PEARL REPORT 2021

PEARL REPORT | 39 | 2021-2022 精闢視野 to invest in gems that are unique and not easily replaceable. Natural pearls, conch pearls especially, meet this demand,” noted Ternat. Ocean Flame earlier developed a colour and flame grading system for conch pearls, which has been embraced by the market since its introduction. The system classifies conch pearls into categories based on colour intensity. “Flame structure is the fingerprint of the pearls. It gives them their uniqueness,” remarked Ternat. “During the lockdown, we were able to communicate effectively with partners and clients all over the world using a real colour chart.” The oval-shaped gem is naturally formed by fibrous crystals inside a rare sea snail called conch. It is non- nacreous, meaning it is not made of nacre or mother-of- pearl. Only one out of 10,000 to 15,000 shells produce a conch pearl and only 10 per cent of these are of gem quality. Hunting for the pearl can be challenging. “One has to remember that conch pearls are natural, not cultured. They come directly from the sea and their colour cannot be altered or enhanced,” said Ternat. Demand for conch pearls has been steady over the last 10 years and Ocean Flame expects the market to continue its upward trajectory, thanks to conch pearls’ distinctive colour and overall appeal, which set them apart from other goods in the market. 據 海螺珍珠專家 Ocean Flame 指，海螺珍珠魅力非凡，儘 管在新冠疫情下，市場對高品質的 海螺珍珠需求依然強勁。公司負責人 Bertrand Ternat 透露，雖然行業於疫情初期受到影響，但消 費者已重拾對海螺珍珠的興趣。 Ocean Flame 的最大市場是 亞洲、歐洲和美國。 Ternat 說：“我們開發了不同的經營方 式，現在市場已經復蘇，銷情甚至超過爆疫前的水平。”為 應對各種不明朗因素，公司採取創新措施，確保能為市場持 續供應海螺珍珠和海螺珍珠首飾。由於缺少了實體貿易展覽 會來連接海外客戶，公司增強了物流以支持業務。 海螺珍珠被譽為世上最稀有的天然寶石之一，深受懂得欣賞 其美麗和投資價值的珠寶收藏家青睞。 Ternat 指：“封城令 終端客戶轉向投資於獨特而絕無僅有的寶石，天然珍珠── 尤其是海螺珍珠，能滿足這方面的需求。” 早前， Ocean Flame 為海螺珍珠創製出顏色及火彩分級 系統，按顏色強度將海螺珍珠分類，系統已廣為市場接 納。 Ternat 指：“火彩結構是珍珠的指紋，為珍珠賦予獨特 性。封城期間，我們仍能有效地透過真實顏色圖表，跟世界 各地的合作夥伴和客戶溝通。” 海螺珍珠是一種橢圓形的寶石，由珍貴海螺內的纖維狀晶體 自然形成，不含珍珠質或珍珠母。每 10,000 到 15,000 個貝 殼中只有一個能生產海螺珍珠，其中只有 10% 足以成為寶 石，可謂萬中無一。 Ternat 說：“海 螺珍珠屬天然而非人工養殖。它們直 接從大海而來，顏色無法經後天改變 或增強。” 過去十年，海螺珍珠的需求一直穩 定。由於海螺珍珠具有獨特的顏色和 整體吸引力，使它們在其他商品中脫 穎而出， Ocean Flame 預計海螺珍珠 市場將進一步趨強。 All conch pearl images from Ocean Flame 所有珍珠圖片由 Ocean Flame 提供