This survey is from the December 2020 Issue of #thisispearl digital magazine.
The Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA) is 69 members strong, representing some of the finest players in fine pearls and pearl jewelry in the U.S. and abroad. CPAA asked members to weigh in on recent sales and trending items. Here’s what they had to share.*
*The response rate for this survey is 32%.
Tahitian and akoya pearls from Baggins and Blue Eyris pearls from Imperial Pearl
Photo by Ted Morrison
What type of holiday sales are you anticipating?
Up over 2019 43.5%
Down from 2019 47.8%
Unchanged 8.7%
What style of pearl jewelry do you expect to be your single best seller for the 2020 holiday season?
Stud earrings 36.4%
Single pearl pendant necklace 9.1%
Strand of pearls 18.2%
Pearl bracelet 13.6%
Pearl and gemstone drop earrings 22.7%
What single variety/type of pearl has been your best seller this year?*
White akoya 18.2%
White South Sea 18.2%
Tahitian South Sea 31.8%
White freshwater 18.2%
Colored freshwater 4.5%
Blue akoya 4.5%
Keshi pearls of any variety 4.5%
* Other pearls—golden South Sea, silver South Sea, mabé pearl of any variety, conch or other natural pearls, Sea of Cortez, and Blue Eyris from New Zealand—were offered but none were selected.
What were your three top-selling varieties of pearls in 2020?*
White akoya 22.4%
White South Sea 13.4%
Tahitian South Sea 23.9%
Golden South Sea 6.0%
Silver South Sea 3.0%
White freshwater 19.4%
Colored freshwater 3.0%
Blue akoya 4.5%
Keshi pearls of any variety 4.5%
* Other pearls—mabé pearl of any variety, conch or other natural pearls, Sea of Cortez, and Blue Eyris from New Zealand—were offered but none were selected.
What three varieties/types of pearls do you anticipate buying more of in 2021?*
White akoya 21.9%
White South Sea 7.8%
Tahitian South Sea 14.1%
Golden South Sea 9.4%
Silver South Sea 4.7%
White freshwater 17.2%
Colored freshwater 1.6%
Blue akoya 7.8%
Mabé pearl of any variety 3.1%
Keshi pearls of any variety 7.8%
Conch or other natural pearls 1.6%
Sea of Cortez 3.1%
* Blue Eyris from New Zealand was offered but not selected.