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It is our belief an enhanced knowledge of the cultured pearl product category results in greater sales and an increased passion for pearls.
Chinese Imperial Pearl Necklace Breaks World Record: Sold at 8.7 Million
A stunning Imperial pearl necklace
broke world records, selling for 8.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction
Thursday, April 8th. According to the Malaysian Mirror.com, the necklace was
thought to have been owned by 18th century Qing Emperor Yongzheng. It broke
all world records for Imperial jewelry at auction. A lucky telephone bidder
was the final bid, picking up the pearl and gemstone necklace for 8.7
million dollars. The final auction price was more than five times the
highest estimate for the piece.
This is a beautiful necklace, long and full of lustrous pearls and colorful
gemstones. It is easy to see how this necklace would be treasured by any
wearer and would be owned by royalty. Originally pearls were considered to
be a gemstone exclusively worn by royalty and the elite. Fortunately today,
we all can enjoy these lovely natural gemstones of the sea. We even can
enjoy the pearls once owned by royalty, just like this beautiful Imperial
necklace from the 18th century!
We discussed this necklace as it was headed to auction earlier this Spring.
How exciting to see its final auction. We do hope the lucky bidder enjoys
their beautiful necklace and treasures it.
Artwork featuring the Emperor wearing a similar (or the same) necklace was
on view. The esteemed Emperor wore a gold print robe and the Imperial
necklace.
The Sotheby’s auction held in Hong Kong on Thursday, April 8th was very
popular and offered quite a few pieces from the 18th century in China. This
was not the only world record broken that day. A white jade seal from
Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty also in the 18th century was sold for
12.29 million. This also broke the world auction record for both white jade
and Imperial seals.
Sotheby’s and competitor auction house Christie’s states that Hong Kong is
now the third largest auction location in the world. New York and London are
first and second. Interest in Chinese art of many kinds is increasing.
If you have a passion for pearls, attending auctions such as these are a
unique opportunity to see one-of-a-kind pearls you simply won’t see anywhere
else. Many auctions have viewing periods where you’ll have the chance to see
the object (behind protective glass of course). For a pearl lover we can’t
think of anything more exciting – other than being the lucky final bidder of
course. Pearls have been adored for centuries and there are many fine
jewelry pieces made from pearls or including pearls you can look at – from
just about every time period in history. This is an ideal experience for
those who are passionate about pearls and also enjoy history.
Pearl auctions may be held by both large and small auction houses. Sotheby’s
and Christie’s are two of the largest auction houses. But there may be
auction houses near you that hold jewelry or estate auctions that can be of
interest.
Viewing historical pearls is an experience like no other. To realize you are
looking at pearls loved so long ago, and still enjoyed today is quite
exciting!
The NYC Census Discovers the Door Opening Power of Pearls
Pearls Information by Pearly Girl
Many are familiar with the challenge of
getting people to respond to the U.S. Census. The Observer.com states that
wearing a pearl necklace on the Upper East Side of New York City appears to be
the door opening secret to getting residents to respond. We always knew that
pearls and pearl jewelry had great power and influence!
While the U.S. Census in New York City appears to be learning the “secret” of
pearls, we’ve know this for a long time. Wearing pearls lends a certain charm
and sophistication to their wearer. While pearls can be worn by every woman – it
does take a special woman to select pearls and people just seem to know this.
The pearl is a natural gemstone of the sea, treasured for centuries as a symbol
of love and sentiment. Pearls are often given for special occasions and this
reminds us subtly that the wearer is special to someone. To wear pearls is to be
considered someone’s “pearl” to love and in someone’s heart forever.
Pearls are ideal for both daytime and evening wear. They are quite popular for
this reason. Your pearls are quite comfortable opening doors for you during the
day or for evening events. Whether you are having lunch with friends, an
important business meeting or running errands during the day, your pearls are an
easy compliment. In the evening, they are a charming addition as you go out to
dinner with your husband; attend that charity gala or business-networking event.
You’ll always look stylish and in fashion.
The woman who wears pearls instantly looks more polished and professional. There
are many different types, colors and styles of pearls one can select to wear.
Try the bold and colorful South Sea pearls in a choker style for a stunning
look. Or a long rope necklace of tiny ivory colored seed pearls for a dainty and
very feminine style. No matter your selection of pearl jewelry, we know you’ll
have that “door opening” power easily within reach!
We think part of the allure of wearing pearls is that they once were worn only
by royalty and the elite. While many may not be fully aware of this history,
they simply understand that pearls are “special” and respond to that. Those who
know the history smile just a bit, thinking of the select royalty and lucky few
who were chosen to were these lustrous natural gemstones. So wearing pearls
makes you special, a member of today’s “royalty” who are so passionate about
pearls. While not related by blood or geography we are a select group and know
each other instantly. It’s easy to recognize another pearl lover at first sight,
admiring their lovely pearls.
Whether you are hoping to open a door or simply make a grand entrance, we know
you’ll enjoy it just a bit more while wearing your pearls. Put on your favorite
pearls and have a wonderful time!
Key ingredients for Pearl Farming
Key ingredients for Pearl Farming
Balance and harmony are key factors in modern pearl farming. The lustrous South
Sea pearl commands a premium price because of the sheer amount of time, energy
and expertise involved in this business. The pearl can only come into being if
three ingredients are present: suitable weather conditions, sea conditions and
human harmony.
WEATHER CONDITIONS:
The weather conditions in a pearl farm must be stable enough and not prone to
typhoons, climatic variations and weather disturbances for pearl farming to be
carried out well. There must also be minimum temperature variations to avoid
stress to the oyster. The farm site chosen must be sheltered from cyclones and
storms, seeing to it that it must be possible to work every day.
SEA CONDITIONS:
The quality of the sea plays a major role in choosing a suitable site for a
pearl farm. There must be sufficient current carrying clean water and sufficient
quantity of plankton. It goes without saying that the farm site must be free
from any pollution. Ideally, the farm must be located in an area that has been
once or still is a natural oyster seabed.
HUMAN HARMONY:
Life in a pearl farm is based on the principles of teamwork and seamless
synergy, of respect for diversity while maintaining peaceful co-existence. Like
honeybees in a colony, there is an established pattern of work and a clear
division of labor. Honeybees are social insects, with a marked division of labor
between the various types of bees in the colony. So it is in a pearl farm, where
different people from all walks of life live together but each one has a special
gift or talent that one fulfills knowing how important that task is to the whole
process. People with such diverse educational backgrounds as marine biologists,
divers, technicians, grafters, cooks, carpenters, and many others collaborate
efficiently. Each one has a specific role to fulfill and all put their hearts
and minds in full focus to the task at hand. This special team must be provided
with everything they need to survive life far from their home and from modern
civilization so in turn they can provide proper care to the sensitive Pinctada
Maxima oyster. This is the human aspect of the business that is crucial to the
success of pearl farming.
The Philippines, known for the warmth and friendliness of its people is gifted
with workers who rise up to the challenge. The country is also blessed with an
ideal archipelago to set up pearl farms in view of the country's warm climate,
generally favorable water conditions and more importantly because of its
pristine waters in the South.
The necessary combination of the three factors mentioned above makes it
difficult to find a suitable place for a pearl farm. It is a continuous quest
for a pearl farmer to find the perfect farm site.
Cook Island Pearls
The Cook Islands pearl industry has experienced major setbacks over the past decade due to cyclones, disease outbreaks and falling global prices.
During this period, the value of pearl exports declined from NZ$18.4 million in 2000 to NZ$2.1 million in 2008.
The small isolated atolls and communities of the northern Cook Islands that relied on pearl farming for their livelihood suffered economic hardships and their populations declined as a consequence by 29 percent between 2001 and 2006.
The pearl crop is harvested twice yearly during March-May and
September-November. The current annual crop volume is estimated at a
relatively modest 170,000 pearls (all grades). After allowing for pearls
taken out by foreign technicians as payment for their services (25 percent),
around 50,000-55,000 pearls fall within the A-B-C grade.
The estimated pearl crop over the next two years will remain modest (160,000
- 180,000 pearls).
Past Pearl Education Articles Unusual Pearls Pearl Farming around The World Pearl Forums
Fiji Pearls
I had the pleasure of meeting Justin Hunter and his wife in Dubai and enjoy watching the farm mature
Fiji pearls came to
the attention of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) at the famous
BaselWorld Watch
and Jewellery Show in April of 2008. At the request of J. Hunter’s auction
client Gerhard Hahn Company, GIA
examined our Fiji pearls, publishing the results in their summer 2009 edition.
The study was done at the New York
Laboratory by Akira Hyatt and Dr. Wuyi Wang. Based on GIA’s examination over the
years of many
thousands of P. margaritifera cultured pearls the results showed that Fiji
pearls have individual characteristics
distinguishing them from both P. margaritifera pearls of other geographical
areas of the world and P. maxima pearls.
GIA stated, “The broad range of body colors in the small Fiji pearl sample set
was remarkable.” The hues ranged
from blue and green (cool hues) to the popular chocolate, orange and yellow
(warm hues), with many samples showing
strong saturation. The test concluded the spectroscopic data indicated that all
of the tested cultured pearls were of
natural color. J. Hunter Pearls Fiji pledges that our pearl colors do not result
from treatment, only standard
post-harvest processing such as cleaning, and we are pleased to have our claim
supported by GIA.
