the Pearl Diver

PEARL farming in the Northern Division has expanded with new farms earmarked for Kioa and Taveuni. J Hunter Pearls (Fiji) Ltd, which cultivates pearls in Savusavu, has expanded to the neighbouring islands.

Owner Justin Hunter said the investment would be a significant one but could not say how much would be involved. "We have not operated a farm in that area yet so it will be the first for the company in the seas off Taveuni and Kioa," he said.

"There will be one area where we will initially focus on and this will be Naba Bay on Kioa." Mr Hunter said they were just waiting for approval. "We hope to get physically in the water next month. Right now, we are busy implanting and prepping young oysters in Savusavu."

The company is training 10 youths from a nearby village. "We will start slowly, over the years if things work out it could be a significant source of employment."

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This summer be charmed by the latest pieces from one of Paspaley’s most popular jewellery collections - Embrace the Sea. Featuring earrings, pendants, chains, strands and charm bracelets, the sparkling collection comes alive in astonishing impressions of marine life such as spiral shells, conch shells and starfish crafted in yellow gold and encrusted with diamonds, amidst strands of gorgeous South Sea pearls. The collection is endowed with the vibrant freshness of a beautiful day on the beach and will definitely delight both the wearer and the onlooker in its joie de vivre long after summer.

The spread of designs is guaranteed to bring out the sunshine in any setting; such is its sprightly nature. It consists of shell-inspired earrings, such as conch shell earrings with whirls of yellow gold that highlight a single South Sea pearl with stunning effect. The spiral shell design earrings, on the other hand, drop a delicate length from a lustrous pearl on its wearer's ear. In other designs the spiral shell turns into a striking pendant that holds its own in an awesome strand of South Sea pearls. While in yet another piece, one of Paspaley's well known motifs, the starfish, grandly fashioned in yellow gold and encrusted with diamonds, features as a slide pendant on a rigid and slim yellow gold chain and as a pair of radiant earring designs, from which fall beautiful South Sea pearls.

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Some of the world’s last remaining ‘hard-hat’ pearl divers and their crews were welcomed back to Broome today by Multicultural Interests and Citizenship Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich. The Minister was in Broome to open the internationally-renowned Shinju Matsuri Festival of the Pearl.

The festival, now in its 38th year, marks the close of the pearling season and provides an opportunity to celebrate the different cultures and people that have made Broome one of the most vibrant, cosmopolitan towns in Australia.

“The Shinju Matsuri Festival is one of the finest examples of the many benefits multicultural diversity can bring to a region from an economic, social and cultural perspective.” Ms Ravlich said “During the festival, we acknowledge our indigenous people along with Japanese, Malay, Chinese, Filipino and pearl divers from many different nationalities as fore-runners and pioneers who have helped shape the character, charm, prosperity and vibrancy of Broome. The pearl divers, their stories and their larger than life personalities have left an indelible mark in Broome’s colourful history and are integral in making Broome the fascinating multicultural town that it is today.”

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BAHRAIN-BORN Rob Gregory is arguably the longest residing expatriate in the kingdom and knows the sea and sands of the island like the back of his hands.

He is a veteran diving instructor and well-renowned for his underwater knowledge and experience. He also believes he may be the last living pearl diver of Bahrain – an island that has an amazing 5,000 year history of securing the precious gems hidden in its warm waters.

Mr Gregory, 56, has compiled documentary evidence and carried out research spanning more than 35 years to illustrate that this island is a treasure of wealth, history and significance that no other place on this planet can be compared with.

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The fingers move deftly, precisely, the implements are small, shiny, mysterious, like a dentists. Oyster into the clamp, prised open slightly, pincers into the crack, wet pearl out, rejection or acceptance in a whisk of time. Beyond his profile, Japanese profile, the sea in the lagoon is spread with white horses, sailing boats are leaning sharply against the wind. Out there is our beloved cruising ground through French Polynesia, a world of sun and swimming and relaxation, a world that we crew on Blackwattle are now enjoying more and more. In here, however, it's high concentration, tension, speed.

This is the Tahitian Pearl Farm during the grafting season, and on the simple wooden bench in front of the concentrating grafter, a luscious mound of dark shining pearls is growing.

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One of the world's leading producers of South Sea pearls, Australia-based Paspaley has formed a partnership with Stuller, one of North America's largest producers and distributors of jewelry.

The result is a new collection of pearl jewelry and loose pearls under the brand name Stuller & Paspaley.

Accompanying the launch was the exhibition of the `Paspaley Pearl', one of the world's most extraordinary pearls ever discovered. This 20.4 mm South Sea cultured pearl is perfectly round and is the most exceptional pearl ever harvested by Paspaley Pearls. In addition to its size and perfect shape, the color and luster are unrivalled. The precious pearl has special significance in the relationship between the men of the Stuller and Paspaley companies. Stuller and his team had flown to Australia to see firsthand the pearling operations and were aboard the hi-tech Paspaley P3 pearling ship in 2002 when the pearl was discovered. "The luster of this pearl is like nothing I have seen before. It is truly breathtaking," said Matt Stuller. "This is a very precious gem indeed, both in terms of it being the finest pearl ever seen and its significance to the Stuller and Paspaley relationship."

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Australian Pearl trader Paspaley has opened a boutique in Saks Fifth Avenue at BurJuman mall in Dubai. The company specialises in South Sea pearls. The outlet is in Saks' Jewellery Court, which hosts a range of jewellery and watch brands.

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Man Sang Holdings, Inc. (AMEX: MHJ), has declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share of Common Stock, to stockholders of record on July 24, 2007 (ex-date July 20, 2007), which shall be paid on August 8, 2007.

Man Sang Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (together the “Man Sang Group”) are one of the world's largest purchasers and processors of Chinese cultured and freshwater pearls. The Man Sang Group is principally engaged in the purchasing, processing, assembling, merchandising and wholesale distribution of pearls, pearl jewelry and other jewelry products. In addition, the Man Sang Group owns and operates the Man Sang Industrial City, an industrial complex, located in Gong Ming Zhen, Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, PRC.

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Some people buy stocks because the stocks are fundamental sound value plays; some invest in stocks because those stocks have great potential as growth plays; others purchase stocks in emerging countries because the companies have faster growth paces. Man Sang Holdings (MHJ), a small Hong Kong based Chinese company, has them all: trading just above its book value; paying great dividend; growing earning 39% over last year; having great potential in growing Chinese jewelry market; and new earning sources from its development of China's largest jewelry trading center in coming quarters. Also, being a significant trading discount to its counterpart in Hong Kong Stock Exchanges validates its upside for the future price appreciation.

Man Sang Holdings (MHJ) is a holding company. The majority of the holding is 49% of a Hong Kong listed company Man Sang International. Man Sang International is a Hong Kong based company, one of the leading pearl merchants in Greater China engaged in the purchasing, processing, assembling, merchandising and wholesale distribution of pearls and jewelry products. Man Sang is also developing the China largest Jewelry Trading Center, China Pearl and Jewelry City.

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Pearl lovers, Hong Kong is your oyster. Just ask Joanne Larby. The Chicago accountant-cum-tourist was recently rubbing a strand against her teeth to verify the pearls' authenticity at a jewelry counter on Kowloon's Nathan Road. The teeth-test, of course, is overrated; rubbing the pearls against one another is more effective without risking damage to the gems. But Larby wasn't taking any chances. This was the 32nd string of pearls Larby had run across her pearly whites that day. "The pearls are just so cheap here," she explained, "I'm not convinced they're real."

She's right, in a sense. Real, better known as natural, pearls are practically impossible to buy in Hong Kong or anywhere else, these days. Natural pearls occur when foreign material, usually a stone or parasite, enters an oyster's shell and it can't expel the irritant. The mollusk instead coats the intruder with nacre, the secretion used to make its shell, forming a pearl. Once, they were the exclusive preserve of royalty — the fact that only 1 in 10,000 oysters may contain a round natural pearl made them more valuable than diamonds.

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After more than a decade of work to establish a viable black pearl industry, the pioneering aquaculture farming company in the Marshall Islands has officially shut down its last operation, leaving behind an "industry" that officials say will remain “unborn” without real support from the government.

Robert Reimers Enterprises’ chief executive officer Ramsey Reimers told the Journal that RRE had to shut down its Jaluit pearl farm two weeks ago mainly for financial reasons.

“A private company can’t do it alone,” said Reimers. "Over the years we’ve had to subsidize the operation from our other business but this is no longer feasible."

A top-level manager at the Marshall Island Marine Resources noted MIMRA’s regret over the closure of RREs operation. “RRE is one of the pioneers in the sector, and it is with their growth, that MIMRA undertakes to operate the Woja hatchery, to produce and supply spat for farmers,” said the MIMRA manager.

"(We) regret to learn that RRE is closing its doors after years of successful pearl farming. (We) understand that it is not an easy task, running a pearl farm without a reliable source of spat, and working in sensitive environments, especially here in the Marshall Islands. MIMRA is also to blame for RRE taking the decision to close its farm, after all, it was MIMRA’s part to assist with spat productions."

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Arafura Pearls Holdings Limited (ASX: APB) - WA Pearling Joint Venture - Mr Andrew Hewitt, MD; Boardroomradio is pleased to announce that Arafura Pearls Holdings Limited (ASX: APB) has published an audio file. The following presentation "WA Pearling Joint Venture" is now available as an instant audio download to your computer. You may also transfer this information to your listening device as an IPod podcast.

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The cause of a large number of oyster deaths that plagued Western Australia's pearling industry remains a mystery, despite months of tests by researchers.

The Department of Fisheries has studied 7,000 oysters from pearl farms and carried out 800 tests looking for disease.

The Department of Fisheries has studied 7,000 oysters from pearl farms and carried out 800 tests looking for disease.

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Paspaley, the world’s leading South Sea pearl company, ushers in summer with its exclusive pearl jewellery collections. The esteemed company made world-famous by its cultivation of the finest quality pearls, creates stunning pearl jewellery highly valued for its outstanding design and craftsmanship.

Pearls are the only gems that emerge from nature perfect and complete and unlike others, they cannot be improved through cutting and polishing. It is nature’s perfection in a luminous droplet. Paspaley makes a strong statement with carefully-selected pearls assembled with precious stones to form the finest pieces of jewellery.

Nicholas Paspaley AC, Executive Chairman of Paspaley, said: “Every piece of pearl jewellery in our collections has been carefully designed by our team of highly talented designers and craftsmen. While white pearl jewellery remains extremely popular, our clients today are also looking for a little change in their wardrobe. That’s why we have incorporated the delicate colours of gemstones in these exciting pieces.”

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Burma will hold a special gems sale in Rangoon in early July to bolster foreign exchange reserves, according to the government gems enterprise.

The sale will be held “from July 4 to July 16,” an official from the Myanma Gems Enterprise told The Irrawaddy o­n Monday.

He said the gems sale will be held at two locations. Sales of jade will be made at the Myanmar Convention Center o­n Min Dhama Road. Gems and pearls will be sold at Gems Emporium Hall o­n Kabar Aye Pagoda Road.

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