The story of a lifetime

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THE STORY OF A LIFETIME

Robert WAN, whose father left China for Tahiti in 1904, is a businessman working at a crossroad of cultures. Although he has French nationality, Polynesia remains his beloved motherland, while China reflects his origins His multi cultural identity is a powerful source of energy.

THE CHALLENGE

Bursting with a fierce desire, Robert WAN entered the working world at age 19. He first gained experience as an employee who loved a job well-done. He was quickly promoted to partner before establishing his own companies.

In the 1960s, the Polynesian government decided to promote the pearl culture. Many investors, adventurers, and scientists gave it a try, albeit unsuccessfully.

In 1973, Robert WAN spotted in the pearl culture the beginning of a beautiful adventure. More than anyone else, he saw in pearl techniques a way to highlight Polynesia and its treasures.

THE FIRST ENCOUNTER

In 1974, Robert WAN travelled Japan, the birthplace of the cultured pearl industry, to meet Professor Sato a well-known figure in cultured pearl production who had worked with the legendary Kokichi Mikimoto, pioneer and father of commercial pearl farming.

Sato introduced Robert WAN to Mikimoto’s grandson, who promised to be loyal customer if Robert could produce enough Tahitian pearls of a consistently high quality.They met on the now famous Pearl island of Toba, in the Japanese prefecture of Mie. Three years later, the entirety of Robert WAN’s first harvest was bought by Mikimoto. Mikimoto was the first to believe in Robert WAN and his Tahitian pearls, and a strong friendship between the two men remains to this day.


GIA


GIA

Robert Wan and the Gemological Institute of America, together in symbiosis, contributed to the upbringing and recognition of the Tahitian cultured pearl that earn its honors as a gem, putting it in the same category as precious stone. Since 1997, The Robert Wan Educational wing at the GIA campus in Carlsbad, California, is evidence of the gem worlds recognition of the pioneer of the Tahitian cultured pearl.

The biggest jewellers and fashion designers – Tournaire, Dupont, Harry Winston, Tiffany, Chaumet, Boucheron, Chanel, Jean Paul Gautier, Torrente, Mikimoto, Chow Ta Fook, have made a place for the Tahitian cultured pearl by daring to use this gem in their magnificent, innovative creations.

Having started with nothing, Robert WAN has managed to rank Tahitian cultured pearl as the only French gem, the star of haute-Joaillerie.

From nacre to pearls, haute-Joaillerie to science, Robert WAN is keen on understanding and trying everything. He invests, experiments, questions himself, adjust his observations and makes the most of his discoveries.

He understands the importance of atolls, and 40 years after his first grafting, he believes more than ever in the development of the Poe Rava (literally the “Green, shimmering, black pearl” in Tahitian).



THE ROBERT WAN PEARL MUSEUM


THE ROBERT WAN PEARL MUSEAM IMAGE

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