On March 18, Hisano will sit down live with Anil Maloo, founder of Baggins, Inc., for a conversation about a lifetime in the pearl trade.
Anil is a third-generation pearl jeweler whose family roots trace back to Kobe in 1957. From the diamond cutting houses of Bombay to pearl trading in Japan, from helping establish farms in Vietnam to earning his Graduate Jeweler Gemologist credential from the Gemological Institute of America, his career spans continents and every level of the business. Today, Baggins is one of the largest and most respected wholesale pearl houses in the United States, supplying retailers nationwide as a strictly B2B operation.
Anil’s experience is not theoretical. He has graded pearls in Japan, worked directly on farms in Vietnam, and exhibited at major U.S. trade shows for nearly two decades, including JCK Las Vegas and the Tucson Gem Show. His family operates two pearl farms in Vietnam, one near Halong Bay and another near Nha Trang, which he helped establish. These farms produce the now well-known “baby akoya” pearls in the 2–6 mm range that have become increasingly important in contemporary design.
Anil previously served as President of the Cultured Pearl Association of America and remains deeply engaged in industry leadership conversations around supply issues and long-term sustainability. With a perspective that spans farming, sourcing, manufacturing, and high jewelry design, few wholesalers see the pearl world from farm to finished with the depth and continuity that he does.
Anil is not only a dealer. He is a designer whose work has earned five AGTA Spectrum Awards over three consecutive years. Three of his designs received Best Use of Pearls, and two of those pieces also earned First Place honors in Bridal and Evening Wear. He has also received awards from the CPAA International Pearl Design Competition and the Tahitian Pearl Trophy. His designs showcase a sophisticated integration of diamonds and pearls, careful graduation of color and scale, and thoughtful structural engineering that allows pearls to function within serious high jewelry.
During the livestream, Anil will personally present and discuss several of his award-winning creations, sharing the thinking behind them and what makes each piece technically and artistically distinctive.
Select pieces shown during the broadcast will be available at a special live-only price. They will not be added to Pearl Paradise as Second Chance items and will not remain publicly available after the event. The replay will also be taken down after 48 hours to protect Anil’s wholesale partners.
Join Us Live
March 18 at 3 pm Pacific
Live with Hisano and Anil Maloo
This conversation will go beyond product. It will explore heritage, farm realities, design evolution, market dynamics, and what it means to dedicate a lifetime to pearls.
If you appreciate the intersection of cultivation, craft, and commerce, this is one you will not want to miss.
