Welcome! We are passionate about pearls and committed to helping you increase your share of this market.
It is our belief an enhanced knowledge of the cultured pearl product category results in greater sales and an increased passion for pearls.
We travel the world to find the finest pearls for the last month we have covered the Pacific From Japan ,Thailand ,Hong Kong New Zealand,
The Cook Islands, and French Polynesia This issue of Pearl Perspectives will cover The Highlights of that adventure
Taha'a Pearl farm Taha'a Island
An up close look at pearl nucleation
Rangiroa
Here is a world where 240 tiny islets, or motu, each no more than three
feet in elevation, lay upon the ocean for more than 110 miles completely
encircling an infinitely deep lagoon. Home to Gauguin's Pearl farm one of French
Polynesia's largest
more
New Zealand
In Christchurch we worked to help with the creation of
Eyris Mystique
For several months now we at Eyris have been astonished at the beauty of some of the pearls coming through from our Processing Centre - pearls which would normally fall under the Gem or A grade category were it not for the natural conchiolin layer of the Haliotis iris.
The mix of colour in each ‘Eyris Mystique’ creates a vision all of its own – landscapes, seascapes, horizons - they will capture everyone’s imagination and lend themselves to some unique and creative designs. An example of these pearls is shown here.
Stewart Island New Zealand
is the home to Eyris Blue Pearls new on land pearl farm
Stewart Island, the southern-most island of New Zealand, shows as a dot on the map (if it appears at all). Don't be fooled. Stewart Island is large, 64 km long, and 40 km across (at its widest point). It has a 700 km coastline, but there are only 20 km of roads!
The Southern most place in New Zealand
Cook Islands
Rarotonga
SINCE RAROTONGA is the youngest island in the Cook Islands
southern group it is physically unlike its other volcanic neighbors
where erosion and periodic submersions have reduced mountains to gentle
hills. Rarotonga's central massif is the eroded remains of a once mighty
volcanic pyramid whose crags now form sawtooth peaks and razorback
ridges covered with tropical jungle. These are separated by streams
running down steep valleys.The island stands 14,750 feet (4500m) above
the ocean floor. It is 20 miles (32k) in circumference. At a depth of
13,000 feet (4000m) the volcano is some 31 miles (50k) in diameter. The
highest peak is 2140 feet (658m) above sea level and the island is
surrounded by a lagoon which extends several hundred yards to the reef
which then slopes steeply to deep water.
Around the central mountainous area of this beautiful island is a narrow
band of agricultural terraces and flats which, in turn, is encircled by
a ring of swamps used largely for growing taro.
Manihiki
Known as the Island of Pearls
Japan
March 2007 report from Kobe
Could it be that Japanese Akoya is making a comeback? This is the word we are getting from our suppliers in Kobe. While this year’s crop consists of roughly the same amount of Haamage as last year, the quality is better. By this we mean that the nacre coating is thicker and the luster is brighter. The reason for the change is “Koshimono”. The translation of this word means second summer and the Japanese literally leave approximately 50%-60% of the nucleated oysters in the water for a second summer or 18 to 20 months as opposed to the normal 10-14 months. Last year only 35% of the crop was kept in the water for a second season. This tells us that the oysters are healthier than they have been for many years. The healthier oysters are a result of cleaner water with more nutrients and a successful crossbreeding of Japanese and Chinese Akoya oysters. Years ago when crossbreeding of oysters was tried many of the oysters died from a virus and those that survived were very weak. This situation has been rectified and we are seeing the positive results in better quality pearls.
There are 3 main cultivating areas in Japan; Mie, Kyushu and Shikoku. The results in Mie this year were not very good due to unusually cold water during the winter. This cold water was too much of a shock on the oysters system and as a result the output from Mie was 25%-30% less than last year. Many of the smaller sized pearls are produced here so there will be less 5MM and under available while the quantity of 6MM stayed about the same. One positive result for Mie is that the farmers can now insert two nuclei in the oyster instead of the one that has been inserted for many years.
Shikoku had very positive results. Production there was up 50% and the size ranges grown were larger than usual due to the oysters being left in the water for another growing season. This year there will be more 9MM and 10MM Akoya pearls available than there have been in many years. Shikoku farmers are also inserting two nuclei in the oysters instead of one.
Kyushu also experienced a large production increase as well as an accompanying increase in the size off the pearls produced. This area is known for producing 7MM to 8MM pearls with 7 – 71/2 MM being the majority. This year due to the pearls remaining in the water for another growing season there is a shortage of 7-71/2 MM and an increase in 71/2 – 8 MM.
In summary, it has been a good auction season for the pearl cultivators. They sell their Haamage by weight and the larger the pearls they produce are, the more they weigh and the more money they get. There are farmers who specialize in producing 6MM and under pearls and it has also been a good season for them. Processors pay a premium for these sizes and the quality of this year’s crop is better than usual so the cultivators were able to make more money. While the lower end of the Japanese production cannot compete with Chinese Akoya and Chinese freshwater pearls, the higher end is in a class by itself and will continue to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Past Pearl Education Articles Unusual Pearls Pearl Farming around The World
Oops!!
Sometimes we have to much of a good thing!