This week, French Polynesia is hosting a landmark event: the auction of 600,000 pearls, drawing dozens of international buyers and high-profile officials, including three ministers, the President of French Polynesia, and a Pacific Islands Forum delegation. The gathering underscores the critical role of the pearl sector in the local economy.

A High-Stakes Auction

📍 Venue: GIE Poe o Tahiti Nui (former Maison de la Perle)

🌏 Global Competition: Pacific nations vie for a share of the global pearl market

📜 Policy Shift: Minister of the Blue Economy Teva Rohfritsch announced a new territorial law to restructure the industry, focusing on:

✔ Quality standards

✔ Production and inventory management

✔ Island-based concession reforms

By the Numbers

💎 GIE Poe o Tahiti Nui: 223,000 pearls (190 lots)

💎 Robert Wan: ~100,000 pearls (388 lots)

💎 GIE Poe o Rikitea: 293,000 pearls (645 lots)

\"Auctions remain the best way to ensure fair value, far from informal sales,\" emphasizes Élisabeth Moe, President of GIE Poe o Tahiti Nui.

Industry Calls for Action

🔊 Pearl Farmers' Demands:

• Increased international promotion
• More funding for global marketing

🏛 Government’s Stance:

Prioritizes structural reforms before launching new promotional campaigns.

Buyers & Market Outlook

✈ Key Buyers: Primarily from Japan and Hong Kong

📉 Challenges:

• Price drops for mid-grade pearls
• Global market volatility

The future of Tahitian pearls hinges on quality control and adapting to global trends. As bids unfold, Polynesia’s pearl industry stands at a crossroads—balancing tradition with the demands of a competitive luxury market.

(This auction could set the tone for the sector’s revival—or reveal the need for deeper transformation.)