With the CIBJO Congress 2025 having taken place on October 27 in Paris, the CIBJO Pearl Commission (which is chaired by Kenneth Scarratt), has produced a new Special Report detailing the growing role of scientific research in transforming the dialogue about pearls, transparency, and environmental accountability.
According to the special report, the continued growth in scientific research suggests pearls could be the world’s first true “nature-positive” luxury jewel; that they don’t just minimize ecological harm but contribute measurable environmental benefits to the marine ecosystem.
“The pearl sector remains at the forefront of the jewelry industry,” Scarratt stated, “in terms of their use of scientific principles and environmentally conscious practices.” He went on to say, “the pearl industry continues to lead the way in terms of being one of the most transparent and sustainable sectors of our trade.”
The document contains contributions from some of the world’s top authorities including CIBJO Pearl Commission Vice President, Peter Bracher and Shigeru Akamatsu, and Ryuichiro Machizawa, Pierre Fallourd and researchers from the GIA and DANAT – Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones.
Some of the highlights include Pierre Fallourd’s article, “Paving the way from pearl impact to value”. In his article Fallourd provides scientific evidence supporting the fact that well managed pearl farms have been shown to positively impact the marine ecosystem. Similar studies in Japan and Australia demonstrate that pearl farming results in extremely low levels of greenhouse gas emissions and pearl oysters help maintain water quality by filtering pollutants and nutrients which otherwise could lead to excessive algae growth.
In addition to Fallourd’s contribution, the special report announces the upcoming release of the CIBJO Pearl Guide 2025 — an updated version of the previously released guide, which will contain 267 pages of information compared to the 62-page edition, making it one of the most complete and user-friendly pearling references available to date.
Photo: Shigeru Akamatsu
The new edition of the CIBJO Pearl Guide 2025 includes:
- Information on 43 different species of saltwater pearl producing bivalves
- A description of the characteristics of 23 univalve species
- Details on 27 different freshwater pearl producing species
The new edition of the CIBJO Pearl Guide 2025 provides descriptions of both nacreous and non-nacreous pearl types, including natural pearls, cultured pearls, and blister pearls, making it a valuable resource for both professionals and pearl collectors.
The findings of the Pearl Commission reinforce the convergence of science, sustainability and eco-friendly craftsmanship within the custom jewelry world, suggesting that pearls may become the standard for environmentally positive luxury.
