Pearl Guide

A new generation of jewellery and gemstone professionals, more diverse geographically and culturally from the generations that preceded it, is poised to transform the trade. This is in no small part because the composition of its members more precisely mirrors the consumers who both buy and aspire to buy fine jewellery products.

What characterizes many in this peer group is that they are first generation jewellers, who chose to join the industry not through family legacy, but primarily...

Dallas. March 18, 2021. The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has announced that it will produce two shows for 2021. These include the AGTA GemFair Las Vegas show, which will take place Aug. 24–26, 2021, at the Encore at Wynn Resort, and the new AGTA GemFair Denver, slated for Sept. 18–21, 2021, in conjunction with the Hard Rock Summit (HRS).

AGTA GemFair Las Vegas was originally slated for June 2021 but was shelved until new dates and a new location could be confirmed. AGTA CEO Douglas...

A review: The History of Pearls in the Gulf of California, Mexico
By Douglas McLaurin-Moreno


Since unrecorded time, man has obtained many bounties from the world’s oceans: food, shells, corals, sponges, seaweeds, and the most desirable of all of these were the beautiful mother-pf-pearl shells and their valuable treasure, Pearls.

Mexico has four species of pearl oysters inhabiting its coasts, two -the larger sized- on the Pacific side: the Panamic Black Lip oyster (Pinctada mazatlanica)...

New York, NY – Feb. 9, 2021. The Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA) has announced the U.S. and international winners of its 11th Annual International Pearl Design Competition (IPDC).

On Saturday, Feb. 6, judges Jean Francois Bibet, workshop and production director at Cartier; and Patricia Faber, co-owner of Aaron Faber Gallery in Manhattan (whose store will show and offer for sale the winning entries and the finalists of Faber’s choice); inspected 19 live U.S. division finalist...

By C. Denis George Abstract by Anna Kerrig

Historical Aspects on the Early Discovery of the Pearl Cultivating Technique

Japanese scientists, Nishikawa and Mise are typically recognized for discovering the technology that led to cultivating spherical pearls. C. Denis George was an Australian enthusiast who challenged the credit given to the Japanese for this discovery. George argues that Nishikawa and Mise's step-father were first exposed to successful pearl cultivation at Thursday Island...

In the 26th Home Gemmology webinar supported by CIBJO - The World Jewellery Confederation and co-hosted by Edward Johnson, the last session before summer break, we will continue our session on cultured pearls that only covered saltwater production; now, with the help of pearl expert, educator and good friend Jeremy Shepherd, founder of the coveted Pearls As One online course, we'll dive into the fascinating world of freshwater cultured pearls.

This is a unique opportunity to learn from...