FOCUS 焦点 PEARL REPORT | 14 | 2025-2026 Pearls are uniquely positioned to herald the next era in the jewellery trade – one that bridges the worlds of luxury and environmental regeneration. 珍珠以其得天独厚的优势，正引领珠宝业迈进奢华与环境共荣的新纪元。 Unprecedented political and economic woes in 2025 affected many industries across the globe, but there were a few that proved their mettle. Cleverly adapting to a changing business landscape, the pearl sector not only survived but thrived further, buoyed by sales from emerging markets and heightened consumer demand for meaningful purchases. Southeast Asia is a key growth driver, with buyers choosing jewellery pieces that meet their meticulous criteria: Luxurious, sustainable and versatile. And pearls tick all the boxes. Lustrous white and golden South Sea pearls continue to enjoy solid global demand while smaller but equally stunning Japanese Akoya pearls find favour among younger, discerning customers. Jewellery designs are evolving too. What used to be known as “your grandmother’s pearls” are getting exciting, often rebellious, upgrades. Think pearl brooches as belt accents or buckles, pearl body chains and NFC-embedded pearls that store digital mementos, to name a few. With pearls rising in popularity, pearl companies both have a duty and a responsibility to ensure steady supply while protecting, preserving and nurturing the environment where these gems are formed. Industry leaders are carrying out innovative strategies at the farms – from safeguarding oyster survival to investing heavily in colour and quality improvement and maintaining genetic diversity to grow healthier farmed shellfish. Every road leads to fostering a culture of resilience, restoration and regeneration beyond sustainability in the pearl trade. Stable market The pearl industry witnessed periods of macro challenges at the beginning of 2025, led by ongoing conflicts, US tariffs and economic instability. Bucking the downward trend, the South Sea pearl trade maintained robust sales, defying market expectations. Jacques Christophe Branellec, CEO of Philippines-based Jewelmer, said several key factors led by demand from Southeast Asian markets are driving growth in the golden South Sea pearl sector. “This region’s expanding markets are seeing an increasing demand for luxury goods that demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship and meaning,” noted Branellec. Terence Lee, director of Hong Kong-based Rio Pearl, agreed. White South Sea pearls continue to perform strongly in Southeast Asia as well as Japan and China, based on Rio | Bernardette Sto. Domingo 杜明高 | 珠光宝气的强大前景 Building the pearl’s lustrous and resilient future
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