INSIGHT 睿智角度 JNA September/October 2024 | 31 Chinese demand leans to high-quality classic shapes such as rounds, drops and ovals. As prices for these sought-after categories have risen, interest has grown in the more affordable shapes and qualities in other markets,” explained Bracher. Rio Pearl Director Jonathan Cheng, for his part, attributed high prices to persistent market demand for top-tier pearls. A factor fuelling this trend is that fewer companies are now capable of producing such exceptional gems, noted Cheng. Demand is particularly strong in Southeast Asia where white and golden South Sea pearls are all the rage. Premium-quality pearls in a variety of colours likewise enjoy solid market demand while smaller pearls move the fastest, driven by rising interest among the younger generations of consumers. Meanwhile, the Tahitian pearl market is experiencing a period of transition. Cheng explained, “Demand for high-quality round and near-round Tahitian pearls with vibrant and diverse colours is steady, but interest in less conventional shapes is declining. Unstable supply and varying export volumes also present challenges. Limited supply of premium pearls could continue.” George Kakuda, president of the Japan Pearl Exporters' Association (JPEA), also attested to stable demand for pearls, including the coveted Japanese Akoya pearls. Kakuda said buyers are partial to mid-range items of around 3mm to 8mm in size, especially the larger pearls. Technology at the farms Japan is a pioneer in the pearl farming sector, with the founder of pearling giant Mikimoto successfully creating the world’s first cultured pearls in 1893. Fast forward to 2024, Japanese pearl companies continue to lead advances in pearl farming and cultivation. According to Kakuda, the Japanese pearl industry is set to implement this year the results of a 10-year biogenetic study to grow stronger, healthier oysters and produce higher-quality pearls. Over in Myanmar, Hong Kong-based Rio Pearl is making waves in product diversification by employing modern techniques to come up with innovative new pearl variants. In 2023, the company unveiled golden South Sea pearls exhibiting mesmerising streaks of red, pink and green, which it named Rainbow Gold. Cheng of Rio Pearl said the journey to achieving this revolutionary product took a great deal of research and tests over the course of three years. A naturally occurring variant of golden South Sea pearls, Rainbow Gold would occasionally appear in Rio Pearl’s harvests in miniscule proportions, but eventually, the company was able to produce entire lots of such topquality pearls. In early 2024, Rio Pearl introduced top-quality white South Sea pearls from its farms in the Mergui Archipelagos of Myanmar. This was a first for a country that predominantly produces golden South Sea pearls. Jewelmer's pearl farm in Palawan, Philippines 在菲律宾巴拉望岛的Jewelmer珍珠养殖场 Pearls have transitioned from a gem perceived as conservative to one that has widespread appeal. They are associated with understated but sophisticated style and are imbued with a sense of purity and romance. — Michael Bracher, executive director of Australia-based pearl specialist Paspaley
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