Bima South Sea Pearl Auction Bali

The very exotic location of Bali was where the recent Bima South Sea Pearl auction was held. A fantastic selection of 195 lots were open for bidding and despite the poor economic situation over 139 lots were sold.

The selection of pearls include round / semi round golden colour pearls from sizes 9mm to 17mm with avarage sale price US$17g along with beautiful white blue pearls, which achieved high prices averaging US$50g. A great range of keishi, Baroque, oval, drop and button shaped pearls were available with excellent luster and golden colour. Also a good selection of earrings and necklaces were on offer with a 31 pearl necklace size 13mm to 16mm selling for over US$9,000. The highlight of the auction was a single 6.4g keishi pearl selling for US$2,888

The highest prices achieved for white round pearls was US$82g. Highest price for golden round pearls was US$77g while several unique large baroque pearls sold for US$160g. The average sale price for the auction was US$8.88, medium price US$28g and total sales were 101.6kg for US$0.9m.

Robert Wan Tahitian Pearl Auction in Kobe

In May this year the Tahiti pearl entrepreneur Robert Wan held his annual Black Tahitian Pearl auction in Kobe, Japan, and the results were reflective of the current economic conditions where only 232 lots of the 808 lots sold. A great variety of dark colour pearls were available along with lighter shades, silver and the desirable peacock colour.

Pearls of all shapes, sizes, colour and quality were for offer. The high light of the auction was the "Mirror of Nature" lot consisting of 2 peacock colour gem quality 15mm and 16mm round pearls that sold for an amazing US$5,174 each (US$870g). Generally though the top quality large round pearls were selling for around US$30g and for baroque, keishi, button, and oval shapes were selling for as low as Us$2g for the lower quality. The average sale price was US$7.77g and medium sale price was US$16g with total sales of 207.31kg for US$1,61m.

The auction was held in the euro currency and once conversion to US$ was completed the prices being achieved were fairly reasonable. I myself was successful in biding on 3 small lots of AA1 medium quality pearls with a size of 12mm to 14mm and total weight almost 1kg.

1st TPJ Tahitian Pearl Collection Auction Kobe

In the last week of May 09 the 1st Tahitian Pearl Collection auction by TPJ was held in Kobe, Japan. The practice of not disclosing reserve prices of some lots by other auction houses was taken to the extreme at this auction with all reserve prices being undisclosed, which seemingly back fired on the auction organises. Although the auction was well attended the timing was a little bad as the Robert Wan Tahitian Pearl auction was held only a few days earlier and most attendees had already filled there requirements of Tahitian Pearls. Additionally the quality of the pearls was generally lower than those at the Robert Wan auction.

Even though the famous Kobe Jewellery Fair was being held over the following 3 days, drawing many people to Kobe, the TPJ auction was only successful in selling 45 out 133 lots. This disappointing result can be contributed to the fact that there was no reserve prices indicated to provide a measuring stick for bid amounts. 88 lots were withdrawn due to the bids received being below the undisclosed reserve price, which seamed to be a result caused by attendees submitting very low bids to try their luck to pick up a bargain.

Kobe 13th International Jewellery Exhibition

Staged in the International Exhibitions hall near the maritime terminal in the scenic bay of the famous pearl city of Kobe, the 13th International Jewellery Exhibition was held on May 14 to 16 2009. On the opening day, which I attended, the crowds were minimal seemingly due to the economic downturn but even so more than 400 exhibitors turned out to show their merchandise. Some great bargains for heavily discounted goods was available for purchase and many of the exhibitors that I spoke with were offering to slash displayed prices by up to 50% on items I was looking, at just to get a sale.

Exhibitors ranged from jewellery manufactures of all descriptions to suppliers and wholesalers of loose diamonds, gems and pearls. Together with costume jewellery, jewellery manufacturing tools and displays by big brand name companies. There were rings, necklaces, earrings, fashion jewellery of all description and price ranges.Some great gems court my eye and the two stand outs were a 9.9 carat square cut Kashmir Sapphire at US$500,000 and a Fancy Natural Deep Bluish Grey pear cut diamond of 1.05 carat at US$300,000. In all the colour diamonds I have seen this must be one of the rarest colours!

With so much variety to look at and bargains everywhere by the end of the day my head was spinning. I really needed to go back for a second day to give me time to digest it all and then begin to get a feel for the best buys.