checked by simon 19\/10\/01<\/p>\n
WTC tragedy affects jewelry business in Bali<\/p>\n
Rita A. Widiadana,
\nI Wayan Juniartha<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nDenpasar<\/p>\n
There has never been a slower period for Bali's jewelry
\nindustry than today, following the World Trade Center tragedy
\nlast month and the U.S -led strikes against Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Like it or not, the tragedy, which has paralyzed the global
\ntravel industry, has had a tremendous impact on tourism in Bali.<\/p>\n
Runi Palar, the owner of Runa Silver and Gold Collections,
\nexplained that this is not a good period for the jewelry business
\nin Bali.<\/p>\n
\"Most jewelers here still rely on retail business, meaning
\nthat we still depend on domestic and foreign tourists as our
\nprimary market,\" noted Runi, who has been running the business
\nfor 25 years.<\/p>\n
Although exports of her jewelry collections to Japan have not
\nbeen affected by the slump in the tourism industry, her outlets
\nin Bali and other cities in the country have started to feel the
\npinch.<\/p>\n
\"Local sales have started to decline,\" Runi, who has just
\narrived from a business trip to Japan, said in her gallery in
\nUbud, a village famous for its art, around 20 kilometers south of
\nDenpasar.<\/p>\n
The United States has warned its citizens not to visit
\nIndonesia due to mounting anti-America protests in the country.
\nSeveral countries in Europe and Japan have also issued similar
\nwarnings, fearing that the backlash against the U.S. would also
\naffect their citizens.<\/p>\n
\"We also faced a similar situation during the Gulf War in l991
\nbut we survived. I hope the situation improves next year,\" Runi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Suratni, the owner and designer of Suardhana Gold and Silver
\nGallery in Celuk, Gianyar, said, \"I have no idea what will happen
\nto our business because of this situation.\"<\/p>\n
Suratni acknowledged that her jewelry exports to the United
\nStates and Japan had fallen dramatically in the last few months.<\/p>\n
\"We used to export mostly silver jewelry in the form of
\nnecklaces, bracelets, rings and other items to the United States,
\nEurope and Japan. But now, our exports have dropped to almost 75
\npercent,\" Suratni explained.<\/p>\n
Most jewelers in Bali, particularly silversmiths, target
\nforeign markets. Some jewelers have already established a strong
\noverseas marketing network.<\/p>\n
Suratni said her company, which she established in 1979,
\nexports about 70 percent of its jewelry products and sells the
\nother 30 percent in the domestic market.<\/p>\n
Local people prefer gold jewelry, while silver items are much
\nmore popular with international buyers.<\/p>\n
\"The Balinese people like gold jewelry which are collectible
\nand financially liquid,\" Suratni smiled. All of that jewelry will
\nbe kept as family heritage.<\/p>\n
For most Balinese, women in particular, wearing and possessing
\ngold and gem-studded jewelry expresses personal and family pride.
\nJewelry is essential for their daily activities, especially
\nduring religious and traditional ceremonies. Both young and adult
\nwomen are adorned with gold jewelry and intricate woven textiles
\nfrom head to toe. Instruments used in ceremonies are made from
\nsilver and gold.<\/p>\n
In Bali, she said, silver and gold jewelry were traditionally
\ncrafted by a clan of goldsmiths and silversmiths, called the
\nPande Bratan. They used to create weapons for the royal families
\nlike kris (daggers) adorned with gold and beautiful gemstones,
\nand a myriad of ceremonial instruments.<\/p>\n
As time passed, descendants who inherited their craftsmanship
\ncontinued the trade and expanded into making jewelry, both for
\nlocal and foreign customers.<\/p>\n
\"The businesses of silversmiths and goldsmiths here in Celuk
\nhave been operating since their great grandfathers,\" added
\nSuratni.<\/p>\n
Located in Batu Bulan, Gianyar Regency, Celuk has long been
\nrenowned as being Bali's major gold and silver product area.
\nDozens of companies have factories and outlets here offering
\nprimitive, classical and contemporary gold and silver jewelry.<\/p>\n
One of the big names is Suarti Collections, owned by the
\nenergetic and innovative jeweler Desak Nyoman Suarti, whose
\ncollections are available in many luxury boutiques and jewelry
\nshops.<\/p>\n
Suarti, who exported around 12 tons of silver jewelry and
\nsilverware to the United States, Britain and Japan last year,
\nsaid that the ongoing economic crisis and the U.S. strikes on
\nAfghanistan have not yet affected her business.<\/p>\n
\"The market for my jewelry in overseas countries is wealthy
\nclients and we already have strong networks there,\" Suarti said.<\/p>\n
In the United States alone, she said, around 70 percent of
\nSuarti Collection products were sold through TV home shopping
\nnetworks, while the remaining 30 percent was sold through some
\n1,000 jewelry shops.<\/p>\n
She said silver jewelry had became popular among wealthy
\nforeigners.<\/p>\n
\"Caucasian and Japanese clients prefer silver jewelry and the
\nmarket has been very lucrative since l987,\" Suratni said.<\/p>\n
Budiarta Setia Utama, operations manager at Mario Silver in
\nKuta area, said that, despite the crisis, the jewelry business in
\nBali still had a prosperous future, provided that local players
\nunderstood the market and offered high-quality products.<\/p>\n
More importantly, the local jewelers should be able to meet
\nthe overseas buyers' tastes, which are different from one country
\nto another.<\/p>\n
American customers prefer intricate jewelry designs, while
\nEuropean clients prefer simple and chic designs combining Eastern
\nand Western elements.<\/p>\n
Runi said that design plays very important roles.<\/p>\n
\"Foreign buyers mainly like ethnic designs, but I usually
\nmodify it and blend it with contemporary touches.\"<\/p>",
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