The Aussie view

[Mikeyy]

Cheap China pearls no threat to Aussie industry

Just saw this comment from Bill Reed of Linney's in Broome.

Friday, 26/09/2008

The price of China's freshwater pearls has plummeted by 90 per cent over the last five years.

Due to the production glut, for the price of one Australian pearl you could buy a whole Chinese necklace.

Veteran of the pearl industry Bill Reed says they don't compete directly with Australia's oyster grown pearls because they're a lower quality.

"They have a small impact on the Australian market" he says.

"I must confess they look okay but they wear out so quickly."

 

[Raisondetre]

OK, being dumb here. I thought they were talking about Akoyas. Why would someone compare freshwaters with Australian SS? It's like apples and oranges. Totally different market. I am a freshwater fan, but I also like SS when I can afford them. And I thought poor quality freshwaters are just less lustrous/attractive. I would expect nucleated varieties of pearls to "wear out" quicker.

 

[Nerida]

I love Chinese FWs. But I can't see that they could ever be a tangible threat to the Australian SS industry. Paspaley, Autore, Kailis etc are names that to the general jewellery buying public, are steeped in quality and desirability. Clever marketing, yes. But there is a huge perception in Australia that CFWP are not "real pearls". That's annoying, but it's also not going to change anytime soon. My customers like the fact that they can buy a great looking strand for a couple of hundred dollars. Most of them would still like to own (and many many of them do) a gorgeous SS strand as well. They don't think of them as alternate categories of the same product, but as distinctly different products.

 

[Raisondetre]

Exactly. I like my cheap freshwater thrills but I will save up for Tahitians and SS, maybe even Sea of Cortez if I ever get there. I understand the point made in the article and agree with it, but some of the things stated as "facts" just don't sit well with me.

 

[pearlescence]

never good marketing simply to rubbish the rivals (especially when you don't get your facts right) Makes you look cheap and dumb.

 

[pattye]

never good marketing simply to rubbish the rivals (especially when you don't get your facts right) Makes you look cheap and dumb.

Sooooo true, Wendy, focus on the great things about one's own product, pearls, or whatever-------------a much classier approach---------------

 

[Ragnorak]

But there is a huge perception in Australia that CFWP are not "real pearls".

Though considering that you see a lot of overpriced average quality pearls being sold in market type stalls all over the country, it's going to be difficult to change people's perceptions.

And even when they are half decent, the presentation can leave a lot to be desired.

 

[Nerida]

Ragnorak - I agree. All you can do is your own little bit of education whenever you can. Giving good pearls, priced appropriately, and presented appropriately is what the best of us aim to do. I have restrung pearls for customers that I know could be bought and sold profitably for under $40 only to hear that my customer paid several hundreds of dollars for them from so called gemmology qualified antique dealers.

It is an uphill battle for those of us that like to do things ethically.

 

[Ragnorak]

And documentaries (like Aphrodite's Drop: The Power of Pearls) that concentrate on the higher end of the market don't really help things.

SBS screened it on the 15th of September.

 

[KAC]

Cheap China pearls no threat to Aussie industry

The fact that they are even saying this means that it IS a threat. I think all other pearl types are feeling the pinch by the amount and quality of CFWP currently on the market.

 

[effisk]

Though considering that you see a lot of overpriced average quality pearls being sold in market type stalls all over the country

hehe! I bought my first pearls on the riverside market in Brisbane. I won't tell you the price i paid for that station necklace

 

[laurenb]

Cheap China pearls no threat to Aussie industry

Just saw this comment from Bill Reed of Linney's in Broome.

"I must confess they look okay but they wear out so quickly."

Perhaps he's attempting to be a clever marketer. What he said doesn't change my thought about SSp or Cfwp, but he did get me to spend 10 minutes trying to figure out what on earth he could have meant.