Pearls: From jewelry to art medium

Pearls and artworks, according to premier auction house Sotheby’s, are generally not a liquid, high-return asset class like gold or stocks. But, as Sotheby’s noted, instead of viewing pearls and art pieces as quick-profit commodities, think of them as a “legacy” investment.

While investing in art and pearls during economic uncertainty can protect wealth, offer a reliable hedge against inflation and provide low correlation or feel less impact from traditional financial markets, art and pearls, however, are illiquid, high-transaction-cost assets requiring patience and a long-term holding strategy to yield returns, Sotheby’s said. In fact, only premium, certified natural pearls or rare, large, high-grade cultured pearls and rare, high-quality artworks hold or appreciate in value, Sotheby’s explains further in its website.

Combining pearls and art, however, may make these not-so-liquid assets fetch a better value and appreciation. An example is the fusion of art and pearls at the recent The Allure of Pearls exhibition celebrating the 30th anniversary or Pearl Jubilee of Hoseki Jewelry Art. Held in partnership with Art Lounge Manila, the exhibit brought together Filipino artists Flor Baradi, Frank Caña, Denzel Royce Chang, Buds Convocar, Rum Corvera, Percival Cruz, Katrina Cuenca, Jonathan Dangue, Joe Datuin, Anna de Leon, Lee Dequito, Rouel Dionisio, Knoi Esmane, Jeann Fadul, Fai Co, Jojo Fadul, Ricky Francisco, Caloy Gabuco, Carlo Magno, Noli Manalang, Bertrand Ng, Julieanne Ng, Cindy Ng Sy, Roel Obemio, Anna Orlina, Ramon Orlina, Lydia Velasco and Migs Villanueva together with acclaimed jewelry designer Fai Co and Knoi Austria Esmane in creating a series of paintings on spherical canvases inspired by the pearl itself.

At the heart of the exhibition is Roel Obemio’s tribute to Johannes Vermeer’s iconic Girl with a Pearl Earring. Accompanied by figurative and abstract expressions, the participating artists explored themes of beauty, resilience, transformation and timeless elegance.

The exhibit, ultimately, paid homage to the Philippines — the “Pearl of the Orient Seas,” a title immortalized by Dr. José Rizal in Mi Último Adiós. Like the pearl, the nation embodies beauty shaped by perseverance, strength and hope.