"Dishing Up Pearls in a Buyer's Market", 10/1/2009

[Hanaleimom]

Pearl authorities explain why American retailers can benefit from current market conditions, from jckonline.com.

Includes quotes from Jeremy and Josh http://tinyurl.com/yct8e6a

[pattye]

Reported by Grimace-sama in The Pearl Professor blog----after attending the Hong Kong Jewellery Fair:

And the bloom seemed to be off Chinese freshwater pearls, as fine goods were scarcer than ever, and qualities were sorely diminished (one reason: it is said that rice farming is now more profitable than pearl farming).

However, our own Jeremy Shepherd, in the article noted above by Cathy sez:

"We've seen much more availability of perfectly round to near perfectly round strands," he says. "We've seen strands with metallic, high-grade, and akoya-like luster. The finest metallic-luster strands were nearly impossible to acquire just two years ago."

Certainly interesting commentary, but contradictory??

Are the top strands and top quality being picked off and not being shown at the fair?

[jshepherd]

I saw a lot of fine grade at the fair. In fact, I think quality has gone up overall. I don't agree with Grimace-sama on that post. I saw a different show.

The finest grades weren't really available though. I get the feeling that loose-pearl grade has taken hold in China, and that means typical corners are being cut. All the big players had a grade available they referred to as "loose pearl." Of course, this is what we started collecting and making a few years ago (freshadama). But by and large, the strands were marked, the pearls buttoned out near the ends, and there was a lot of wobbling.

The strands we are having created now are 100% earring grade, so no, there were no strands like it at the show. These strands are either drilled large, or drilled large on one side - a tell-tale mark of true earring material that has been drilled at a .8 for that reason, and then collected for strands. The "loose grade" sold at the show was consistent .7 (from what I saw), so basically a fine-quality necklace grade.

[GemGeek]

Very interesting Jeremy!

[Precious Pearl]

Very interesting! As a consumer I am of course happy for the "low" prices but I feel very sorry for the pearl farmers who have to go out of business and for the ones who sits on lots of unsold pearls.

[Caitlin]

I think the Gem Show in Tucson will be VERY interesting this year!

[Pearlcat]

The waiting is killing me!!

[Josh]

Precious Pearl, thank you for the sympathy. The farming landscape here in Tahiti has dramatically changed now. For us at Kamoka, we are staying afloat through small sales to our international buyers. If anyone wants to support us, please support the vendors that can be found on our "Friends and Partners" page on our website.

[waimeamomi]

Hey, I just made a sale because of that link - so thank you!!!