Pearl FALCO will also have an exciting line-up of the exhibition and online events, including the opening Thanks to the Japan Creative Centre and the Embassy of Japan in Singapore for their continued generous support, Pearl FALCO is proud to present, ‘The Secret Beauty of Ise Shima Japan – Akoya Pearls & Ama Divers. Pearl FALCO’s Akoya Pearl Jewelry Grand Prix 2021 Singapore Edition.’
So Many Great Young Designers & Artists Participated This Year. Looking forward to seeing their impact on the world of design in the days to come! Students from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Raffles College of Higher Education and the Jewelry Design and Management International School continuously have participated in this year’s Grand Prix. Thank You!
Akoya Pearl Jewelry Grand Prix 2021
Pearl FALCO is delighted to continue to showcase this exhibition at the Japan Creative Centre again this year. We welcome everyone to view the top 30 entries at the JCC and cast your vote for your favorite creation!
And for this year’s Grand Prix, Pearl FALCO is honored to have renowned photographer Tomonori Masanori exhibiting a selection of works from his collection of the Women Ama Divers of Ise Shima Japan.
Additional highlights include the opening and closing ceremonies of the exhibition as well as an in-depth introduction to Ise Shima Japan and the Women Ama Divers. Be sure to mark your calendars with the corresponding dates below!
Pearl FALCO’s 4th Annual Grand Prix’s Theme. “Connection”
Now in its 4th Year, the Pearl FALCO Grand Prix was initially conceived of by Maiko Makito, Managing Director and Co-Owner of the Pearl FALCO Corporation, who took the helm of her family’s pearl business in Japan just a few short years ago. Since then, Maiko strives to share Ise Shima Japan’s cultural treasures and sustainable pearl cultivation practices in Mie Prefecture with the rest of the world.
Pearl FALCO’s Annual Grand Prix’s primary goal is to share the beauty of Akoya pearls and Ise Shima Japan with the world. This year’s theme is “Connection.”
As Maiko explained, “Each of our lives is like a pearl necklace, a strand of pearls made up of different moments. Each moment or memory, shines bright as a pearl with a different luster, color and iridescence. Through the Grand Prix, Pearl FALCO strives to connect Ise Shima with the world.”
Ise Shima, Japan. Birthplace of Sustainable Pearl Cultivation
Ise Shima Japan is the birthplace of cultured pearls. In the late 1880s, practices were developed to sustainably cultivate beautiful round pearls. These cultivation methods ultimately led to the growth of sustainable pearl aquaculture worldwide.
Cultured pearl cultivation is a multi-year “team effort” in every sense of the term. Even after years of long-tested cultivation methods have been applied, fewer than 30% of cultured pearls will be used for jewelry.
The 2 greatest challenges facing Akoya pearl cultivation in Ise Shima are the declining number of experienced pearl farmers and climate change. In the last 2 years alone, Akoya pearl production has declined by at least 80%. Pearl FALCO hopes to bring this awareness to the Grand Prix – how we are having an impact on the natural world, not just in Ise Shima, but on a global scale.
We hope you will join Pearl FALCO in striving to help mitigate the worst side effects of climate change, not only to keep the grand tradition of sustainable cultured pearl farming in Ise Shima alive and well, but for our collective well being now and for generations to come.
Exhibition and Voting Period: 17 – 26 February 2022 (Tuesdays – Saturdays)
Closed on 23 February, Mondays and Sundays
Open to the Public
Opening Hours: 10:00am to 6:00pm
Venue: Japan Creative Centre (JCC), Embassy of Japan in Singapore
4 Nassim Road Singapore 258372
Opening Ceremony
Join us online on JCC Facebook Live as JCC Director Toru Furugori and Ms Maiko Makito (Pearl Falco) officially open the exhibition. Representatives from NAFA, Raffles College of Higher Education, and JDMIS will also briefly share more about the jewellery pieces that were made for the competition.
Date: Thursday, 17 February 2022
Time: 11am – 12pm Online
Discovering Ise Shima & Ama Divers
Learn more about Ise Shima, the birthplace of cultured pearls, from Ms Maiko Makito of Pearl Falco. There will even be an online tour, as well as Q&A with Ama divers.
Date: Saturday, 19 February 2022
Time: 2pm – 3:30pm (Webinar style)
Closing Ceremony
Join us online on JCC Facebook Live as Ms Maiko Makito (Pearl Falco) officially closes the exhibition by announcing the top five winners of the competition, and the next competition’s theme.
Date: Saturday, 26 February 2022
Time: 5pm – 6pm Online
