Pearl Industry Shines in China
China has a long history of pearl culture. Records from early in the Song Dynasty tell of fishermen going to sea in search of pearls. With large inland lakes and surplus rural labor force, China is an ideal place for pearl cultivation. China's top-quality pearl is equal to the overseas salt-water pearl. Take Hepu pearl for example: it is a natural salt-water pearl raised in Beibu Bay of South China Sea. It ranks among the top three in the world and has a history of over 3,000 years. Hepu's White Dragon Pearl City, which was a city for the royal families to fish pearls in, has a history of over 2,000 years. It is the best zone for raising salt water pearls.
During 90's in last cutury, China, as the first country to develop cultured pearls, had been facing an awkward situation which still exists today to a certain degree. The production of china pearls dominates the world, but the share of production value is less than 10% of the world. The reasons are: Inappropriate policy barried the development of pearl export. Pearl jewelry design was too uncreative. No brand names for high quality.
With the global economic revival in the new century, the pearl demand is increasingly growing back. Globalization also has helped us introduce advanced production technology. The Chinese pearl jewelry industry has been in dramatic growth.
Chinese freshwater pearls are still considered as the best in their category. The Chinese freshwater pearl jewelry craft and design have also reached a world class level. Now our freshwater pearls are so much better in shape and size and have so much more color variety have earned a fame of "The Chinese freshwater pearl has become an entrenched alternative to the Japanese akoya pearl".
China never gave up promoting sea pearl development. Chinese pearl jewelry producers already recognized quality as the priority. Especially for pearls which are a kind of jewel that always relates to beauty, dignity and elegance. When facing so much international competition, they also realize the quality is not the only essential thing, but design is the factor that always gives the "first impression", which decides if the jewelry will attract consumers. Some creative designers even combine jade, a kind of Chinese traditional gemstone, with pearls, to reflect an old saying "pearl and jade---a perfect pair". Now, the Chinese pearl jewelry industry is facing a bright future. Chinese pearl quality is improving dramatically, and the price is relatively competitive. Globalization provides a good chance for China to enter the international market.