Central Coast Business Review - covering news from the business centres of Gosford, Erina, Tuggerah, Wyong and surrounding suburbs. 

February 2010 edition Cover Story

Four growers of Sydney rock oysters are bringing their collective farming experience to a new commercial pearl operation, headed by oyster grower, Ian Crisp.

It has taken over ten years to learn the techniques of pearl and pearl oyster production and secure the right oyster leases that is now creating a type of of cultured pearl, unlike any other, that is being marketed under the brand name of Broken Bay Pearls through Sydney jewelers Percy Marks & Co.

Using the Akoya pearl oyster (pinctada imbricata), Mr Crisp said that his company is now producing a more lustrous akoya pearl than found anywhere else in the world. "Unlike the pearls of Asia, the Broken Bay Akoya pearls are not bleached or artificially coloured. They are naturally lustrous and uniquely pure," he said.

Mr Crisp said that a low runoff of rainfall into Brisbane Water and high quality oceanic flow through the waterway created the perfect pristine environment to produce the most beautiful pearl of its kind anywhere in the world. The Akoya oyster is native to the east coast of Australia and was originally famous as the host to the famous Mikimoto Japanese cultured pearl.

By using the Akoya pearl oyster and growing them in the Brisbane Water area Mr Crisp said that they have already secured a niche in the Australian market, crowded by cheap imports on one hand and existing local competition on the other.

It takes four years to produce a marketable pearl. Oyster spat is obtained from the Fisheries Research Station in Port Stephens. At two years 'seeding' takes place and then it takes a further two years for the pearl to grow. Mr Crisp said that the Department of Fisheries had provided fantastic help in establishing the breeding programme and the Japanese company that had originally wanted to develop a cultured pearl industry in Port Stephens had been exceptionally helpful in teaching them the seeding technique.

"We were also mindful of the need to bring the community along with us. The Japanese company that had originally planned to establish an industry in Port Stephens failed to get the local community on side and had to walk away. We have kept the community informed of our plans all along and we have their total support as well as their interest in the project," said Mr Crisp.

"Securing one of Australia's leading jewellers, Percy Marks as National Wholesalers for our product was a major breakthrough for the company. They are a highly respected and reputable jeweller with a long history. They know and understand the product and by taking us on board have given us great credibility. We have established Broken Bay Pearls as a national brand with guaranteed quality and exclusivity. We are in a niche market and we will remain that way," he said.

Broken Bay Pearls' marketing strategy is to appoint selected retailers, in conjunction with Percy Marks. At this stage East Gosford jeweller, Russell Carr of NV Designer Jewellery is the exclusive retailer for the Central Coast. Commenting on the new industry, Percy Marks Managing Director, Cameron Marks said, "We see this as a unique opportunity to have a locally produced Akoya Pearl so close to Sydney. 

"The opportunities for marketing are fantastic as these pearls are of such good quality and with no treatment whatsoever.  They match or are better than any similar product anywhere in the world.

"We are proud to have been appointed Broken Bay Pearls' National Distributor."

Commenting on the quality of the pearls Mr Marks said, "The lustre on the is unbelievable. Because Broken Bay is so clean and the water is so clean the lustre is absolutely superb.

"The pearls are perfectly natural - we don't do anything to them. They just come out of the ocean and they're cleaned in salt water and they come to us ready for drilling as they are, it's completely natural," he said.

Broken Bay Pearls' shareholders are all oyster growers and include Roger Clarke, Ian Crisp, Rose Crisp, Peter Clift and Dennis Paterson. The company presently employs four people of which three are trained seeding technicians.

For more information on Broken Bay Pearls visit www.brokenbaypearls.com.au

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