Local Pearl Company in Talks to Expand Brand Overseas
J. Hunter Pearls Fiji is in talks with a top distributor in efforts to further stamp its name on the world market. Christinia Assael, a popular global pearl distributor, is in Savusavu meeting with J. Hunter Pearls owner Justin Hunter. Mrs Assael said J.Hunter Pearls was a symbol of elegance and good taste in Fiji. She said pearls are now being seen as the go-to jewellery, making J. Hunter Pearls Fiji more marketable.
“What do Oprah, the Duchess of Cambridge, Coco Chanel, Scarlett Johansson, Michelle Obama, Katharine Graham, Zendaya and Katherine Heigl have in common? Two things: power and pearls,” she said.
“The queen’s granddaughter-in-law Kate Middleton is a role model for millions of young women worldwide.
“The 36-year-old Duchess of Cambridge favours cultured pearl chokers, pendants, timeless studs, and drop-style earrings, some from the royal collections, others from High Street.
“In every walk of life, including politics, journalism, the arts, even sports, there are women in powerful positions whose personal style includes great pearls, often worn daily.”
“Today, young influencers like Rihanna and Zendaya wear pearls in new ways on the red carpet and in their private lives. “Starlets like Scarlett Johansson and Katherine Heigl regularly grace the red carpet in luminous pearl strands and ropes. “What is it about pearls that makes remarkable women of every age want to wear them every day? I believe it is because pearls have the power to illuminate the face like no other gem.
“They actually enhance and contribute to the inner glow that comes from self-esteem. “Which is why many women won’t leave the house without them? Wear them.” The Assael business is the legacy of Salvador Assael.
His father James Assael founded the company in Italy in the 1920s.
Mrs Assael, his wife, is having a roundtable meeting with Mr Hunter looking at ways to enhance the pearl company’s brand.
They are also looking at ways to boost their partnership.
Mr Hunter said Assael was the exclusive distributor for Fiji Pearls by J. Hunter. “J. Hunter Pearls Fiji can be found alongside some of the leading luxury jewellery brands worldwide and we like to think the beauty of our pearls is more than skin deep,” Mr Hunter said.
“Beside their unique natural hues unmatched anywhere in the pearling world, it is the story of how they are grown truly sets them apart.
“Assael currently has a partnership with high-end pearl specialising jeweller Gellner in Pinache, Germany.
“It’s nice to have Mrs Assael in the country as I’ll get to know more about my distributor and how we can strengthen our ties.”
J. Hunter Pearls won the Fisheries Exporter of the Year at the 2014 Westpac Prime Minister’s Exporter of the year award. The win added to the recognition received in 2006, 2007 and 2008.