Nacre depth requirement scrapped from January

[ericw]

As far as I know, the only carver to work with a specific farmer is Chi, from Galatea. That because its beads are special, but Chi needs also a very thick layer of nacre. All of that is possible in case of big productions, I can't ask anything similar according to my own very little use.
I regret this new rule, because the last was the only one to work for the best pearl quality, in all the pearl's world. Moreover, I can't understand the tahitian farmers meaning, when they have been recently damaged by a hard oversupply crisis. If they think to feel better by reducing the cost of their production with a lowered quality, that's a strange calculation... except if purchasers agree that, as they have agreed tomatos loosing all their tast, but perfectly red, and that for the same price... And then, this management allows to junk these tomatos, also, if their number is higher than the need.
Beside, in this way, all the pearls will be perfectly round, now, exactly like their bead... for the same price than before, one more time.

[lilliefuzzysocks]

Ericw, Josh at Kamoka may be still choosing to grow thick nacre because his standards are higher. Why not contact him and ask?

[jshepherd]

I can't seem to find the source, but I am pretty sure I read once that Chi didn't need as thick of nacre so he was able to culture pearls in Vietnam for a shorter amount of time when he was seeding the pearl oysters with imitation gemstones for his carved pearls. I could be mistaken, but that is what I seem to recall.

[jshepherd]

Ericw, Josh at Kamoka may be still choosing to grow thick nacre because his standards are higher. Why not contact him and ask?

I don't believe any pearls are coming out of Tahiti right now that are short-cultured. We would have heard about it and it would have created a stir. Remember, this law was scrapped months ago. That's barely enough time to decide "hey, let's harvest now," do the harvest, sell the pearls at auction, get them into the market ... You would be very hard pressed to find a pearl in the market that was not harvested under the 0.8 mm umbrella.

If you want to be sure, just get pearls from Rikitea. That's the only place with consistent nacre thicknesses well in excess of the legal minimums. Nearly every pearl Hisano has cut or carved has at least two millimeters. That's 2.5 x the minimum.

[pearlescence]

The farmers ended up with exactly the same amount of money. Who do you think paid for the testing?

[ericw]

That's a good information, Jeremy, about Rikitea. Thank you for sharing.
Maybe I am unlucky, but the last tahitian pearls I have received have not so much thick nacre than all others before. The last I have carved is between 0.5/0.6mm nacre thick, calliper measured... a lost work. So, I suspect farmers have stopped the growth, and nearly one year past is suffisant to find these pearls on the market (one of year's auctions is happening at the end of july, an other in november)
About Chi, I remember he was associated with a tahitian farmer, first, but I don't know how he is working now, just I know that he makes vietnamese workers to carve its pearls. Anyway, looking at its jewels, Chi needs an unusual thickness of nacre.
You are kind, Lilliefuzzysocks, but to require a special production needs always a serious wallet I havn't

[ericw]

The farmers ended up with exactly the same amount of money. Who do you think paid for the testing?

Testing is free of charge for tahitian farmers who require it to authorities.

[Mermaid]

So, with these possible changes in quality, who would all of you suggest for good quality Tahitians [at least that ships to the US]?
PearlParadise
PearlsOfJoy
Kamoka

???

[Pearl Dreams]

All three, and also Pure Pearls and Kojima.
Vendors who have a reputation to maintain.

I could see thinner nacre Tahitians showing up in the future on Etsy from vendors who sell less expensive/lower quality Tahitians. If low price is the biggest draw, then quality tends to be lower.

[ericw]

Pearl Dreams, that's true people buying low price pearls can't get the best quality, anyway.
But now, without test, nobody will be able to know if a tahitian pearl has grown during three months or three years, for the same price, and moreover, perfectly spherical pearls, so much valuable at present time, will be easier to make, without most of usual difficulties. Then, what about their new price?
I might bet, also, we are going to see less and less circle shapes, in the future.
I assure you that tahitian jewellers themselves, who love pearls they work, don't agree these new rules, and about scraps too: before, pearls with beads covered less than 80% of their surface by nacre, or see-through beads were junked. Now, the new law don't say anything about that. None about soufflés, but reading the law, it appears that pearl grown around any other bead than usual, can't be called tahitian pearl ( I don't talk of tahitian keshi, without any beads, and recognised by this law, are recognised also "keshi reborn pearls", with a second bead).
About keeping vendors reputation, I think it's simple: they must require nacre thickness certificate. May I repeat the test is free of charge for farmers! But not for jewellers and traders...
Edit: talking of soufflés, it's the council of ministers who decides of beads conformity. I have not found any deliberations speaking of other kinds of beads right for use than traditional ones. This is not surprising: the law is very strict about beads trading, and sure, authorities don't want to promote any practices they think difficult to control.
Well, Pearl Dreams, I remember you have studied french... If you want to see that by yourself, this is the link of the law:
http://lexpol.cloud.pf/document.php?...gvMDcvMjAxNw==

[Pearl Dreams]

Thanks Eric, I will have a look at it.

[ericw]

Thanks Eric, I will have a look at it.

Good luck, Pearl Dreams!