the poorer qualities. We will not know the final results on the 2006 crop until sometime in March.

One final point, 6 -6.5 mm strands and loose pearls have been the most difficult size to get in medium to better quality, will continue to be so.

2005 Stellar Year For Tahitian Pearl Exports

Tahitipresse reports that last year was "a stellar year" for the exports of loose Tahitian cultured pearls as volume continued to drop and quality and value continued to increase, Perles de Tahiti General Manager, Martin Coeroli, announced Monday.

South Sea Pearls

South Sea pearls can be quickly identified because of their large size. Generally, they range from 9mm to 17mm in diameter. Only in very rare cases do they grow larger.

The South Sea pearl is a noble pearl and tends to have a very strong and healthy nacreous coating around the implanted mother-of-pearl nucleus. It is this thick coating that helps keep its natural color, luster and beauty. This allows it to be worn with pride from generation to generation.

South Sea pearls are generally worn in a completely natural state as they come out of the oyster; they need no artificial enhancement or coloring whatsoever. That is why they are treasured as “The Queen of Pearls and the Pearl of Queens.”

Oops!!

Sometimes we have to much of a good thing!

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Coming up in the next newsletter:

Report from Tucson

Every February, the annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Shows attracts the best minerals, jewelry, lapidary and publication dealers from across the USA and beyond to Downtown Tucson and the Tucson Convention Center.

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