“The pearl is the queen of gems and the gem of queens.”
This saying often attributed to Grace Kelly stuck with me for years. While I have yet to verify if she really said that, I have seen numerous pictures of the late princess donning elegant pearl jewelry. In the Philippines, when pearls come into a conversation, the name that immediately comes to mind is Jennifer Tanpoco.
More than two decades of training abroad and pearl trading equipped Jenni with the technical know-how, skills, and expertise when it comes to pearls. Tagged as the Queen of Pearls in the Philippines, she excitedly unpacked her journey. Fresh from her stint in the Los Angeles Fashion Week, in partnership with Filipino designer Avel Bacudio, Jenni has big plans for the pearl industry not only in the Philippines but also around the globe.
A certified public accountant by profession, Jenni used to work as the country manager in a company owned by Robert Wan in 1998. Robert is internationally known as the Emperor of Tahitian Pearls, the type of pearls considered among the world’s finest gems. The pearl authority saw Jenni’s potential in pearl culture, so she became a trusted distributor of his brand. Jenni and her architect-entrepreneur husband Mark are two of the few pearl traders accredited by Robert Wan and have access to his pearl farms in Tahiti. It was Mark who brought up the idea of distributing Tahitian pearls in the Philippines and Robert instantly agreed.
Jaune Pearls was born in 2002 and the Tanpoco company joined the prestigious list of Robert’s collaborators – top jewelers and fashion designers like Dupont, Harry Winston, Tiffany & Co., Chaumet, Boucheron, Chanel, Jean Paul Gautier, Mikimoto, and Chow Ta Fook. As the pearls come raw from a private island in the French Polynesia, Jenni works on sorting and matching the pieces exclusively for her clients. The same high-quality pearls make it to Hollywood and are spotted being worn by celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Angelina Jolie, Paris Hilton, Keira Knightley, and Kris Jenner. “Pearls are very valuable. Harvesting can take three to ten years. To make a uniform strand in size and shape requires time and skills,” Jenni said.
“I am honored and humbled to have a full experience under Robert’s tutelage,” Jenni said, highlighting her longstanding friendship and business partnership with the Emperor of Pearls.
She continued, “Mark and I decided to market pearls not existing in the Philippines. Our product designs are rare and of high quality, making them exclusive pieces.”
In no time, more than twenty years ago, Jenni started becoming the trusted jeweler of society and entertainment A-listers. Socialites and celebrities flock to Jenni for unique and bespoke pieces. One of her pearl patrons is the Queen of All Media, Kris Aquino, who also lovingly gave her the nickname Jenni Pearls.
the world’s Emperor of Pearls Robert Wan
“In some parts of Asia, oysters are developed in laboratories. The color can be manipulated. What makes our pearls different is that we retain the original state. The luster and color are all-natural,” Jenni explained.
Displaying concern for sustainability and respect for the environment, she went in-depth, “The oyster is naturally abundant, naturally grown in the ocean.”
Jenni’s passion is overflowing and it is no surprise she was able to pass it on to her daughter, actress and recording artist Melizza Jimenez. It is quite fitting for Melizza to get involved as Jaune, the business brand, is her second name. An enchanting pearl color, jaune also means yellow in French.
Melizza, now being teased as the Pearl Princess-in-progress, is currently enrolled in Australia’s top media and communication university, ranking number one in Australia and 16th globally. She is working on a special project for next year, one she hopes will elevate pearl appreciation to greater heights. Actress Maika Rivera, Melizza’s older sister, is handling the brand’s public relations and marketing in foreign cities like New York and Los Angeles.
Melizza’s pearl expertise is backed by her years of exposure and training. She took a six-month online course and earned her pearl diploma from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and went to New York City to do hands-on work in a laboratory. Jenni earned the same diploma in 2015. The mother-and-daughter team also took a 10-day trip to Tahiti this year and trained under Robert Wan.
“Melizza knows how to turn pearls into a marketable state. She knows how to sort, grade, match, and design concepts,” Jenni added, further establishing Melizza’s credentials in handling the family business. “Robert Wan also approved of her being the ambassador of pearls for the youth.”
“Pearls are the only gems that come from a living organism,” Jenni emphasized. “They are like fingerprints and NFTs (nonfungible tokens), they are unique. If pearls have no luster, they have no value.” While they are rare and valuable, Jenni and Melizza hope to educate people that the gems are also for everyone and not exclusive to any gender.
“Jaune Pearls is not just about business but also maintaining and creating long-term relationships,” Melizza offered. Her mom added, “As a family, we find joy in our clients’ confidence and happiness.”
The Tanpocos are committed to giving their clients the best. As Jenni said, “Quality pearls are priceless.”
With a fresh lineup of plans, Jenni has so many things set to offer. Without a doubt, the world is her oyster.
Watch out for Jaune Pearls in 2023. Visit jaunepearls.com for updates and more information.