[Pearling Technologies]

I have heard however that the problem with the Cook pearls is that on average they are too small and colours too much on the gray scale. If they can rectify these issues and focus on larger, better quality and more colourful pearls, then they will have more market presence.

I had actually started a PhD in pearl marketing, the issue of colour and branding aspects during my Indonesian sabbatical although time got away from me!!

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by Pearling Technologies

If they can…focus on larger, better quality and more colourful pearls, then they will have more market presence.

Yes, quality first, individuality only if it is a legitimate result. That should be the primary message of this rather rambling thread.

[pbazar]

I have made significant purchases in Rarotonga over the last several years. I have tried to work with the farmers to make changes in their grading. The fact is that the Cook Islands are a poor country.

Their pearling operations have been nearly wiped out on several occasions by disease and weather. They are completely reliant on Japanese technicians that demand up to a third of their pearls in return for there service since the don’t have the money to pay for there services up front.

Besides the pearls that I have purchased the vast majority of pearls are sold to the Japanese that commingle them with Tahitian pearls. The production is still relatively small it has not reached the levels of pre the great disaster.

The colors are greyer and less vibrant than their Tahitian cousins. There is no export tax making the pearls less expensive especially lower quality circle pearls since the Tahitian tax is on weight and the tax on those pearls can be higher than the cost of the pearls.

The conversation about the Cook Islands concentrating on growing better pearls and marketing them is not going to happen anytime soon. The farms just want to sell the whole crop for cash as soon as they can. The Japanese technicians control when the oysters are nucleated and harvested.

I do have a lot of 2 ups that was sent to me it is quite nice larger
pearls but I don’t need the lot if anyone is interested in a lot contact me.

met with some of the bigger pearl farmers on Rarotonga
At the meeting (L to R): Piho Rua (Rakahanga Community pearl farm), George Ellis, Peter Bazar, Peter
William, Apii Piho, and Temu Okotai

[smetzler]

Mr. Bazar,

Thanks for the practical contribution, which was reported in detail in CIPA's newsletter, Poe Vira Vira. Certainly this thread has been largely conjecture, and suffice to say that the idealistic young farmer quoted in Post 11 was not among those farmers to whom you were introduced during your visit.

What a pity if the steamroller of mediocrity were to crush him under!

[Pearling Technologies]

Whilst Japanese technicians may be prevalent in the Cooks (as indeed they are elsewhere and for good reason), there are other options including Indonesian technicians.

I agree that good quality pearls will not appear overnight but what a huge advantage it would be for their industry if they could harness what they have and move forward along a clear and defined strategy rather than hand to mouth.

[Ragnorak]

Originally Posted by pbazar

They are completely reliant on Japanese technicians

I don't think that's entirely true. More the case that most of the seeders who work there are Japanese.

that demand up to a third of their pearls in return for there service since the don’t have the money to pay for there services up front.

Fair enough too. The technician usually has to provide the nuclei. Not exactly cheap. On ocaassion the money to buy long lines, chaplets and floats.

As far as I'm concerned it's relatively fair. There needs to be some sort of pay off for having to wait 18 months (or more) to get paid for services rendered. Especially if you've had to put in your own money.

The production is still relatively small it has not reached the levels of pre the great disaster.

The great disaster?

The Japanese technicians control when the oysters are nucleated and harvested.

That mainly happens because the Cooks was a place that people tried to fit in to their work schedules sometime during the year.

[effisk]

Originally Posted by Ragnorak

The great disaster?

Peter is referring to the disease that killed young oysters in 2000 on Manihiki. Ben Ponia said at the time that it would take five years for the local industry to completely recover.

[Ragnorak]

Originally Posted by effisk

Peter is referring to the disease that killed young oysters in 2000 on Manihiki.

There were concerns about the possiblity of a disease out break due to overcrowding as far back 1996/7.

Ben Ponia said at the time that it would take five years for the local industry to completely recover.

How badly was the industry effected? Considering how small the lagoon is does the industry want to return to the production levels of the late 90s?

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by Ragnorak

There were concerns about the possiblity of a disease out break due to overcrowding as far back 1996/7.



How badly was the industry effected? Considering how small the lagoon is does the industry want to return to the production levels of the late 90s?

Greed (read mismanagement) was amply rewarded in 2000, it would seem. But Manihiki is not so small, one of the larger lagoons (area the size of Manhattan), so there is room for a significant number of large farms, and the semi-closed nature of the lagoon offers sufficient water circulation.

But basing an entire national industry on a single, susceptible lagoon has certainly had its down side!

[Ragnorak]

Originally Posted by smetzler

But Manihiki is not so small, one of the larger lagoons

Relatively speaking it's one of the smaller lagoons I've seen.

But basing an entire national industry on a single, susceptible lagoon has certainly had its down side!

Penhryn is much larger but you then run into problems with logistics because of how isolated it is.

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by Ragnorak

Relatively speaking it's one of the smaller lagoons I've seen.

Penhryn is much larger but you then run into problems with logistics because of how isolated it is.

Penrhyn (how many ways are there to screw up the spelling of that name!?) was actually the lagoon on my mind when speaking of Manhattan-scale and open reefs. Those open reefs have been mentioned as one of the reasons pearliculture was difficult to maintain (hard to catch spats in the currents), not to mention shark infestation and underwater volcanic activity. My romance with Cook Islands pearls certainly originates there, evidenced by the poe pipi in my avatars.