Pearl FALCO Is Here to Help
Many of our customers have been asking about the recent rise in Akoya pearl prices. The following is meant to help explain what is happening, and we want to assure our valued customers that Pearl FALCO is doing everything we can to keep costs down as best we can.
All Akoya Pearls Come From Only Three Regions in Japan
Virtually all of the world’s Akoya Pearls are cultivated in three regions in Japan: Ago Bay in Mie Prefecture, Omura Bay in Nagasaki Prefecture, and Uwajima City in Ehime Prefecture.
Three Main Causes for the Decline in Akoya Pearl Cultivation
Climate Change
Regarding climate change’s impact on Akoya pearl cultivation, Ehime and Mie Prefecture have been seriously impacted recently, especially from mid-2019 to today. Pearl cultivation is down by 80% from only a few short years ago.
As we become increasingly aware of the affects of climate change, we are now beginning to better understand how cold-blooded marine invertebrates are on the front lines of climate change, most directly impacted by warming oceans. Warmer water is now commonly understood to result in higher oyster mortality worldwide.
According to an article from Ganoksin. The world’s largest resource for professional jewellery makers.
“In Ago Bay, Mie Prefecture, water temperatures are currently being investigated. It was recently discovered that “a local rise in the ocean temperatures were “2.5 times higher than the 15-year average.”
Climate change is impacting whole ecosystems. Rising ocean temperatures cause an increase in oyster activity. The increased activity requires additional fuel from phytoplankton, whose numbers are declining due to rising ocean temperatures, translating into nutrient deficiency for the oysters, making them more susceptible to foreign infections, viruses, etc.
Mysterious Oyster Die-Off
For reasons currently not fully understood, a virus is affecting the oysters and causing them to die in great numbers. This mysterious die-off of juvenile and mature oysters began in 2019 or 2020. To this day, the effects of the die-off persist. As the supply of Akoya pearls decreased, prices have increased significantly.
Ageing Pearl Farmers
According to the most recent data from the Japan Fisheries Agency, the number of specialized Japanese pearl farmers has declined from more than 3,000 in the 1960s to just 680 in 2013. This decline in expertise is also significantly impacting Akoya pearl farming and cultivation.
Pearl prices have risen by about 50% or more recently due to the drop in cultivation. As of 2023, high-quality Akoya pearls are predicted to rise in price and will continue in the near future.
Contact Pearl FALCO Today
Pearl FALCO strives to help our valued customers make the best-informed decisions regarding their jewellery purchases. If you have questions about this blog or something else entirely, we encourage you to reach out to Pearl FALCO by WhatsApp or contact us via Pearl FALCO’s Contact Page. We look forward to hearing from you as always.