World Pearl Forum

[barbie biggs]

Reading this is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Wish I could go but if I can't...
If you can't join em, read em.

 

[jshepherd]

I can't speak for Terry, but I plan to post while I'm there. Oh, and if anyone remembers that Monili, flawless, 21-carat natural pearl set on a platinum and rose-gold ring with pink and colorless diamonds...I have it with me. The same ring will be featured on Extra next week (not sure what day) if any of you watch that show. They shot part of a pre-Oscar episode in our vault.

I'm sitting in the Virgin Atlantic lounge now, waiting for the flight. It is going to be a long one!

 

[GemGeek]

How cool is it to have our own reporter?

 

[effisk]

And I'm just back from the perfect surf session. My flight is tomorrow, I'll be missing the opening cocktail (but I can't miss tomorrow's surf!)

 

[Nerida]

love your prioritizing, effisk!

 

[The Pearl Outlet]

I just arrived here in Dubai Sunday night. It's Monday morning now, and the time is exactly 12 hours different from Washington state, so that makes it easy to calculate what time it is back home. I'll go exploring this afternoon before the Arabian Pearling Heritage themed welcome this evening.

One of my biggest surprises here is the fact that many online email accounts are censored/blocked. I guess the local government doesn't allow yahoo, fusemail, , etc... gmail seems to work though.

Here's another interesting one... I can get to msnbc but not foxnews. At least Pearl-guide isn't blocked.

 

[jshepherd]

I am having no problems at the Atlantis. Everything seems to work fine.

 

[pattye]

Glad you arrived safely! Looking forward to the full reports!

 

[Mikeyy]

I just arrived here in Dubai Sunday night. It's Monday morning now, and the time is exactly 12 hours different from Washington state, so that makes it easy to calculate what time it is back home. I'll go exploring this afternoon before the Arabian Pearling Heritage themed welcome this evening.

One of my biggest surprises here is the fact that many online email accounts are censored/blocked. I guess the local government doesn't allow yahoo, fusemail, , etc... gmail seems to work though.

Here's another interesting one... I can get to msnbc but not foxnews. At least Pearl-guide isn't blocked.

Probably a little too reserved for chandelier swinging this trip Terry.

 

[The Pearl Outlet]

Tonight's event, the Arabian Pearling Heritage themed welcome, went smoothly. It was really a time to meet and get to know many other people in the industry. The drinks were free and included red wine, sparkling wine, and fruit juices. The finger-food appetizers were certainly interesting, ranging from skewers of chicken, to rolls of seaweed with sushi, to other items I couldn't identify.

The welcome was held outdoors with a view of Burj Al Arab, Dubai's seven-star hotel.

It was a touch on the cold side and would have been a good night to have had a suit jacket. Besides mingling, the main event was a story-telling done in English. The gentleman acted out the story as he told it. It was a pseudo-historical account of a family's generational pearling business and the future of pearling.

 

[MWP]

Dubai looks amazing. Looking forward to hearing more details.

 

[GemGeek]

Wow, great photo! Thanks for the first report.

 

[Mikeyy]

Yes Good stuff Terry. Keep up the good work...

 

[jshepherd]

Yesterday was a good start.

In the early afternoon I joined a private delegate tour of the Emirates NBD pearl museum. I've never seen so many natural pearls in my life - and they were all in one place. I took a lot of pictures but cannot upload them yet. Conference starts very shortly.

Last night was a definite social event. I spent a good deal of time talking with Branellec from Jewelmer, Roger Beatie from Eyris, Ken Scarrat from GIA, and probably a dozen others. Paspaley was not there, but Wan was. I am starting to wonder if Paspaley every comes to social events that he partially sponsors.

 

[GemGeek]

I'm swooning with jealousy. <sigh> But, send more news soon!

 

[pattye]

We're hanging on every photo, every word-----------------

 

[Nerida]

All jealous. Want to be there..

 

[Valeria101]

... I spent a good deal of time talking with ...Ken Scarrat from GIA...

Any publication forthcoming from GIA's research on natural pearls? (on species ID & more - judging from Scarrat's own presentations out of GIA Thailand in the past 18 months or so).

 

[Pearly Shell]

Wow, it sounds like P-G's version of an awards show. If only there was red carpet coverage...

 

[SteveM]

In the early afternoon I joined a private delegate tour of the Emirates NBD pearl museum. I've never seen so many natural pearls in my life - and they were all in one place. I took a lot of pictures but cannot upload them yet.

While eagerly awaiting Jeremy's pictures, a little look back to early-20th century Bahraini Pearls (and one of the most enticing photos ever on Pearl-Guide!) posted by Reem Mattar of Mattar Jewellers in Bahrain. Wouldn't one wish to run their fingers through those!