Events

The Pearl Forum Inhorgenta
Munich, February 2020

The Inhorgenta Munich took place February 14-17 2020 in Munich (Germany). It is one of the largest jewellery and watch trade fairs in Europe. It will host and co-organize a 7th The Pearl Forum on February 15th 11.00am-12.30pm, together with SustainablePearls.

Speakers

14:00–14:30
Sustainability: Storytelling and sustainability: The case of pearl farming in Ahe, French Polynesia
Andy Bardon, Contributing photographer, National Geographic, USA

14:30–15:00
Sustainability: Pearls, Pacific Islands and Climate Change
Justin Hunter, J. Hunter Fiji Pearls, Fiji

15:00–15:30
Sustainability: 5 Reasons Why Pearls are the Champion of Gemstone Sustainability
Jennifer Heebner, CPAA, USA

15:30-16:00
Sustainability: Pearl farming as a sustainable development path
Dr. Laurent Cartier, SSEF, Switzerland

The Pearl Forum Inhorgenta
Munich, February 2019

The Inhorgenta Munich took place February 22-25 2019 in Munich (Germany). It is one of the largest jewellery and watch trade fairs in Europe. It hosted and co-organized a 6th The Pearl Forum on February 23rd 14.30-16.00pm.

Speakers

14:30–15:00
Pearl farming and trading in Tahiti
Josh Humbert (Kamoka Pearls, French Polynesia)

15:00–15:30
Pricing of pearls
Jörg Gellner (Gellner, Germany)

15.30-16.00
Baroque pearls and keshis : How unusual pearl shapes are creating opportunities for jewellery designers
Kira Kampmann (Marc’Harit Pearls, Denmark)

The Pearl Forum Inhorgenta
Munich, February 2018

The Inhorgenta Munich will take place February 16-19 2018 in Munich (Germany). It is one of the largest jewellery and watch trade fairs in Europe. It will host and co-organize a 4th The Pearl Forum on February 16th 11.00am-12.30pm, together with SustainablePearls. Laurent Cartier is moderating the event. This event is made possible through generous support from the Inhorgenta Munich Fair. This event will be filmed by Inhorgenta. All links to videos of talks will be uploaded here as soon as they are available.

Speakers

11:00–11:30
Pearl – the sustainable gem: Technology, Community and Environment
Dr. Joseph Taylor, Pearl Farming Expert, Indonesia & Australia, Pearl Farming Expert

11:30–12:00
Pearl millenials? Changes in the pearl trade and consumers in Europe
Adriano Genisi, Genisi Pearls, Italy

12:00–12:30
Current trends in pearl design and production
Phil Bouasse, Independent Pearl Designer, Paris & Hong Kong

"Unconventional Pearls"
The Pearl Forum Inhorgenta
Munich, February 2017

The Inhorgenta Munich will take place February 18-21 2017 in Munich (Germany). It is one of the largest jewellery and watch trade fairs in Europe. It will host and co-organize a 4th The Pearl Forum on February 19th 10.30am-1pm, together with SustainablePearls. Laurent Cartier is moderating the event. This event is made possible through generous support from the Inhorgenta Munich Fair.

Speakers

10:30-11:00
The rare and unique world of natural pearls
Dr. Hubert Bari (France)

11:00-11:30 (Cortez Pearls, Mexico)
Pearls from Mexico: marine rarities from the Americas
Douglas McLaurin

11:30-12:00
Pushing the boundaries of pearl design
Melanie Georgacopoulous (MG, London & Japan)

12:00-12:30
Selling pearls online: connecting with the millennial market
Jeremy Shepherd (Pearl Paradise, USA)

12:30-13:0
Screening of “Power of Pearl” with presence of directors Ahbra Taylor and Taylor Higgins (On the Reel Productions, USA). 

"South Sea Pearls"
The Pearl Forum Inhorgenta
Munich, February 2016

The Inhorgenta Munich took place February 12-15 2016 in Munich (Germany). It is one of the largest jewellery and watch trade fairs in Europe. It will host and co-organize a 3rd The Pearl Forum, together with SustainablePearls. Laurent Cartier is moderating the event. This event was made possible through generous support from the Inhorgenta Munich Fair.

Speakers

60 years of South Sea Pearls
Dr. Laurent E. Cartier (SSEF & Sustainable Pearls)   

Farming Australian South Sea Pearls: Exceptionally Rare, Naturally Beautiful
Peter Bracher (Paspaley Pearls, Australia)  

A 'Rap List' for pearls - insight into pricing of pearls
Jörg Gellner (Gellner Pearls, Germany)

From white to gold: South Sea Pearls in jewellery
Philippe Bouasse (Devarieux Designs, Paris) 

Liza Urla (Gemologue, UK)  Pearls are not old-fashioned: perspectives from fashion and media

"Pearl Design & Fashion"
The Pearl Forum Inhorgenta
Munich, February 2015

The Inhorgenta Munich took place February 20-23 2015 in Munich (Germany). It is one of the largest jewellery and watch trade fairs in Europe. It hosted and co-organized The Pearl Forum, together with SustainablePearls. Laurent Cartier introduced and moderated the event. This event was made possible through generous support from the Inhorgenta Munich Fair. The event was meant as a forum to present and discuss current trends in design and fashion within pearls.

Speakers

Pearls: Introduction and pearl design through the ages
Dr. Laurent E. Cartier (SSEF & Sustainable Pearls)

Farming pearls in Fiji: Nature as an inspiration for design
Justin/Leanne Hunter (J. Hunter Pearls, Fiji)

The top 20 pearl designs of all time
Philippe Bouasse (Devarieux Designs, Paris)

Pearls and fashion: redefining the image of pearls through design
Jörg Gellner (Gellner Pearls, Germany)

Supply and demand in the pearl industry: current trends
René Lauper (Frieden, Switzerland)

Sustainable Pearls Forum
Hong Kong, June 2014

The Sustainable Pearls Forum took place in Hong Kong (HK) on June 21st 2014 (9.30am-4.30pm), during the June Hong Kong Jewelry & Gem Fair, at the Convention & Exhibition Centre in central HK.

Participants included some of the world's leading pearl producers, and pearl jewelry retailers. Scientists and marketing experts were also present to discuss latest developments in the pearl industry as well as its current and future state. This forum  highlighted the sustainability efforts of select pearl producers and presented an opportunity to discuss how the strong sustainability story of pearls could be communicated and marketed to consumers.

Building up on the Inhorgenta Pearl Forum, this was the first ever forum dedicated to pearls and sustainability, focusing on the development of a successful and healthy pearl industry.

Opening speaker

Responsible business practices: global jewelry industry
Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri (President, World Jewellery Confederation - CIBJO)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

Introduction

Forum Goals and Sustainable Pearl Principles
Dr. Laurent Cartier (Sustainable Pearls)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

Panel: Protection of the Biosphere

Commitment to minimizing ocean impact
James Paspaley (Executive Director, Paspaley Pearl Company, Australia)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

Farming pearl oysters in a remote coral atoll
Robert Wan, (CEO & Founder Robert Wan Tahiti, French Polynesia)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

Restoration of native pearl oyster beds in the sea of Cortez
Douglas McLaurin, (Co-Founder, Perlas del Mar de Cortez, Mexico)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

Marine conservation potential of pearl farming
Dr. Kent Carpenter (Professor, ODU & IUCN)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

Panel: Management commitment to sustainability

Corporate responsibility at Tiffany & Co
Andy Hart (Senior VP, Manufacturing, Diamonds & Gemstones, Tiffany & Co., USA)
Tiffany & Co. video on sustainability

Cultivating pearls in the most biodiverse area in the world
Jacques-Christophe Branellec (Exec. VP, Jewelmer, Philippines)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

Social entrepreneurship in the Tahitian pearl industry
Josh Humbert (Co-founder, Kamoka, French Polynesia)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

Linking sustainability and high-quality pearls
Shigeru Akamatsu (Senior Consultant, Mikimoto, Japan)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

Panel: Promoting sustainability throughout the value chain

Marketing pearl sustainability: results of US consumer study
Julie Nash (Sustainable Pearls)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

The potential of certification in the jewellery industry
Dr. Fiona Solomon (Director Standards Development, Responsible Jewellery Council RJC)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

Tracing pearls through the supply chain
Dr. Michael Krzemnicki (Director, Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF)
Presentation (pdf)     Video of talk

Closing Speaker

Why now? The need for innovative marine conservation in the Asia-Pacific region
Louisa Ho (Corporate & Marketing Director Asia-Pacific, The Nature Conservancy)
Presentation (pdf)    Video of talk

Supporting Partners of Hong Kong Pearl Forum 2014:

The Tiffany & Co. Foundation

Inhorgenta Münich

Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF

Fukui Shell Company

The Pearl Forum Inhorgenta
Munich, February 2014

The Inhorgenta Munich took place February 14-17 2014 in Munich (Germany). It is one of the largest jewellery and watch trade fairs in Europe. It hosted and co-organized The Pearl Forum, together with SustainablePearls. Laurent Cartier introduced and moderated the event. Julie Nash (Sustainable Pearls & UVM) also attended the event as a speaker presenting new findings on sustainability marketing opportunities with pearls. This event was made possible through generous support from the Inhorgenta Munich Fair.

The event was meant as a forum to present and discuss current trends in the pearl industry. This included what sustainability means in a pearl context, and how sustainability marketing of pearls could be developed.

This event was filmed by Inhorgenta. All talks can be found here

Speakers

Pearls: Introduction and Global Overview
Laurent E. Cartier (Sustainable Pearls)

Farming golden pearls in the Philippines
Jacques Christophe Branellec (Jewelmer, Philippines)

Pearls from Mexico & Cook Islands
Kira Kampmann (Marc Harit, Denmark)

Impressions from a pearl buying trip
Till Schoeffel (Schoeffel, Germany)

Outlook on pearl treatments and testing
Michael Krzemnicki (SSEF, Switzerland)

Pricing of pearls
Jörg Gellner (Gellner, Germany)

Selling pearls online and on TV
Nick Kwan (Kwan Collections, USA)

Socially Conscious Consumers and the Marine Cultured-Pearl Industry
Julie Nash (Sustainable Pearls, USA)