| Jewellery capability overview Australia has some of the oldest rock formations on the planet and over the years, the earth’s natural processes have created a vast range of precious gems and minerals that make Australia unique.
Every year, mines across Australia’s vast and diverse terrain produce magnificent diamonds, sapphires and opals for eager global markets.
The industry covers a diverse range of products, from precious metals and stones to decorative ornaments and costume jewellery.
In 2005-06, the industry consisted of 2,290 enterprises, employed 4,850 people and paid out some $116 million in wages.
As well as its diamonds, opals and sapphires, Australia is also renowned as one of the world’s major producers of quality pearls.
In 2005-06, exports were worth some $750 million – 7.2 per cent higher than the previous year.
Diamonds continue to offer the biggest opportunity globally, accounting for 92 per cent of market share. In 2005-06, more than 27 million carats were exported globally.
By value, Hong Kong remains the dominant market for the export of gemstones. The market has steadily increased in recent years with over one-third of all Australian jewellery exports now destined for Hong Kong.
Japan is the next biggest market followed by the US. Other major export markets include Switzerland, Germany, China, India, Russia and Eastern Europe.
In 1993, the Jewellers' Association of Australia (JAA) established a Certificate Trade Mark (the ‘Jewellery Mark’) for Australian jewellery manufacturers.
Products stamped with the JAA's Jewellery Mark must meet the JAA's strict guidelines and satisfy the Standards Association of Australia requirements.
International customers can be reassured that jewellery products stamped with a JAA mark meet the highest quality standards in the country.
Diamonds
The Argyle deposit in Western Australia’s Kimberley region contains a large proportion of the world's economic diamond resources. It has some of the highest diamond grades in the world and produces nearly twice the diamond output of any other country.
The Argyle deposit sells 100 per cent of its product direct to global markets. The best Argyle rough diamonds, including the renowned pink diamonds, are cut and polished at the Argyle Diamonds facility in Perth, Western Australia.
Opals
Australia produces around 95 per cent of the world's opals for use in the jewellery industry. The current Australian production figures for uncut opals vary between $100 million and $200 million. Australia's opal fields lie in Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia, along the site of the ancient Great Inland Sea.
White or Milky opal is found in South Australia, while Black opal is found in Lightning Ridge, NSW, and Boulder opal is found in Queensland. The major markets for opals are Japan, USA, Germany, Hong Kong and New Zealand.
Sapphires
Australia is a major producer of quality sapphires and supplies a wide range of sizes to global markets. The commercial mining of sapphires takes place at two major fields - the Anakie field in Queensland and the New England field in New South Wales.
Commercial blue stone is mainly sold under contract for export to Thailand for processing, which includes heat treatment and cutting. The smaller size stone
is cut into calibrated sizes for use in the mass jewellery market.
The best quality sapphires are supplied mainly to niche markets in Europe and the US, as well as the domestic jewellery trade and tourist market.
Pearls
Australia is the world’s largest producer of white South Sea pearls – cultured pearls of more than 10mm in diameter that have been grown in the famous gold or silver-lip pearl oyster Pinctada Maxima.
Australian white South Sea pearls have an average diameter of 12-14mm but may reach an exceptional 20mm. Australia’s South Sea cultured pearl industry also produces half-pearls and a range of designer-ready ’keshi’ pearls. Pearl production mainly takes place in Western Australia, Queensland (including spat hatcheries at Albany Island, Turtle Head, and Fitzroy Islands) and the Coburg Peninsula in the Northern Territory. Pearl cultivation also occurs in Darwin and Bynoe Harbours.
Thanks to Austrade, Kim McClintock has seen her New South Wales-based jewellery range take global markets by storm.
Austrade’s Corporate Partnership Program helped the first time exporter establish her business in the competitive overseas jewellery markets and now her label ‘Ghost and Lola’ has been signed up for six seasons at Milan Fashion Week.
Her Milan debut has since prompted more orders from other high-profile jewellery markets such as Hong Kong and Kuwait.
(Sources: IBISWorld 2007, Gemmological Association of Australia)
For more information please visit:
www.jewelleryfair.com.au – Australian Jewellery Events
www.gem.org.au – Gemmological Association of Australia
www.ga.gov.au – Geoscience Australia
www.gemstone.org/index.html – ICA International Gemstone Association
www.investaustralia.gov.au – Invest – Australia
www.jaa.com.au/jaa/home.php – Jewellery Association of Australia |
