The latest information on pearl farming in Tahiti

Organized by GIE Poe o Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Pearl Auction, this international pearl sale brought together key industry players under the watchful eyes of President Edouard Fritch and the Chinese consul, who were present to assess the state of French Polynesia’s pearl sector.

A total of 280,000 pearls, primarily sourced from the Tuamotu lagoons, were offered for sale across 277 lots. Buyers from China, Japan, the U.S., and Australia participated, reaffirming strong international demand for Tahitian pearls.

A Market Under Pressure

Organizers had hoped to achieve sales between 250 and 300 million Fcfp (XPF)—a target shared by producers grappling with an ongoing crisis. The root cause? Overproduction in recent years, which has far exceeded global demand. As a result, prices have plummeted, destabilizing the entire industry.

Compounding the issue is an overall decline in pearl quality, further straining the sector. President Fritch addressed this reality head-on, urging regulation: "We must enforce production controls and implement necessary administrative measures. This is a priority if we want to safeguard the future of this iconic industry."

Balancing Supply and Demand

The auction highlighted both the enduring appeal of Tahitian pearls and the urgent need for production discipline. With international buyers still engaged but prices under pressure, the sector faces a critical juncture—one that will require coordinated action to restore equilibrium.

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.)

Throughout this week, around fifty buyers from both local and international companies are taking part in the preview phase to carefully examine the pearls ahead of the official auction on July 27. The wide variety of lots gives producers hope of conquering both local and foreign markets.

Among the participants, Loic Wiart — one of the largest local buyers — has mobilized two teams of four people to evaluate some 2,000 lots across the five planned auctions. His meticulous selection is based on the precise demands of target markets, both for export and domestic sales.

The average wholesale price of loose pearls remains stable at around 2,000 francs, regardless of market fluctuations. It is worth noting that 85% of the pearls from these transactions are destined for export, further strengthening the international presence of the Tahitian pearl.

The highlight of this sale: an exceptional pearl measuring 20.8 millimeters in diameter — a true treasure that underscores the importance of this event for the Polynesian pearl industry.

The lot preview will begin on July 21, ahead of the sales scheduled for July 27, 28, and 29. The event will gather around forty local and international dealers across four different venues, showcasing more than 700,000 pearls ready to captivate buyers from around the globe.

For the past three years, pearl prices have been rising steadily, now reaching about 600 XPF per gram. Producers aim to maintain moderate growth, limited to 10–15% per year, in order to preserve the attractiveness of Tahitian pearls on world markets.

Although only three pearl auctions are held annually in Tahiti, they remain highly strategic. In 2013, they generated a turnover of one billion XPF. Already, the first auction of 2014, held in March, had reached around 500 million XPF, confirming a positive trend.

For small producers, these sales represent a vital opportunity to move their production. The process, refined over 35 years, remains reserved for accredited professional dealers, who will submit their bids starting July 21 — without knowing the reserve prices set by the producers.

Highlight of This Edition: The Return of GIE Poe Rava Nui

After an eight-year absence, the GIE Poe Rava Nui is back. This group, bringing together around fifty producers, will present 200,000 pearls, confirming the renewed vitality of the local market.

Focus: An Exceptional 20.8-Millimeter Pearl

As in every auction, rare pearls will take center stage. Among them, a unique 20.8 mm specimen will stand out. Despite being classified as B or C due to slight imperfections, its exceptional luster over most of its surface will make it one of the most coveted gems of the sale.

On the first day, the auction generated over 110 million XPF, and the second day brought in 171 million XPF — far exceeding the projected 151 million. Japanese buyers dominated the event, standing out as the main purchasers.

In addition to the usual lots of pearls, this auction offered a major surprise with the presentation of a rare 18.6 mm pistachio-colored pearl. Although its owner had not initially planned to sell it, the determination of a private buyer convinced the pearl farmer.

The pearl, from Dominique Devaux’s farm in the Gambier Islands, fetched an impressive 1,557,279 XPF. The Japanese buyer, thrilled with the acquisition, plans to turn this pearl into an ambassador piece during his travels to promote Polynesian pearls internationally.

In total, 265 lots were offered over the two days of the sale, with a starting price of 151,846,500 XPF. On the final day, dedicated to the liquidation of unsold items, only 22 lots remained available. The total turnover reached 171,938,548 XPF, representing a 19.65% gain. Buyers from Europe, Asia, and Polynesia secured the most beautiful lots, with Japan taking the lead with 47,467 pieces, followed by Hong Kong, Polynesia, Denmark, and France.

Beyond the purely commercial aspect, this auction strengthened hope for the future of Polynesian pearl farmers. Dominique Devaux, the event’s organizer, also launched a project for a hatchery of selected pearl oysters, in collaboration with IFREMER and the Directorate of Marine Resources.

This project aims to improve the quality of cultivated pearls and reinforce the position of Polynesian pearls on the global market. The next auction, scheduled for March 2014, is already shaping up to be an unmissable event, further cementing the place of the Polynesian black pearl in the world of luxury jewelry.

More than 250,000 pearls were sold, generating revenues close to 330 million XPF.

Organizers celebrated an impressive success rate, with 83% of the lots sold and a total of 255,250 pearls purchased — a level never reached in previous editions. This success confirms the growing enthusiasm for Tahitian pearls in international markets.

The final day, Tuesday, July 30, marked the culmination of an entire year’s work for the dedicated players in the pearl industry. The auction recorded a turnover of 325.4 million XPF, representing a gain of over 6% compared to the initial reserve prices.

On the buyers’ side, Polynesian purchasers dominated transactions, accounting for 34.84% of sales, closely followed by Hong Kong at 34.48%. Japan completed the podium with 25.29% of the purchases.

A total of 47 buyers registered for this seventh edition, 38 of whom completed purchases. The majority were from small pearl farming operations, illustrating the vitality and diversity of this key sector for the local economy.

Buoyed by this resounding success, organizers and buyers are already set to meet again from November 10 to 12 for the 8th edition of this auction, which promises to be just as promising.

The international pearl auctions held in February and March 2008 in Hong Kong achieved good results, despite buyers’ more cautious attitude amid concerns over the U.S. economic downturn.

PASPALEY Auction: Stability for High-End Pearls

According to Yoshihiro Shimuzi, president of Hosei Co. Ltd. (Kobe), prices for the cleanest and highest-quality pearls remained stable, confirming steady demand. In contrast, spotted or lower-quality pearls saw a slight decline.

Leung SikWah, president of Cogent Trading Co. Ltd. and co-organizer of the auction, noted that buyers were adopting a wait-and-see approach due to economic uncertainty: “No one knows what will happen in the next three to six months. With the subprime crisis and stock market drops, buyers are purchasing only what is strictly necessary and are hesitant to build up stock.”

Over the three days of the 38th Paspaley Pearl Auction, 148,769 pearls (420 kg) were sold, representing 64% of the lots offered. The average price per pearl reached USD 88.23.

There were 105 buyers in attendance, with Europeans dominating the bidding thanks to a strong euro. Large pearls and baroques were particularly popular.

Among the standout sales, a 16 mm white pearl with pink overtones (6.18 g) reached a record price of USD 4,137 per gram. More than 20 lots of baroque pearls attracted intense bidding, including lot no. 552, consisting of nine 20 mm baroques, sold for USD 35,284.

ROBERT WAN Auction: Prices Climb Sharply

The 39th Robert Wan / Tahiti Pearls Auction saw a significant price increase, with a turnover of €3.89 M (USD 5.94 M) for 124,633 pearls (283.3 kg), resulting in an average price of €31.04 (USD 47.67) per pearl.

Robert Wan expressed great satisfaction, highlighting not only price stability but also an overall improvement in luster, color, and pearl size, particularly in the 12–14 mm category, which was more abundant than in previous auctions.

According to Yoshihiro Shimuzi (Hosei Co. Ltd.), this price increase was due to better quality pearls, a higher presence of large pearls, and more rigorous selection. Wong Yik Nin, president of Wong’s Diamond and Pearls Co. Ltd., estimated the average price increase at 10%. Japan remains the largest global market, followed by the United States and the United Kingdom.

POE RAVA NUI Auction: Strong Demand for Large Sizes

At the 8th Poe Rava Nui Auction (Tahiti), 77% of the pearls offered were sold, generating a total of approximately €3 M (USD 4.6 M).

Large pearls, ranging from 13 to 18 mm, attracted significant interest, particularly from European and American buyers, contributing to the success of this auction.