Dubai holds first pearl tender

by eyetee | January 19, 2009 12:00 am

SB_Dubai — This white-silver cultured South Sea pearl strand features a 22-mm centrepiece, one of the largest ever produced. Commissioned by the British government as a gift for the Queen Mother, it is known as the Queen Mother Strand.

Some of the rarest natural and cultured pearls will be up for bidding next month at a private tender held by the Dubai Pearl Exchange.

The invitation-only event—set for Feb. 12 to 16—takes place just before the inaugural World Pearl Forum and will feature 80 lots of important single pieces, gem-quality matched sets, and strands from producers like Paspaley Pearling Co., Robert Wan, Jewelmer, and Cogent Trading.

The tender is another example of Dubai’s growing influence and importance in the international jewellery industry.

“The Dubai Pearl Exchange’s inaugural tender of rare pearls is a key element in drawing the pearl trade to Dubai and underscoring the United Arab Emirates'(UAE’s) historic and ongoing relevance in this international market,” said Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chair of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). “Hosting a pearl sale of this calibre enables our Dubai Pearl Exchange members to access some of the world’s rarest pearls while creating a viable trading channel for some of the world’s largest producers, all in a location recognized historically as a major pearl trading hub—Dubai.”

The Dubai Pearl Exchange is a subsidiary of the DMCC.

Organizers say several million dollars worth of pearls will be offered at the tender, which is expected to attract top pearl buyers from around the globe. Several lots are expected to draw quite a bit of interest, including one of only five Nautilus pompilius pearls known to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and a South Sea strand featuring a 22-mm pearl.

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[Image]: http://www.jewellerybusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/SB_Dubai.jpg

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