SPOTLIGHT 市场聚焦 PEARL REPORT | 41 | 2025-2026 Trade activities at the China Pearls and Jewellery International City, Shanxiahu 山下湖华东国际珠宝城的商贸活动 He revealed that Chinese freshwater pearls are increasingly becoming more competitive due to improvements in quality while maintaining their affordability. For instance, he said the quality of rice pearls offered by his company is now on a par with that of Akoya pearls in terms of whiteness and lustre. Rice pearls, however, are more economical. “The freshwater pearl sector has made significant strides through years of research and development, but it will take time for people to fully grasp and appreciate the beauty of exceptional, better-quality freshwater pearls,” He remarked. Y&M Pearls, a vertically integrated company based in China involved in the manufacture, wholesale and retail of saltwater pearls as well as jewellery design, expanded its portfolio in 2025 to include top-notch freshwater pearls. The company unveiled two new high-quality freshwater pearl collections certified by the Japan Pearl Science Laboratory. “The Japan Pearl Science Laboratory specifically designated the names ‘Lunastra’ and ‘Splendora’ for our pearl offerings, marking a pivotal milestone in establishing Chinese freshwater pearls as premium-quality products with international recognition,” said Y&M Pearls Chairman Ye XiaoBo. The “Lunastra” pearl is certified as the “best gem-grade (highest quality) freshwater pearl in white colour” while the “Splendora” designation pertains to the company’s topquality white and coloured freshwater pearls. Pearl grading was based on five key criteria: Lustre, thickness of pearl layers, body colour, imperfection, and surface and shape. According to Ye, the certifications are expected to elevate the market’s perception of Chinese freshwater pearls, which are generally seen as low-quality and inexpensive. Certifications can also assure the authenticity and quality of the cultured freshwater pearls, free from fluorescent brightening agents. Necklaces in the collections feature a custom NFC chip embedded in the clasp. By tapping an NFC-enabled smartphone, users can instantly access detailed product information stored on the chip, including the pearls’ name, size, weight, grade and certificate number. “We developed this traceability system to prevent counterfeiting and enhance the traceability of our product,” Ye explained. “These freshwater pearls, graded by the Japan Pearl Science Laboratory and equipped with traceability features, truly epitomise the exquisite nature of Chinese freshwater pearls.” Prioritising quality According to Ruby Liu, president of Guild Gem Laboratories, the Chinese market is seeing increased consumer demand for higher-quality saltwater and freshwater pearls in recent years. This is mainly driven by the growing middle-class segment as well as rising awareness and knowledge of pearls in the market. “These consumers are increasingly taking into consideration the quality of the pearls that they purchase,” explained Liu. There is also mounting requests for certification of loose pearls and pearl jewellery from both Chinese companies and individual buyers. Data from Guild Gem Laboratories likewise showed a notable uptick in the share of white freshwater pearls bearing the so-called “Aurora” grade in the mid- to high-end pearl jewellery market. This indicates a growing desire for higher-quality pearls, she added. According to Guild Gem Laboratories’ pearl-grading standard, the term “Aurora” refers to the highest-quality freshwater pearl in white colour. Liu, meanwhile, pointed out a certain stereotype regarding freshwater pearls, which are often perceived as being inferior in quality compared to other cultured pearls. This stemmed from the fact that top-range freshwater pearls are often sold with average or even “very poor-quality pearls,” which does not help freshwater pearls’ reputation. “A pearl-grading standard enables consumers to have a clearer understanding of the quality of pearls and assists upstream merchants to better classify the pearls and accurately reflect their true value,” said Liu. Growth prospects Industry stakeholders participating in the 2025 Shanxiahu World Pearl Congress in May highlighted the importance of boosting Chinese freshwater pearls’ visibility around the world. Hence, expanding to overseas markets is a key growth strategy.
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