INSIGHT 睿智角度 40 | JNA September/October 2024 Celebrating 45 illustrious years in the pearl trade, Philippines-based Jewelmer is laying the groundwork for future decades of sustained growth and prominence, with a socially conscious leadership guiding its journey. 菲律宾珍 珠企业Jewelmer昂然踏进辉煌的45周年， 并在卓越领导下履行社会责任，为未来 几十年的持续发展和地位奠定了基础。 JEWELMER’S golden legacy 辉煌金珠传奇 | Bernardette Sto. Domingo 杜明高 | La Mer en Majesté necklace and Les Classiques earrings with diamonds and golden South Sea pearl centre gems La Mer en Majesté项链和Les Classiques耳环，以南洋金珠为主石，并缀有钻石 It all started with a dream to promote the Philippines as a haven of extraordinary charm through the South Sea pearl. Four and a half decades later, FilipinoFrench pearl specialist Jewelmer is front and centre of this narrative, pushing to the fore Philippine artistry and the inimitable golden South Sea pearl as a favoured gem in global jewellery circles. “Ultimately, it is an honour and a privilege to still be able to produce a pearl,” remarked Jewelmer CEO Jacques Christophe Branellec. “With Mother Nature in control of much of the process, pearl harvests are not guaranteed. Amid often unpredictable challenges, Jewelmer shines the spotlight on protecting and conserving natural resources.” Pearl heritage Jewelmer is celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2024. Ever progressive, the company continues to uphold the golden pearl’s status as a paragon of sustainable luxury through inventive designs and green practices. It recently expanded and redesigned five Jewelmer boutiques in the Philippines, with each shop thoughtfully conceptualised and created using locally sourced natural materials. Alongside other retail concepts in development, the brand is also enthusiastic about introducing an exclusive experience catering to its most discerning clients: Maison Jewelmer. The by-appointment-only private lounge is the largest Jewelmer boutique in the world and the first of its kind for the brand. Jewelmer is also working on long-term projects and partnerships aimed at raising worldwide awareness of the South Sea pearl as well as innovative jewellery designs that celebrate the pearl’s reputation as a sustainable gem. Sustainable operations Jewelmer’s pearl farms, nestled in the gleaming waters off Palawan Island, maintain the highest standards of environmental stewardship and conservation, with sustainability at the core of operations. “Our processes do not hinder marine life from growing; they help promote it instead,” explained Branellec. “However, environmental changes beyond our control are constant reminders that Mother Nature is at the helm.” Rising water temperatures, for instance, heavily impact baby oysters’ survival rates. Oysters are highly sensitive to shifts in their ecosystem while temperature is critical to their growth and development. Some oysters, however, exhibit “phenotypic plasticity” by adjusting their metabolic rates, reproductive timing or feeding behaviour in response to changes in its surroundings. Jewelmer is undertaking extensive research and development in its hatcheries and applying selective breeding methods to nurture strains that are more resilient to temperature fluctuations. It is also studying new ways to enhance survival rates of young oysters. Further raising the profile of Jewelmer as a premier pearl company is its sustainability agenda. Funded by the group and its pearl farms, the Save Palawan Seas Foundation established in 2006 is at the heart of Jewelmer’s marine conservation and protection goals. Its recent projects include programmes to spread awareness about climate action among the next
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