Welcome, we are passionate about pearls and committed to helping you increase your share of this market.
Report From Vicenza Italy
The Vicenza Jewelry show is a vast and sprawling affair, incorporating multiple pavilions. The main entrance brings you into a hall dominated by large booths covered with bold graphics housing Europe's elite. As you work your way past the first hall, you enter a labyrinth of smaller booths one above the other--literally. This multi-level hall is impossible to approach in a systematic manner. The show spreads in every direction from that point.
The most dominate theme of this show was the use of soft and/or spun gold. This product was used over and over by a large number of exhibitors in endless permutations and colors and the liberal use of pearls was of note.|
Imperial proudly announces
Crown Select
You never knew pearl jewelry could be like this…..
Born from the desire to satisfy the appetite of the discerning retailer who seeks the finest for their client, Imperial Crown Select is just that……select.
Our core principle is to create beautiful pearl jewelry with an unwavering commitment to quality. Craftsmanship, attention to detail and hand selected gem quality pearls will be the hallmark of Crown Select.
Artisans will use time honored techniques in creating CS pearl jewelry. Simply classic to extraordinary, with diamonds or precious stones….each design will reflect an individual style and attitude coupled with the CS principle commitment to quality.
Watch for Crown Select's debut at JCK Las Vegas Snow in NY
More pictures
Exhibitor Only Show Opens in Wake of the Blizzard of 2005
We played in the snow like kids, who knew there was no school tomorrow; but to our amazement, almost all the exhibitors found a way to make it to the Jacob Javits Center. Unfortunately, the buyers were not as fortunate. |
Education
It is our belief an enhanced knowledge of the cultured pearl product category results in greater sales and an increased passion for pearls.
Mexican Pearling
Pearls were the New World's biggest export, until the full development of gold and silver mines in Mexico and Peru. As a matter of fact, the value of the pearls exported to Spain exceeded that of all other exports combined. In Europe, the Americas became known as "the lands where pearls come hither". One of the most famous pearls found in the Americas was "La Peregrina (The Wanderer)". Particularly noted for its beauty and dark-gray color, "La Peregrina" has the size and shape of a pigeon's egg.
Mexican pearls are born out of two native Pearl Oyster species: the "Panamic Black-Lipped Pearl Oyster" (Pinctada mazatlanica) and the "Rainbow-Lipped Pearl Oyster" (Pteria sterna). Both organisms are very able at producing pearls in a wide array of colors: from an opalescent white, golden-bronze, grays, greens and blues, pinkish-violet, and all the way to jet black. The fame of Mexican pearls increased even further when an important development took place in the Island of "Espíritu Santo" (near the City of La Paz), in the southern part of Lower California. This development took form as a company founded by Medical Doctor Gastón Vivès, who started the world's first commercial pearl oyster culture farm, this back in the year of 1903. This took place several decades before the Japanese where even dreaming of culturing pearls.
Mexico lost the great opportunity of becoming the leading country in the culture of naturally colored (black) pearls. The factors involved in this were many, but bad government practices and decisions were decisive. It was back in the decade of the sixties when a pilot pearl culture station was started in the Falsa Bay, South Baja California, with the help of Australian Pearl Promoter: C. Denis George.
The estimated yearly production of cultured pearls for this pearl farm will be of about 10,000 pearls per year starting by the year 2002. This makes Mexican pearls the rarest in the World... Full story
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.
Update from Kobe
Last month we reported that there was going to be a scarcity of 6x6.5 MM Japanese Akoya in the market this year. We have recently returned from a buying trip to Kobe and the following is a summary of the market conditions for the coming year.
The price of 6x6.5 MM has gone up 20%. The price of 5 MM to 6 MM has gone up 10%. This is due to the fact that the cultivating areas, Ise, Shikoku and Kyushu, were hit by 5 typhoons and also experienced very hot water temperatures during the summer which killed many oysters. Ise, where the auctions are finished, is the area that produces the largest amount of 5MM to 7MM pearls. Because of the two factors listed above, the production of 5MM to 6MM was down 40% from last year. The production of 6MM to 7MM was down 50% from last year.
Kyushu, where the auctions are drawing to a close, was the area hardest hit by the typhoons. Consequently, a very large cultivator who usually did not buy much at the auctions because he had his own large production, entered the bidding at the auction and bid much higher prices than others forcing prices up. Kyushu produces a small amount of 5MM to 7MM pearls but the largest portion is 7MM and up.
Shikoku, which specializes in 7MM and up, was the area least, affected by the typhoons and the hot water temperatures. The auctions are just beginning there and the reports are that the quantity will be the same as last year and the quality slightly better.
The total production of Japanese Akoya is down 20 to 25% from last year. The quality in general is considered the same. The auctions will be completed next month and we will give you a final update at that time.
Market Report
Pearls are riding a strong wave of consumer popularity as they have moved into the centre stage of fashionable jewelry. In 2005, many are expecting pearls to be used on catwalks of fashion as well as to see increased placement on celebrities. Profit margins on pearl jewelry are more attractive compared to other categories of jewelry, such as diamond, gold, or platinum jewelry. From a consumer's view, South Sea and Tahitian pearls are more accessible than carat diamonds and have as high a perceived value and prestige factor as carat-size diamonds. Retailers are seeing the profit margins and those who previously focused mainly on gold and diamond jewelry are more receptive to showcasing pearl jewelry and diversifying into pearl sales
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New Product
These new styles were introduced at the JA New York jewelry show. However, due to the blizzard and so few could attend; I thought I would give you a preview.
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Oops
Sometimes we have to much of a good thing...
As we begin a new year we have analyzed our inventories and listed items for fast clearance these are first quality products. They are current product and afford a great opportunity to save!
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Web Specials |
50% OFF Jeweler's Cost!
We are offering the biggest discounts in Oops to establish it as the place to get the best bargains!
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Best of the Web
Below are links to some of best parts of the site.
Color White
Color Yellow
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To view past Pearl Perspectives click here
Coming up in the next newsletter:
Report from Tucson
We would love to hear your comments about this newsletter (click here)
