Pearl price by December 2008

Source: JCK


Akoya Pearls (by the strand)

	Fine	Extra-Fine
18-in. strands, 6 to 6.5 mm	$650-$850	$1,000-$1,200

Round Tahitian Black Pearls

	Good	Fine
8 to 8.5 mm	$30-$60	$60-$120
10 to 10.5 mm	$35-$90	$90-$150

Mussels targeted for their pearls

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

By Euan McIlwraith
Reporter, Landward, BBC1 Scotland

Euan McIlwraith reports on Scotland's endangered freshwater mussels

Despite being protected since 1998, Scottish freshwater mussels have been increasingly targeted by thieves who kill the mussel to get at a possible pearl inside.

Most don't contain a pearl and the discarded shellfish are left to die on the bank.

Following recent cases on the Spey, the police in Moray are calling for the public to help to report the lawbreakers, before the mussels become completely extinct.

Douglas Darling, a wildlife crime officer with Grampian Police, said: "What we found on the river bank was literally hundreds of these small pearl mussel shells, just discarded.

"The shells themselves, there's no way you would get any size of a pearl, if anything at all inside them. They're very young indeed.

"Action like this potentially would clear out one pool - one area of the pearls."

Scotland is a stronghold of the freshwater mussel with about 60% of the world's population living in our waters.

Strict licence

Freshwater pearls have been extremely sought after throughout Scottish history.

They're in the crown jewels in the vaults of Edinburgh Castle and it was even one of the reasons that Caesar invaded Britain.

Euan Lindsay, of romanscotland.org.uk, said: "Caesar in particular was interested in these and he was noted for actually weighing them in his hands before the financial transaction was done which was rather unusual for Rome's aristocracy and their elite to actually do that."

The selling of pre-1998 pearls is now strictly licensed and in fact there are only two jewellers in Scotland who are allowed to sell Scottish pearls.

But the mussel is still under threat - apart from illegal fishing, it's threatened by pollution and declining salmon stocks. So what's the connection with salmon in this whole process?

Ben Ross, from Scottish Natural Heritage, explained: "Without salmon there isn't any mussels, the larvae has to attach to the gills of a salmon or trout though it's not fully known why - but it may be that the salmon take it up the river and allow the species and the population to spread."

Even touching a freshwater mussel can be punished with a £10,000 fine, but it appears even that threatened sanction is not enough to deter the collectors.

Pollution's Impact on an American Icon

Source: http://www.carteretnewstimes.com/

(ARA) - Disappearing plant species, endangered wildlife and adverse health effects for humans - all grab headlines whenever talk turns to the impact pollution has on our world. But pollution also affects production of pearls, the gem American pop culture has made an icon of exemplary womanhood.

From June Cleaver to Marge Simpson, a perfect strand of pearls has come to represent the essence of feminine perfection in American culture. The bestowing of an heirloom strand from mother to daughter is a treasured rite of passage in many families. Yet pollution's effect on the mollusks that produce pearls may mean fewer pearls - and higher prices - in the future.

Pearl production and a pristine environment are tightly linked. Pearl-bearing mollusks are filter-feeders. To get their microscopic food, they filter as much as 106 gallons of seawater a day. Filter-feeding makes the mollusks extremely sensitive to pollutants in the water.

Pearl-bearing mollusks are also very sensitive to water temperature. Mollusks that produce pearls evolved over millions of years to live in very specific environments. Although those that live in temperate latitudes are accustomed to seasonal fluctuations in water temperature, an unusual rise in summer can kill them. Pearl-bearing mollusks that live in tropical latitudes can survive only within a very narrow range of water temperature. A small rise at any time of year can kill them.

People Can and Do Help

The mollusks' sensitivity to temperature increases and pollutants make people who are dependent on the mollusks' productivity acutely aware of environmental factors. Pearl farmers -- people who grow cultured pearls -- have a stake in mollusk health and productivity. That stake makes pearl farmers good stewards of the environment. If water pollution or temperature increases kill their mollusks, pearl farmers lose their livelihood.

Jewelmer, a pearl-farming company in the Philippines, has been especially active in promoting environmental preservation. The company has strongly lobbied the Philippine government to outlaw cyanide and dynamite fishing in the islands. Those fishing techniques produce big, easy catches, but they're environmentally destructive, and they adversely affect the mollusks on the pearl farms.

"Jewelmer produces some of the finest golden South Sea cultured pearls," says Jeremy Shepherd of PearlParadise.com, Inc., a leading online pearl-seller, "and the company has been among the most aggressive in protecting the pearl-farming environment."

Forum for Pearl Lovers

Pearl-Guide.com is a pearl forum that has more than 3,000 members, many of whom contribute posts about pearls every day. Since pearls are the members' passion and reason for participating in the forum, they are naturally concerned with pollution's and global warming's effects on pearl culture. Without protecting the delicate environment mollusks need to produce pearls, Pearl-Guide.com members and other pearl lovers around the world would lose their favorite gems.

Pearl industry frets over sinking prices and image

Source: http://www.globeinvestor.com/

RUJUN SHEN

Friday, September 12, 2008

SHANGHAI — The prices of the lustrous strings of pearls that line display cases in Shanghai jewellery stores are more eye-catching than the glossy gems: some pearl sets cost under 10 yuan, or $1.50 U.S., even before bargaining.

“All kinds of people come to buy pearls, Chinese and foreigners,” said Wang Caijiao, who has been selling pearls in a two-storey shop on Shanghai's bustling Nanjing Road for seven years.

The massive volume of freshwater pearls on the market have made the gem affordable to the masses.

That might be good news for the migrant labourers and factory workers who can now afford pearls but it is bad news for the pearl industry which frets over the sinking prices of pearls and the damage to the gem's once exclusive image.

Now, local Chinese governments, concerned about environmental damage to lakes and reservoirs from pearl cultivation, are beginning to rein in production.

And what's healthy for the environment may end up being healthy for the industry as well.

“The pearl industry has not been doing well in the past two years because the output is too high,” said Li Jiale, a professor at Shanghai Ocean University.

“The industry needs to reduce quantity and improve quality.”

In 2007, China produced 1,600 tonnes of pearls, over 95 per cent of the world's total output, the Gems and Jewellery Trade Association of China said on its website.

Most are rough-edged, elongated orbs. Perfectly shaped salt water pearls that are formed by nature can fetch millions of dollars.

The massive quantities of pearls produced by China's pearl industry carry a hefty environmental cost.

Lake waters where the pearls are cultivated are greenish, cloudy and often foul-smelling from a mixture of pollution and fertilizers dumped into the water to help the mussels produce pearls faster.

“The disorderly growth of freshwater pearl cultivation in some regions, resulting in the dumping of large quantities of fertilizer into lakes and reservoirs, has seriously damaged those water bodies,” said a document on the website of the agriculture department of central China's Hubei Province.

Hubei, one of China's biggest pearl producers, last year banned pearl cultivation in lakes and reservoirs, and restricted pearl-producing mussels to ponds.

Several cities and regions in southern China have also banned or restricted pearl cultivation in recent years.

But experts said mussels, used to produce the gems in freshwater, while oysters produce pearls in saltwater, should not pollute the environment if they are raised properly.

“Mussels eat plankton in the water and can therefore actually purify it,” said Pan Jianlin, secretary-general of the Jiangsu Province Pearl Industry Association.

“But some farmers are not raising pearls properly. They use fertilizer to feed the plankton,” he said.

Overly dense mussel populations compound the pollution, experts said.

“If mussels are raised in an enclosed body of water, it can easily lead to eutriphication,” or a rise in chemical nutrients that causes a severe deterioration of water quality, said Cheng Wen, a professor at Xi'an University of Science and Technology.

Environmental damage from pearl culture is minor compared with industrial emissions, heavy fertilizer runoff and untreated sewage that have fouled many Chinese rivers and lakes over three decades of break-neck economic growth.

Local governments are now under pressure to attack all sources of pollution.

Hit by the restrictions, as well as rising costs and falling prices, China's pearl output is expected to fall to 1,400 tonnes in 2008 and 1,000 tonnes by 2010, down more than one-third from last year, the Gems and Jewellery Trade Association of China said.

Lower production might not hit profits. Experience in other pearl-producing regions has shown that producing smaller quantities of higher quality gems can actually bring better returns for the industry as a whole.

“It's important that pearl farmers know that producing 100 kilograms of pearls is not more profitable than producing 20 kilograms,” said Qiu Zhili, associate professor of earth sciences at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong province.

The quality of China's freshwater pearls is starting to improve and if cultivated properly, with lower densities of mussels in ponds and longer cultivation times, experts said they could look more like the smooth, perfectly round saltwater pearls from Japan and the South Pacific that command far higher prices.

But that is not likely to happen either quickly or easily.

“I'd like to see output fall to 100 tonnes. Then our pearls would be priced at the same levels as Tahitian pearls and South Sea pearls. That would be great,” said Du Kunlin, secretary general of Zhejiang Province Pearl Industry Association.

But he added: “Tens of thousands of pearl farmers live off of them. You can't just let only 10,000 of them survive.”

© The Globe and Mail

Overproduction takes shine off Chinese pearls

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The prices of the lustrous strings of pearls that line display cases in Shanghai jewelry stores are more eye-catching than the glossy gems: some pearl sets cost under 10 yuan ($1.50) even before bargaining.

"All kinds of people come to buy pearls, Chinese and foreigners," said Wang Caijiao, who has been selling pearls in a two-storey shop on Shanghai's bustling Nanjing Road for seven years.

The massive volume of freshwater pearls on the market have made the gem affordable to the masses.

That might be good news for the migrant laborers and factory workers who can now afford pearls but it is bad news for the pearl industry which frets over the sinking prices of pearls and the damage to the gem's once exclusive image.

Now, local Chinese governments, concerned about environmental damage to lakes and reservoirs from pearl cultivation, are beginning to rein in production.

And what's healthy for the environment may end up being healthy for the industry as well.

"The pearl industry has not been doing well in the past two years because the output is too high," said Li Jiale, a professor at Shanghai Ocean University.

"The industry needs to reduce quantity and improve quality."

Pearl farms now earn less than 2,000 yuan per kilogram of pearls, down from a peak above 20,000 yuan more than a decade ago, Li said.

In 2007, China produced 1,600 tonnes of pearls, over 95 percent of the world's total output, the Gems and Jewellery Trade Association of China said on its website ( http://www.jewellery.org.cn ).

Most are rough-edged, elongated orbs like those threaded into necklaces in Wang's shop. Perfectly shaped salt water pearls that are formed by nature can fetch millions of dollars.

POLLUTING PEARL FARMERS

The massive quantities of pearls produced by China's pearl industry carry a hefty environmental cost.

Lake waters where the pearls are cultivated are greenish, cloudy and often foul-smelling from a mixture of pollution and fertilizers dumped into the water to help the mussels produce pearls faster.

"The disorderly growth of freshwater pearl cultivation in some regions, resulting in the dumping of large quantities of fertilizer into lakes and reservoirs, has seriously damaged those water bodies," said a document on the website of the agriculture department of central China's Hubei Province ( http://www.hbagri.gov.cn ).

Hubei, one of China's biggest pearl producers, last year banned pearl cultivation in lakes and reservoirs, and restricted pearl-producing mussels to ponds.

Several cities and regions in southern China have also banned or restricted pearl cultivation in recent years.

But experts said mussels, used to produce the gems in freshwater, while oysters produce pearls in saltwater, should not pollute the environment if they are raised properly.

"Mussels eat plankton in the water and can therefore actually purify it," said Pan Jianlin, secretary-general of the Jiangsu Province Pearl Industry Association.

"But some farmers are not raising pearls properly. They use fertilizer to feed the plankton," he said.

Overly dense mussel populations compound the pollution, experts said.

"If mussels are raised in an enclosed body of water, it can easily lead to eutriphication," or a rise in chemical nutrients that causes a severe deterioration of water quality, said Cheng Wen, a professor at Xi'an University of Science and Technology.

LESS IS MORE

Environmental damage from pearl culture is minor compared with industrial emissions, heavy fertilizer runoff and untreated sewage that have fouled many Chinese rivers and lakes over three decades of break-neck economic growth.

Local governments are now under pressure to attack all sources of pollution.

Hit by the restrictions, as well as rising costs and falling prices, China's pearl output is expected to fall to 1,400 tonnes in 2008 and 1,000 tonnes by 2010, down more than one-third from last year, the Gems and Jewellery Trade Association of China said.

Lower production might not hit profits. Experience in other pearl-producing regions has shown that producing smaller quantities of higher quality gems can actually bring better returns for the industry as a whole.

"It's important that pearl farmers know that producing 100 kilograms of pearls is not more profitable than producing 20 kilograms," said Qiu Zhili, associate professor of earth sciences at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong province.

In French Polynesia, where Tahitian pearls are cultivated, the local industry association compiles output plans and strictly regulates market access. Pearls that do not meet gem grade standards cannot be sold as jewelry, Qiu said.

The quality of China's freshwater pearls is starting to improve and if cultivated properly, with lower densities of mussels in ponds and longer cultivation times, experts said they could look more like the smooth, perfectly round saltwater pearls from Japan and the South Pacific that command far higher prices.

But that is not likely to happen either quickly or easily.

"I'd like to see output fall to 100 tonnes. Then our pearls would be priced at the same levels as Tahitian pearls and South Sea pearls. That would be great," said Du Kunlin, secretary general of Zhejiang Province Pearl Industry Association.

But he added: "Tens of thousands of pearl farmers live off of them. You can't just let only 10,000 of them survive."

($1=6.839 Yuan)

(Editing by Edmund Klamann and Megan Goldin)

Lebanon chef finds 26 pearls in single oyster

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

TYRE, Lebanon (AFP) - A Lebanese woman working in a restaurant kitchen found 26 pearls in an oyster she was preparing for the table and is to submit the find to the Guinness Book of Records.

Amal Salha, 50, said she was helping out her son in his Al Fanar restaurant on the waterfront in the southern port of Tyre, when she made the astonishing find on Monday evening.

"I couldn't believe it," she told AFP.

"I was in the process of opening the shells when I found a number of shining pearls inside one of them," she said. "I was so startled I screamed.

"It was so beautiful. It looked like a bunch of grapes."

After counting them, there turned out to be 26 pearls of varying sizes. The oyster had been harvested off the Lebanese coast.

Pearl oysters are unrelated to the oysters normally eaten in Europe but Salha said they were still popular with the French and Italian soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping force deployed in south Lebanon.

"We buy these oysters at 10 dollars a kilo (less than five dollars a pound)," said Salha's husband, Raymond.

"Generally we find one or two pearls but 26 is very rare," he said, adding that the couple hoped their find would merit an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

Five Pound Pearl is a Record Says EGL USA

Source: http://www.diamonds.net/

RAPAPORT... EGL USA authenticated one of the largest pearls ever to be discovered and documented. The brain-shaped specimen — a giant non-nacreous natural blister pearl — weighs an incredible five pounds (2.267 kilos) and measures some six inches in length. It was found in the waters off the Philippines in the giant clam, Tridacna Gigas.

A team of EGL USA expert gemologists, led by Nicholas Del Re, analyzed the pearl (pictured) using a combination of advanced technologies: Digital radiography, close magnification, and data provided by a handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) unit.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime look at one of nature's most unique treasures," said Mitch Jakubovic, director of EGL USA. "A pearl this size is not only the largest ever seen at EGL USA, it is among the largest ever seen anywhere. We were pleased to be able to provide the expertise and experience necessary to assess such a rare and valuable specimen."

David Bidwell, senior appraiser of EGL USA's appraisal affiliate, Universal Gemological Services (UGS) provided additional confidential counsel to the pearl's owner, Hadjzad Biteng. "This is clearly one of the most valuable pearls of its kind in the world today," said Bidwell. "Mr. Biteng is currently considering many exciting opportunities regarding its future. To coin a famous phrase, one could say that the pearl world is his oyster."

Snail that produces £30,000 pearls under tight security

Source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

An aquarium in Britain has splashed out on a painstaking security operation to protect one of its more unusual exhibits.

A giant sea snail is being closely guarded at Birmingham's National Sea Life Centre.

It can produce rare and valuable pearls which can fetch up to £30,000 each.

"These snails occasionally produce pearls which can fetch anything between £5,000 and £30,000 each," said curator Graham Burrows.

"The snail forms the pearl around any foreign object that gets inside its shell. The biggest one recorded was the size of a golf-ball."

The sea snail is about 20 times bigger than the British garden equivalent.

"Of course only a very few snails contain pearls, and the odds are very much against our snail having one," Mr Burrows said.

"With the prices they can fetch, however, we need to be extra vigilant to make sure no one is tempted to kidnap the snail in the hope that it contains hidden treasure.

"We've also got CCTV covering every possible access point when we're closed, as well as a sophisticated alarm system," Mr Burrows said.

Pearls of Gulf 'most precious'

source: http://www.kuwaittimes.net

KUWAIT: The radiant-white natural pearls of the Arabian Gulf are seen as the most precious and rarest in the world, as history tells of how Alexander the Great and 80 of his followers gave pearls to their wives as dowries. These hard, round objects were known to be traded since the Roman era, and according to historian Dr Abdullah Al-Ghunaim in his book titled "Pearls," Julius Caesar invaded Britain after allegedly hearing it had pearl sources.

Produced within the soft mantle tissue of a living shelled mollusk, pearls are composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth.
Al-Ghunaim says in his book that a lot of people of the Arabian Peninsula joined pearl divers in their quest to hunt for the dear gemstone, especially during summer onboard ships taking off from coastal areas in the Gulf such as Kazma, Darine, Awal and Julfar.

Cultural researcher Saleh Al-Misbah said that pearls were often white or cream-colored, but the shade varies significantly according to the species of mollusk.
He explained that it was the shape and shade of the pearl that gave it its name, and that accordingly the price and value varied. Pearls could also be black, or various pastel shades, although black pearls are considered the rarest in terms of color. In addition, pearls-especially freshwater pearls-could be dyed yellow, green, blue, brown, pink, purple, or black.

He noted that natural pearls could easily be told apart from cultivated pearls through the use of x-rays, which cannot penetrate a cultivated pearl.
Meanwhile, diving trainer Khalid Al-Sumait said that one of the main features that determined a pearl's value was its shine and luster, adding that what was distinctive about pearls of Gulf waters was the white glow they had. -- KUNA

MARINE RESOURCES AND AQUACULTURE

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/

Over 75 years ago, Japanese innovator Kokichi Mikimoto shovelled 720 000 pearls into a burning furnace. His actions reverberated around the world and across time itself. By showing his willingness to destroy so many pearls, he made a commitment to sell only the very best and to destroy the rest. To this day, Japanese pearls demand and receive a premium. As a result, many try to pass off their pearls as Japanese, even though they may come from elsewhere. Now two scientists from Germany have developed a method to determine the birthplace of pearls.

Pearls have long held the imagination of people around the world. © Shutterstock

Pearls: their beautiful translucent nature has captivated the hearts and minds of people for centuries. Up until the beginning of the 20th century, pearls had to be hunted by expert divers. These divers would free dive up to 40 meters below the water's surface and gather pearl oysters from the ocean floor. It wasn’t until two Japanese entrepreneurs were able to apply the pearl culturing technique an Australian scientist that pearls were able to be farmed.

Since then, Japan has been the heart of pearl farming, producing some of the world's finest round cultured pearls. More recently however, China has managed to outstrip Japan in terms of pearl production, but not in terms of price. Japanese pearls still cost up to ten times more than their competitors' across the sea of Okhotsk. As a result, some sellers have been trying to masquerade Chinese sweet-water cultured pearls as Japanese.

This poses a big problem for both consumers and scientists, because even experts find it difficult to distinguish between the two with the naked eye. That’s why two scientists from the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz Germany have devoted the past two years to coming up with a solution to this problem. What they were able to develop was a trace-element analysis technique which is able to determine a pearl's place of origin.

The two scientists in question, Ursula Wehrmeister, a gemmologist, and Dorrit Jacob, a geochemist, initially suspected that the Chinese manufacturing process consisted of high-production volumes accompanied by high levels of stress for the animals used in the cultivation process. According to Ursula Wehrmeister, Chinese farmers implant up to 60 cores into one oyster — a form of biological mass production. The stress caused by such mass production would result in a number of unusable or misshapen pearls, which would not be able to be processed by jewellers.

The problem of vaterite would also become more common. The scientists from Mainz found that Chinese pearls contain more vaterite, not only within the pearls, but also on the outside, where the substance forms a matt surface with white spots, rendering the pearls unsuitable for sale.

The scientists were therefore able to use a process known as laser ablation ICP mass spectrometry, to determine whether pearls contain vaterite, as well as determine whether certain sapphires have been subsequently treated. Specifically, a UV laser is used to cut a microscopically small sample, roughly an eighth the diameter of a human hair. This micro-sample is then rinsed into the analysis device with the aid of an inert gas and the content of trace elements. Based on the outcome of this process, the birthplace of a pearl is able to be determined.

This technique according to Dorrit Jacob, is also applicable to gems other than pearls. 'The large number of especially orange- and blue-coloured sapphires currently on the market cannot all be natural. This means that sapphires with a less marked coloration, which would normally not be marketable, have been coloured more brightly with beryllium,' he said.

With such a wide potential for this technique's application, consumers can begin to rest assured that they are getting what they pay for.

Pearl passion

Source: http://thestar.com.my

by Sandra Low

A pearl wholesaler who gets first choice of the finest pearls is inspired to do more than supply.

WHEN it comes to pearls, few know these luminous, fascinating organic gems better than Rene Hodel.

The Swiss CEO and founder of a luxury pearl brand, Hodel HK Ltd, has spent almost three decades in the industry, first as a wholesaler before expanding his business to designing collections that bear his name.

Hodel, 54, was in Kuala Lumpur recently with his Hong Kong-born wife, Linda, 48, who supervises their design team, to launch the brand’s Spring-Summer 2008 collection.

A model wearing the most prestigious line for Hodel Pearls, which is the St Moritz where only one of a kind pearls or precious stones or diamonds are used.

The couple met in Hong Kong over 25 years and have been inseparable since, their relationship cemented by their shared passion for pearls.

They have been married for almost 24 years and they have two teenage sons, Andrew, 19, and Adrian, 17.

“I was captured by the beauty of pearls over 20 years ago and I am still very much so till today. I think what keeps both Linda and me in the business all these years is our unceasing love for pearls,” Rene says.

He was initially a behind-the-scenes pearl wholesaler but his company has evolved from a traditional wholeselling into that of an international luxury pearl manufacturer with its own in-house designs.

“We still supply wholesalers all over the world with pearls that we buy in bulk from pearl producing countries. Our company does business in Europe, United States, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Dubai,” he says.

Hodel’s Tears of God collection consists of South Sea Pearl earrings set with Keshi pearls and diamonds.

Rene started his pearl journey in his mid-20s with a jewellery company in Lausanne, Switzerland. Thanks to his acute business sense, he was sent to Hong Kong to run the company’s pearl department. From there, he was sent to a pearl farm on Iki island near Fukuoka, Japan, to learn the trade from the shell up, and then on to Kobe, the heart of the pearl trade. Under his guidance, the Hong Kong operations blossomed.

In 1986, after leaving the company that he had worked hard to develop, he approached Schoeffel, the largest pearl company in Europe, and offered to set up a Hong Kong office.

He established Schoeffel HK Ltd which grew to be one of the leading pearl trading houses in Asia, with offices in Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur.

In 2005 Rene decided to up the ante again by buying out Schoeffel and the company was renamed Hodel.

Rene explains that they have separated their merchandises into the Classic Collection and the Hodel Collection. The Classic Collection is where loose pearls, pearl strands and simple designed collections are sold to any interested buyer, while the Hodel Collection comprises their own signature designs which are sold only to their brand carriers around the world.

While Hodel is fast becoming label synonymous with fine pearls and designs, the wholeselling part of its business is on its last legs.

Rene explains why: “Hong Kong today is the pearl centre where importers, manufacturers, traders and retailers meet to buy at auctions. The traditional wholesale function of supplying to these people is slowly diminishing as everyone is trying to buy direct. It is an unstoppable process.”

A singular white South Sea pearl sits prettily on top of a cross ring studded with diamonds.

Unlike pearl manufacturers who come up with designs and then place the pearls within the designs, Linda says Hodel creates “designs around the pearls”.

“We match the stones according to the shapes and colours of the pearls. Our aim is to bring out the best in our pearls, to extract their character and present them as jewellery pieces with flair and a personality.

Linda works closely with an in-house Swiss chief designer, Vanessa Martinelli, whose work carries a strong Italian influence.

“I have always loved art and I have an eye for beautiful things. With pearls, they are each uniquely shaped with lines and curves that are exquisite,” adds Linda.

According to Rene, pearl lovers are those who truly appreciate their unique beauty.

“You buy pearl jewellery for the love of it. Because unlike, say, diamonds, if you want to return it to the seller, you will never get the price that you paid,” he cautions.

The Hodels buy their pearls, ranging from South Sea to Tahitian to freshwater, from Australia, Indonesia, Tahiti, China and the Philippines.

Rene explains that 99% of the pearls today are cultured and natural pearls, while very rare, may not actually be of good quality.

He bemoans the fact that although the production of pearls has increased greatly over the years, it is, unfortunately, at the expense of quality.

Owner of Hodel Pearls HK Ltd, Rene Hodel, with his wife, Linda Hodel, who is the chief designer.

“The more oysters are produced in one square metre of water, the more pollution occurs, so subsequently, the quality diminishes,” he sighs.

If anyone thinks that selling pearls is an unexciting and relatively safe job, the Hodels will tell you otherwise.

Rene tells the story of how he wanted to buy the harvest of an Australian pearl farmer some years back but was rejected because the farmer had another potential buyer. Three weeks later, the farmer came to Hong Kong offering Rene the pearls (after the sale with the potential buyer fell through).

“I declined because we were so disappointed by his refusal earlier. He got annoyed and started throwing chairs around and beating me up!” Rene recalls.

He recovered well enough to remain in the business and with no regrets.

After all, the Hodels feel the world is still their oyster with a lot of potential, including the Malaysian market which is quite receptive to new trends and ideas.

All it takes to generate greater interest is make available more information and awareness of the types of pearls in the market. that’s what the Hodels aim to do. That and fabulous designs.

The Hodel Collection is available at DeGem jewellers; prices start from RM5,000.

U.S. economy slams pearl sales for Man Sang

Source: http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com

August 15, 2008

New York—Man Sang Holdings Inc., a purchaser and processor of Chinese cultured and freshwater pearls, saw its pearl sales slip 18.7 percent in the first quarter, mostly the result of weakness in the U.S. economy.

According to a release from Man Sang, pearl sales decreased from about $12.89 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, to about $10.48 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008.

The decrease in net sales for pearls, the release states, was "primarily due to a decrease in market demand in the United States due to a relative weakness of the United States economy."

The earnings show that net sales in the U.S. market declined 46.4 percent in the first quarter, dropping from about $4.36 million to about $2.34 million.

Because of the drop in U.S. sales, Man Sang altered its sales strategy going forward and plans to focus on the European market, where "stronger market conditions...have mitigated the effects of weak market conditions in the United States."

The company expects pearl sales to increase in Europe over the next three months and, thereby, help the company maintain steady growth, the release states.

"Our pearl operations are geographically diverse, and we believe we are well-positioned to react to fluctuating global market conditions. We therefore expect to maintain steady growth in our pearl operations, the release states.

Chocolate Pearls News: PearlParadise.com Introduces New Collection; Smacks Down Price on Hip Gems With Yummy, Lustrous Color

source: http://www.prweb.com

"Chocolate pearls have turned from trend to uber-trend," says Jeremy Shepherd, the Los Angeles pearl expert who is introducing a newly-acquired collection "that will level the playing field in pricing these exotic bronze beauties."

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 11, 2008 -- "Chocolate pearls have turned from trend to uber-trend," says Jeremy Shepherd, the Los Angeles pearl expert who is introducing a newly-acquired collection "that will level the playing field in pricing these exotic bronze beauties."

"Chocolate pearls have been riding the popularity wave for the past year but that status only worked for people who could afford the big price tag." says Shepherd, who owns PearlParadise.com. Inc., the world's largest online pearl company. (www.pearlparadise.com) "We've changed that."

With this collection, Shepherd says he has evened the stakes on AAA-rated Tahitian and freshwater chocolate pearls and is selling them for less than half "of what the Tiffany crowd is getting."

The former Northwest Airlines flight attendant who 12 years ago turned a $25 string of pearls bought in a Beijing market between flights into a mega Internet pearl company "my competitors love to hate," says owning his own pearl farm and cutting out the middlemen is the reason he can sell the high-quality pearls for up to 80-percent off retail.

How did Shepherd land in the exceptional position of negotiating pearl deals in another language with business owners who live a world away in a culture so different from his own?

Living in Japan as a child and having to learn the language had something to do with it, he says. It also didn't hurt that he later took the time to study the Mandarin Chinese dialect and obtain a business degree. "This job is made for me," he says. "I love selling exotic gems like AAA-quality chocolate pearls at prices no one expects. We sell pearls to everyone from college guys who want a beautiful gift for their girlfriends to movie stars who can afford to shop anywhere."

Exactly what are chocolate pearls?

"Think of them as pearls that have undergone a hip, high-fashion makeover. Freshwater and Tahitian pearls are treated with a proprietary, pigment-altering heating process, or organic dyeing process, that transforms them into a lustrous, iridescent chocolate color. Chocolate pearls," says Shepherd, "are born where human intervention meets nature's pearl-bearing oysters."

Who wears chocolate pearls?

"They're a real favorite among women with a fashion-forward sensibility, women who enjoy dressing with an unpredictable flair," he says. "One customer put it this way: 'This is not my grandmother's pearl necklace.'"

"Still," says Shepherd, "women who've always worn classically-colored pearls also love chocolate pearls -- just because they're beautiful." The fact that clothing designers continue to show earth tones year-after-year is another reason chocolate pearls are attracting attention. "They are a perfect match for what women are wearing today," he says.

Shepherd, whose pearls recently showed up in Oscar winners' gift bags, is no stranger to celebrity, himself. He and his pearls -- and the discount prices he sells them for -- have been chronicled in dozens of publications including:

• "USA Today"
• "The New York Times"
• "The Wall Street Journal"
• "Entrepreneur"
• "Modern Bride"
• "InStyle"

For more information about chocolate pearls and other pearl jewelry, shop online at www.pearlparadise.com, or call Shepherd's Los Angeles storefront location to speak with him or one of his pearl specialists, at (310) 474-8788.

China's pearl farms prosper away from pollution

By Royston Chan- Reuters

ZHUJI, China (Reuters Life!) - For decades, the clean waters of Zhuji have fed China's rise to the world's top producer of freshwater pearls and now they are helping to turn this eastern city into a global trading hub for the lustrous gem.... Click for more

Gem of a lab opens

source: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com

By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 1st JULY 2008

MANAMA: A state-of-the-art pearl and gem testing and grading laboratory was opened yesterday.

The new specialised centre is ranked among the best of its kind, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro said.

He was speaking as he opened the laboratory, which is located at the ministry-owned Khairiya Building in the Diplomatic Area.

He also hailed the new facility as reflecting the government's keenness to promote the sector of natural pearls in the kingdom.

Bahrain's efforts to further bolster control systems and acquisition of hi-tech equipment were also highlighted.

Businessmen and pearl and gem specialists also attended the ceremony.

The new laboratory is more spacious and boasts world-class technical and security equipment. It is specialised in testing and grading natural pearls to ensure they are distinct from cultured ones.

Bahrain is the only country in the world, which bans importing or trading in cultured pearls. Prohibitive laws were passed follwing directives from the kingdom's leadership.

The first such law dates back to 1928, in the era of the late Bahrain ruler Shaikh Hamad bin Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, who took over from his father the late Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa in 1923.

The new lab is also specialised in testing and grading gems, issuing world-standard certificates that are accredited regionally and internationally.

Large quantities of retail pearls, pearl necklaces, and gems are tested and graded monthly.

The lab is staffed with skilled Bahrainis, who were graduated and trained at leading international institutes. A highly-equipped diamond testing and grading unit was also inaugurated yesterday.

DMCC Launches Pearl Jewelry Design Course

Source: http://www.idexonline.com

(June 22, '08, 10:52 IDEX Online Staff Reporter)

The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has created a two-year pearl jewelry design program – Pearl Essence – the Dubai International Pearl Jewellery Design Program. The course incorporates different categories of pearls, including Tahitian, South Sea Akoya and Freshwater. The organizers note that Pearl Essence is a two-tier program incorporating both professional designers and jewelry design students, the first of which will constitute a custom-designed collection of pearl jewelry pieces, created by ten invited luxury brands, and the second, to incorporate a competition for final-year students from schools offering a minimum two-year full-time jewelry design course, spanning a broad geographical market. For the professional designer tier, DMCC is currently in discussions with leading luxury jewellery brands including members of the Dubai Pearl Exchange to create one unique piece each for the collection. The entries will tour international jewellery trade exhibitions before being auctioned by Christie’s with the proceeds being donated to charity. DMCC is also working with 44 jewellery design schools in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Lebanon, Singapore, South Africa and Turkey to solicit entries. The student entries will be judged by an international jury, chaired by DMCC and comprising trade journalists and professional jewellery designers, and evaluated for commercial design, wearability, theme-based creativity and the use of pearls as the main design feature. A shortlist of 10 student designs will be fabricated into finished jewelry by DMCC-nominated manufacturers and pearl sponsors. The fledgling designers stand to win several awards including a 30-day internship with an international jewelry design house, a week's visit to the pearling operations of Paspaley Pearling Co in Western Australia, a seven-day course at Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA’s) Carlsbad campus and online pearl courses from GIA. Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman of the DMCC, said, “This international pearl jewellery design programme will both highlight Dubai as a centre for the global pearl trade and increase the visibility of pearls in the fashion industry. Pearl Essence will invite participation from the global marketplace and provide a neutral and innovative programme for the international pearl community.”

Phu Quoc pearls may not be what they seem

source: http://www.thanhniennews.com

At the Dinh Cau night market, where tourists often meander after a day at the beach, pearls are sold at same booths as souvenirs and toys for only a few hundred-thousand dong.

Dozens of stalls at the Ham Ninh Market sell pearl earrings for VND10,000 (US$0.6) apiece alongside snacks and drinks.

One pearl necklace costs VND300,000 ($18) while another that looks nearly identical costs VND3 million ($180).

Market vendor Hong Dao said the latter was made of real Phu Quoc pearls, worth much more than the Chinese pearls used to make the cheaper necklace.

Khong Thi Thanh Truc, a partner in a Japanese-Vietnamese pearl company, said Phu Quoc pearls are 10 times more expensive than Chinese pearls.

Vo Van Doi, a pearl trader in An Thoi Town, said he had just sold a 12-millimeter pearl to a foreigner for VND15 million ($903).

Doi said it was not easy to find genuine Phu Quoc pearls because fakes have flooded the market.

He explained that fake pearls were easy to make but could be discovered by rubbing two pearls together.

Fake pearls would loose their enamel this way, he said.

Doi also said that putting a flame to pearls was an easy way to tell a fake as imitation pearls would shrink or be deformed by high heat.

But few shop owners would allow their pearls to be tested that way, he said.

A veteran trader on the island, Doi said the local pearl market is more complicated than ever as shops don’t provide credible evidence of the origins of their pearls.

And the fake pearls are everywhere, he said.

Even fishmongers and motorbike drivers often approach Doi with cheap fake pearls, asking him to sell them to tourists for a commission.

As an established trader, Doi said he always refuses such offers.

And it is not only fake pearls or Chinese imports that are hindering the island’s reputation, but even some Phu Quoc pearl companies now sell lower-quality freshwater pearls as opposed to those taken from seawater oysters.

Phu Quoc is located some 115 km off the coast of Rach Gia, capital of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

Pearl Essence Dubai details unveiled

Source: http://www.xpress4me.com

Jewellery designers from all over the world are set to descend upon Dubai next year for what is dubbed as the Oscars of pearl jewellery design, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) announced on Tuesday.

“Pearl Essence” – an International Pearl Jewellery Design Programme, is a global design initiative for pearl jewellery initiated by DMCC, a government-backed commodity marketplace that seeks to revive the pearling tradition in the UAE and create a platform for the coloured stones trade.

Ahmed Bn Sulayem, Executive Chairman of DMCC, who launched the event in a press conference, said,“Dubai’s pearling industry has always been linked to the Gulf region and the outside world. It’s not a self-contained city. Dubai flourished the day it opened its doors and relaxed duties to merchants,” he said.

Highlighting Dubai’s long pearling tradition, Bin Sulayem said the event is an opportunity “to capture talent from the region and other parts of the world in designing pearl jewellery through competition.”

Organisers are expecting 1,000 entries from two categories – professionals and students of various jewellery design schools around the world.

The designs call for incorporating different categories of pearls, including Tahitian, South Sea, Akoya and Freshwater.

Two categories

The professional designer tier will constitute a custom-designed collection of pearl jewellery pieces, created by ten invited luxury brands inspired by the rich Arabian pearling heritage and represented in a modern and contemporary fashion.

The student tier is a competition for final-year students from schools that offer a minimum two-year full time jewellery design course, spanning a broad geographical market.

Bin Sulayem said: “This international pearl jewellery design programme will both highlight Dubai as a centre for the global pearl trade and increase the visibility of pearls in the fashion industry.

‘Pearl Essence’ will invite participation from the global marketplace and provide a neutral and innovative programme for the international pearl community.”

For the professional designer tier, DMCC is currently in discussions with leading luxury jewellery brands including members of the Dubai Pearl Exchange to create one unique piece each for the collection.

The entries will tour international jewellery trade exhibitions before being auctioned by Christie’s with the proceeds being donated to charity.

DMCC is also working with 44 jewellery design schools spanning Australia, China, India, Japan, Lebanon, Singapore, South Africa and Turkey to solicit entries before the early 2009 deadline.

The student entries will be judged by an international jury, chaired by DMCC and comprising trade journalists and professional jewellery designers.

The designs will be evaluated for commercial design, wearability, theme-based creativity and the use of pearls as the main design feature.

A shortlist of 10 student designs will be fabricated into finished jewelry by DMCC-nominated manufacturers and pearl sponsors.

The fledgling designers stand to win several awards including a 30-day internship with an international jewellery design house, a week's visit to the pearling operations of Paspaley Pearling Co in Western Australia, a seven-day course at Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA’s) Carlsbad campus and online pearl courses from GIA.

Gaiti Rabbani, Executive Director of Coloured Stones and Pearls, DMCC said: “Pearl Essence is a very exciting initiative. It pays fitting tribute to the gem of Arabia, while at the same time bringing together the international pearl community in a unique manner.

“Through Pearl Essence, we aim to enhance awareness and appreciation of the beauty of this gem, drawing on the artistic finesse of luxury jewellery designers as well as the budding talent in the industry. Key milestones have been crafted during the programme to create unique opportunities for networking amongst young talent and established professionals, with a view to career enhancement.

“We are very encouraged by the response we’ve had from the pearl community -- Paspaley Pearling Co has confirmed a support sponsorship role alongside official pearl sponsor for the student category.

“Damas, Dhamani, Mikura Pearls and Pinctada have confirmed participation as official manufacturers and the list gets longer as more partners sign up with Pearl Essence.”

Awards

DMCC’s two-year Pearl Essence programme will culminate in a gala event in Dubai, which will include an exhibition showcasing the pearl jewellery created by both the designer brands as well as the students and an awards ceremony to select and honour three winning students.

In addition, the final pearl jewellery collection will form part of a six-month traveling exhibition to major international jewellery shows.

The introduction of the Dubai International Pearl Jewellery programme is a vital new element of the DMCC’s comprehensive pearl strategy, which seeks to revitalise the Middle East’s leadership status in the pearl sector and re-establish Dubi as a centre for the global trade.

Pearl Essence complements DMCC’s recently announced “Pearls of Arabia”, a landmark project located on The World islands, featuring a high-quality offshore entertainment, education and retail centre.

DMCC’s dedicated Coloured Stones and Pearls Division, launched in 2007, seeks to foster relations with the international trade and develop industry services.

The current platforms in the portfolio of the Coloured Stones and Pearls Division include the Dubai Gems Club and the Dubai Pearl Exchange. These platforms are supported by other divisional initiatives such as the recently launched GemBureau Middle East and the Pearls of Arabia.

Event

• Pearl Essence is an International Pearl Jewellery Design programme focused on the beauty and uniqueness of the pearl.
• A global design concept of this nature, encapsulating different categories of pearls, is being developed for the first time.
• Pearl Essence is a two-tier event with categories for both professional designers and students.

The Theme

The rich heritage of pearling in Arabia represented in a modern and contemporary fashion


Designer Tier

• Top international jewellery brands will be invited “by invitation only” alongside Dubai Pearl Exchange members to submit a design and go on to produce a stunning “one of a kind” finished pearl jewellery piece inspired by the given theme.
• Designs will be showcased during a glittering gala dinner and then form part of a travelling exhibition, offering exceptional visibility.
• A nominated charity will receive the funds raised from auctioning the jewellery at a high-end charity evening in Dubai by Christie’s.

Student Awards

• The award is designed to encourage creativity and innovation in pearl jewellery design and offer prizes to further enhance learning and career opportunities amongst design students.
• The award is open to final year students in a minimum of two year full time dedicated jewellery design program from eligible institutes.
• At present 44 institutes have been shortlisted in 9 markets with over 1,000 students.
• The award will be marketed to the institutes through appointed representatives, posters, a dedicated website which is under development, student packs and roadshows.
• The designs will be judged by an international jury who represent the pearl trade.
• 10 finalists will be selected and their designs will be fabricated into a finished piece of jewellery by DMCC nominated manufacturers, sponsored by pearl producers.
• The finalists and their tutors will be invited and hosted for a glittering Gala event in Dubai in 2009, allowing them the opportunity to present their designs and network with potential employers
• All finished jewellery pieces will form a traveling exhibition to international markets during specific jewellery events with an accompanying catalogue

The Jury

• Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC
• Gaiti Rabbani, Executive Director, Coloured Stones & Pearls Division, DMCC
• Tawfique Abdullah, Chairman, Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group and Damas
• Jorg Gellner, Managing Director, Gellner GmbH & Co
• Editors of two leading jewellery magazines
• Two representatives from leading design brands

Categories

• Akoya Pearls (Japanese)
• Tahitian Pearls (French Polynesia)
• South Sea Pearls (Australia, Philippines and Indonesia)
• Freshwater cultured pearls (Chinese)
• Any combination of the above

Prizes

The finalists will receive:

• First prize: A month long internship sponsored by a leading international jewellery brand.
• Second prize: A week long trip to the pearling operations and pearl farms of Paspaley Pearling Co in Western Australia
• Third prize: A seven day pearl course at Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA’s) headquarters in Carlsbad, California
• Prizes for all 10 finalists: An online pearl course courtesy of GIA
• The award-winning pieces will be showcased in a dedicated area at the Pearls of Arabia experience centre

Confirmed Sponsors

• Pearl Essence Support Sponsor: Paspaley Pearling Co
• Official Manufacturers: Damas, Dhamani, Mikura, Pinctada
• Pearl Sponsor - South Sea Pearls: Paspaley Pearling Co

Atlas South Sea Pearl reiterates profit forecast

source: http://www.egoli.com.au

28/05/2008 By: Niraj Shah

Atlas South Sea Pearl Limited (ATP) has reaffirmed its 2008 net profit forecast of $5.7 million, down from $8 million in 2007. The pearl farmer said cash earnings excluding any fair market adjustments for the Agriculture assets were $3.6 million compared to a profit of $3.3 million in the previous financial year. The increase in profit in 2008 was mainly attributed to a one off adjustment relating to the fair market value of its pearls and oysters, resulting from a change in the adoption of AASB 141, the company said.

In addition, Atlas said revenue from retail operations had increased substantially in 2007 and was expected to grow strongly again in 2008 to around $1 million.

However, the 2008 forecasts did not take into consideration any gains or losses which may flow from the revaluation of pearls and oysters under AASB141.

At its AGM today, Atlas said it had continued the expansion of the retail outlets in Bali through the company�s own stores and through exposure in hotel retail facilities, which had increased the profile of its brand.

�Two new stores will be opened in the Bali tourist precincts of Seminyak and Nusa due by the end of 2008,� it said.

�A new site has been identified and local approval granted for the development of a backup juvenile nursery for an expanding oyster population in the event that existing juvenile oyster farm sites shows signs of degradation,� it said.

The company also said it planned to start a program of seeding oysters in Bali and transferring them to sites where faster oyster growth occurs.

Shares in Atlas South Sea Pearl picked up 0.5c to 44.0c .

related stories:

sources: source: http://news.smh.com.au

Atlas South Sea Pearl profit to fall

May 29, 2008 - 1:04PM

Pearl farmer Atlas South Sea Pearl Ltd has reiterated that its profit this financial year will be down by about 30 per cent but says a one-off accounting adjustment the previous year explains the fall.

The Indonesia-focused pearl group said its 2008 net profit is forecast at $5.7 million, down from $8 million in 2007.

However, it said the 2007 net profit was attributed mainly to a one-off adjustment relating to the fair market value of the company's pearls and oysters resulting from a change in the accounting standard.

The company said the projected forecast of $5.7 million was therefore an increase on a like-for-like basis from the previous year when fair market adjustments from a change in accounting policy were excluded from the profit result.

"Today, we presented the expected result for the year as we normally accounted it for in terms of the cash-profit position, or underlying profit," managing director Joseph Taylor told AAP after the company's annual general meeting.

"The accounting process and bringing in the agricultural assets, will increase that profit in a reporting sense quite significantly, but because of the way that (accounting standard) system works," Mr Taylor said.

"We don't really want to announce anything on that until a bit later in the year."

Revenue from retail operations increased in 2007 to about $700,000 and is expected to grow in 2008 to just under $1 million.

"The company's retail operations have continued to grow with an increase in revenue from the two showrooms and numerous hotel presentation cabinets in various Bali tourist hot-spots," the company said in a statement.

"The number of retail outlets will be increased to four by the end of the year."

The Perth-headquartered company, which produces pearls primarily at Alyui Bay in West Papua, is diversifying geographically.

It has identified a new juvenile nursery site in North Bali and plans a new hatchery at its existing site in East Bali, to be commissioned in October.

"The establishment of geographically diverse hatchery and farms sites has resulted in significantly higher productivity and survival rates of oysters," the company said.

"Increased seeding activities have commenced in Bali where it is cheaper to farm the oysters."

© 2008 AAP

Freeform Pearls take centrestage at Paspaley

source: http://www.arabianbusiness.com

Exquisitely crafted jewels feature dramatic Keshi pearls and pave diamonds set in 18kt white gold.

Paspaley, the purveyor of the world's finest pearls, presents rare, one-off pieces from its latest collection. It combines large Keshi pearls and pave diamonds in 18kt white gold settings to offer elegant colliers, necklaces, stud and drop earrings, and rings. Bold and dramatic, these creations exude a charming air that defies expectations, emerging as extraordinary options for the discerning jewellery lover.

"Freeform pearls have always posed a unique challenge to jewellery designers. Known as Keshi pearls, they come in a variety of charming shades and are known for their lustre and uncommon orient. In its 2007-2008 collection, Paspaley displays its design innovation through singular and marvelous pieces that focus on the natural beauty of the non-traditional shapes of these treasures", said Tawhid Abdullah, Managing Director of Damas, the exclusive partner of Paspaley in the UAE.

Paspaley's visionary excellence is highlighted with delectable effect in a sumptuous collier of large flowers created from Keshi pearls. White gold leaves encrusted with pave diamonds are interspersed with the pearl blossoms for maximum drama. This produces an organic piece resembling a garland of wild flowers that was casually strung together! It is matched with huge blossoms for stud earrings and an eye catching ring, all designed to put its wearer in the limelight.

In another set, large, hollow white gold ovals are lined by a sparkling row of diamonds with each oval nestling one sumptuous Keshi pearl. Paspaley then strings these enchanting settings to form necklaces, drop earrings and rings with seeming nonchalance.

Keshi pearls, also popularly known as seed pearls, are cultured in both freshwater and saltwater. Made up purely of nacre, this type of pearl does not have the nuclei present in round pearls as the oyster expels it. Their shapes evolve into highly unusual and interesting forms whose lustre is brighter.

Each Paspaley pearl is nurtured for up to 6 years in remote pearl farms on the Northwest coast of Australia, home to the largest beds of the world's most prized pearl oysters. The pearling pioneer's extraordinary partnership with nature began over 60 years ago when its founder Nicholas Paspaley discovered the first South Sea pearl, and has seen it present the world some of the finest gems from the sea. In these one-off pieces featuring Keshi pearls, Paspaley once again demonstrates its exceptional touch and mastery in pearl jewellery design.

Adorn yourself with finely crafted jewels featuring Keshi pearls now available at Paspaley boutiques at Saks Fifth Avenue - Burjuman Centre, Mall of the Emirates and Abu Dhabi Mall.

Notes and contacts

About Paspaley

Paspaley is the world's leading South Sea pearl company, growing the finest quality pearls in the world. Behind the simplicity and singular beauty of Paspaley South Sea pearls is a journey that began more than 70 years ago on the remote and unspoiled coastline of northern Australia.

Paspaley's involvement in pearling dates back to 1935 when Nicholas Paspaley's father, Nicholas Paspaley Senior MBE, first collected mother-of-pearl shell in Australia's northern waters. He established a family concern that has evolved to become the world's leading South Sea pearling company. Paspaley is still proudly family-owned and operated.

Paspaley nurtures its pearls on a remote network of over 20 farms, stretching more than 2500km across the pristine waters off the northwest coast of Australia - about the same distance as London to Moscow.

Paspaley's pioneering techniques have been widely acknowledged as world's best practice, positioning the company name at the forefront of the pearling industry. Consistent quality and supply are the hallmarks of Paspaley - a reputation achieved only through an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of excellence and the principles of quality.

These standards have ensured Paspaley South Sea pearls are much sought after by the world's leading jewellery houses and has made the Paspaley name synonymous with the most beautiful pearls in the world.

Man Sang Holdings, Inc. Announces Market Centre in China Pearls and Jewellery City Phase One Opens

source: http://www.businesswire.com/

Breakthrough for Pearl and Jewellery Industry

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Man Sang Holdings, Inc. (“Man Sang” or the "Group") (AMEX: MHJ) today announced the opening of its market centre in Phase one of China Pearls and Jewellery City (“CP&J City”), a 55%-owned investment and development project of the Group in Zhuji, Zhejiang Province, China.

The Group chartered a flight in Shenzhen to take guests to the “home of pearl” – Zhuji yesterday to participate in the grand opening ceremony today. The opening of the centre and the pearl and jewellery procurement fair were timed to coincide with the “Third China•Zhuji Xishi Cultural Festival” and “Sixth China (International) Pearl Festival”, all held in the CP&J City, in an effort to promote the commercial and cultural aspects of pearl and jewellery trading to the world.

Deemed as a major construction project in Zhejiang Province and Zhuji city, CP&J City has strong support from the provincial and municipal governments. Officiating guests include government officials from the Zhuji Municipal Government and others. After the ceremony, CP&J City also signed a strategic partnership cooperative MOU with Gemological Institute of America (“GIA”) to foster cooperation between the two parties and promote development of CP&J City and China’s jewellery industry. Jewellers from around the world also actively participated in the first procurement fare of CP&J City.

Apart from officials of Zhuji city and the Shanxiahu Town Government, the opening ceremony was also attended by officials from Zhejiang Province, Guangdong Province, Shaoxing City, Nanchang city, Shenyang city, Tieling city and Beijing city, together with over a thousand jewellery traders, purchasers, and representatives from business associations, consulates in Hong Kong, the financial sector and the media. Guests from over 16 countries and regions such as the U.S., Germany, Finland, Holland, Denmark, Mexico, India, Dubai, Middle East, Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong were present at the ceremony.

Guests attending the opening ceremony were overwhelmingly impressed by the scale and supporting facilities of CP&J City and commented that putting sales, exhibition, manufacturing, processing, business and entertainment facilities all under one roof is a concept with obvious merits over presenting a pure exhibition venue. CP&J City is expected to become a brand new multi-functional value adding platform for pearl and jewellery trading and we expect it will develop into the largest pearl and jewellery tourist attraction and shopping hot spot in China.

The market centre in Phase 1 of the CP&J City has a construction area of 160,000 sq. m. accommodating about 2,380 shops and booths. When the whole CP&J City project is completed, it will have an estimated over 5,000 shops and booths and become the world’s largest of its kind and most up-to-date pearl and jewellery trading platform capable of offering one-stop service including manufacturing, processing, exhibition and sales solutions in the industry.

Mr Cheng Chung Hing, Chairman of Man Sang, said, “The opening of CP&J City is a very important milestone in the Group’s development, as it allows the Group, through cooperating with six other leading pearl enterprises in the country, to expand its business from pearl and jewellery manufacturing and trading to now also cover development and construction of this pearl jewellery trading platform and related supporting and logistic facilities. We co-organised the event with the Zhuji Municipal Government and are proud to have elites from various sectors, domestic and overseas, to come witness the transformation of Zhuji’s old pearl market into the largest-of-its-kind one-stop trading platform in the world capable of providing premium and most efficient jewellery trading and related value added services to jewellers. CP&J City will be a commercial hot spot incorporating exhibition, trade and related services as well as entertainment facilities for industry players. We strongly encourage world-class brands to choose CP&J City as the location for their flagship stores. In the long term, we hope to cooperate with pearl jewellers around the world to develop Zhuji City into an international pearl capital.”

Boasting a total site area of 1.2 million sq. m., CP&J City, which is being developed in phases, will deliver a host of functions including production, wholesale and trading of pearl, precious stones, various gems, gold and silver jewelley accessories, raw materials, finished products and manufacturing equipment, to name a few. It will also be divided into different zones including a market centre, a display area, a processing area, a supporting service area, a residential area and training centre.

CP&J City also plans to launch an e-business platform, with a database of tens of thousands of domestic and overseas buyers and purchasers, and a supportive platform offering import and export services, international finance and professional insurance services, as well as logistics services. This will allow customers to experience true one-stop trading services. New services that will be launched later included world-class training courses on gems and jewellery certification, pearl cultivation and processing and jewellery design to nurture pearl and jewellery professionals and enhance the standard of enterprises and expertise in Zhuji and the industry at large in China.

Mr. Cheng said, “CP&J City in Zhuji in central Zhejiang Province and Zhuji is known to the world as the “home of the pearl” (expected to soon be named the “capital of pearl”). It is the world’s largest freshwater pearl distribution centre boasting the most advanced pearl processing technologies in China. Its pearl products are sold to over 50 countries and regions around the world. 95% of the world’s freshwater pearls are produced in China, while 70% of the freshwater pearls in the world and over 80% of the freshwater pearls in China are traded in Zhuji each year. Zhuji is close to railway, roads, airports and ports, hence we can expect high customer flow. The Group expects to leverage Zhuji’s position in the world’s freshwater pearl manufacturing and trading industry to build the CP&J City brand and the project into a leading global pearl and jewellery trading platform, and thereby contribute to China’s standing in the international pearl and jewellery market.”

CP&J City is regarded as a core project by the Zhuji Municipal Government in establishing the world’s largest cluster of jewellery enterprises in the city. It has substantial support and commands attention from leaders at all levels of government including the Zhejiang Provincial Government, the Zhuji Municipal Government and the Government of Shanxiahu Town. The project is jointly developed by seven leading pearl companies, namely Man Sang, Zhejiang Shanxiahu Pearl Co. Ltd, Zhejiang Ruan’s Pearl Holdings Co. Ltd, Zhejiang Grace Pearl Jewellery Co. Ltd, Zhejiang Sanshui Jewellery Co. Ltd, Zhejiang Tears of Angel Jewellery Co. Ltd and Dexing Pearl Co. Ltd.

Please visit www.man-sang.com or www.cpjcity.com for more information on the CP&J City.

About Man Sang Holdings, Inc.

Man Sang Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (together the "Man Sang Group") are one of the world's largest purchasers and processors of Chinese cultured and freshwater pearls. The Man Sang Group is principally engaged in the purchasing, processing, assembling, merchandising and wholesale distribution of pearls, pearl jewelry and other jewelry products. In addition, the Man Sang Group owns and operates the Man Sang Industrial City, an industrial complex, located in Gong Ming Zhen, Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, PRC.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are, by their nature, subject to risks and uncertainties. This Act provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information about themselves so long as they identify these statements as forward-looking and provide meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ from the projected results. All statements, including statements regarding industry prospects and future results of operations or financial position, made in this press release are forward looking. Words such as “may,” "believes," “will,” "expect," "project," “estimate,” "intend," “anticipate,” “plan,” “continue”" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to: the Company's future performance, the Company's expansion efforts, the state of economic conditions and the Company's market. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors the Company believes to be appropriate in particular circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the Company's expectations and predictions depends on a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, any or all of which could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the Company's expectations, whether expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements (which may relate to, among other things, the Company's sales, costs and expenses, income, inventory performance, and receivables). Primarily engaged in the processing and trading of pearls and pearl jewelry products, and in real estate investment, the Company's ability to achieve its objectives and expectations are derived at least in part from assumptions regarding economic conditions, consumer tastes, and developments in its competitive environment. The following assumptions, among others, could materially affect the likelihood that the Company will achieve its objectives and expectations communicated through these forward-looking statements: (i) that low or negative growth in the economies or the financial markets of its customers, particularly in the United States and in Europe, will not occur and reduce discretionary spending on goods that might be perceived as "luxuries"; (ii) that the Hong Kong dollar will remain pegged to the US dollar at US$1 to HK$7.8; (iii) that customer's choice of pearls vis-à-vis other precious stones and metals will not change adversely; (iv) that the Company will continue to obtain a stable supply of pearls in the quantities, of the quality and on terms required by the Company; (v) that there will not be a substantial adverse change in the exchange relationship between the renminbi ("RMB") and the Hong Kong or US dollar; (vi) that there will not be substantial increase in tax burden of subsidiaries of the Company operating in the PRC; (vii) that there will not be substantial change in climate and environmental conditions at the source regions of pearls that could have material effect on the supply and pricing of pearls; and (viii) that there will not be substantial adverse change in the real estate market conditions in the PRC and in Hong Kong. This press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and with the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company will not publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements after the date hereof. Readers are urged, however, to review the factors set forth in reports that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts

Man Sang Holdings, Inc.
Mr. Martin Pak, (852) 2317 9369
martinp@man-sang.com
or
The Altman Group
Patricia Baronowski
Pbaronowski@altmangroup.com

EU Funds Study To Help Ailing Black Pearl Industry

Source:
http://www.pacificmagazine.net

The European Union has earmarked some US$5.8 million as part of a plan to reform and boost French Polynesia's ailing black pearl industry, Maritime Resource Minister Keitapu Maamaatuaiahutapu announced late last week.

The scheme is part of the EU's 9th EDF (European Development Fund), which initially covered the 2002-2007 period, Maamaatuaiahutapu told reporters.

The project, which is scheduled to run over a three-year period from 2008 to 2010), involves on-site training by roving experts for black pearl farmers, with a particular focus on quality control and productivity.

Another facet of the project concerns a survey on the state of the international market opportunities for French Polynesian black pearls.

Once completed, the survey would give rise to recommendations on how the industry, which has been facing tough competition from neighboring Cook Islands and even Fiji, should rethink its international marketing strategy.

China Pearls and Jewellery City to open in April

Source: http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/

March 04, 2008

Zhuji, China—China Pearls and Jewellery City (CP and J City), a manufacturing, importing, exporting and trading center, and year-round exhibition space for pearls and jewelry, will celebrate its grand opening at a ceremony on April 18.

Located in Zhuji, China, in the eastern coastal province of Zhejiang, the entire site will take up an area of 1.2 million meters squared, or nearly 300 acres.

Among the facilities and services available at CP and J will be a center for manufacturing, processing and trading pearls, jewelry, accessories and equipment; more than 5,000 shops and booths; a year-round platform for exhibition, display and trade; warehouse and logistics facilities; import and export, banking and insurance services; a five-star hotel, restaurants, entertainment and residential facilities; and an international jewelry appraisal and training center.

On April 18, phase one of CP and J's Market Centre, an area for pearl and jewelry shops and booths, will be open for business. Attendees of the grand opening event will also have the opportunity to visit the Third China Zhuji Xishi Cultural Festival and the Sixth China Pearl Festival.

For more information, e-mail info@cpjcity.com.


Detailed story from http://www.cpjcity.com/

China Pearls and Jewellery City (“CP & J City), situated in Shanxiahu Town, Zhuji, Zhejiang Province, is a core project that the Zhuji Government has undertaken. The total investment of the project is over RMB3 billion, and the planned site area of Phase 1 is about 410,000 m 2 .

CP&J City shall offer all- new growth potentials, ample business opportunities and comprehensive service to all business runners in the pearl and jewellery industry. Major product lines to be traded at the City shall include a full range of raw pearl, pearl products as well as pearl jewellery, including freshwater pearl, South Sea pearl, Tahitian pearl; other product lines shall include jewellery made of gold, platinum, silver diamonds, gemstones and semi-precious stones. The multi-functions of the city shall range from manufacturing, processing, assembling, research and development, designing, wholesaling, retailing, ordinary and bonded warehousing, delivering, e-commerce, convention, exhibiting and all the way down to a full range of related professional services.

With over 5,000 booths and shops, the project will serve as:

• a global pearl and jewellery production and processing centre,

• a distribution and logistic centre,

• a branded product display and trading centre,

• a capital circulation and industry information release centre,

• a jewellery cultural exchange, business travel and shopping centre, and

• a sales and marketing headquarters of local and international branded manufacturers.

CP&J City shall be divided into five major areas, namely the Jewelry Raw Materials and Accessories, Finished Products and Tools and Equipment Trade Area, Exhibition Area, Manufacturing and Processing Area, Business Service Area and Supporting Facilities Area. It is an integration of the prominent features of jewellery industry with a gigantic business scale and a comprehensive range of supporting facilities of a modern and international standard.

It is expected that Phase I of CP&J City shall have a site area of approximately 350,000 m 2 and a construction area of approximately 50 0 ,000 m 2 . The Trade Area in Phase I will consist of over 2,400 shops and booths, varying in different sizes (5m x 12m x 3 storeys, 4m x 8m x 2 storeys, or 3m x 3m x 1 storey etc.). They are installed with central conditioning or independent air- conditioners and within easy access to the flow of visitors from all directions. Other value- adding elements are their artificial intelligent functions as well as superb furnishings. Supporting facilities serving this gigantic pearl and jewellery trade platform shall include office buildings, five-star hotels, living quarters as well as leisure zones and green areas.