When visiting Beijing you must visit the Pearl Market. You will find jewelry made from every stone there is, but to the pearl hunter you will find amazing jewelry. I visited Beijing ten years ago and I will never forget the Pearl Market. Bring your gift list since you will be able to buy many different types of necklaces from many price ranges. Have fun with the vendors -- be sure to go to more than one stall before making your final decisions. If you are looking for some premium pearls you should ask the tour guides or friends which vendors are the most reputable. For premium pearl purchases you should be able to go up to their offices and look at several offereings.
Don't know much about pearls? Be sure to read up before you go. Here is some basic information to get your started.
How to tell the value of pearls
Pearls are valued on four different attributes: surface, shape, color and size.
Surface: The surface of each pearl appears to be smooth, but if you look at it closely natural and cultured pearls have irregular surfaces. Blemishes,disfiguring spots, bumps, or cracks on the surface of a pearl all take away from the pearl’s value. The cleaner the surface of the pearl,the more valuable.
Shape: Since pearls are not machine-made, but grown in nature it is very rare to find a perfectly round pearl. Therefore, the more symmetrical the shape, the more valuable the pearl is. Examples of the shapes are, round, pear, tear, oval, etc. Pearls of irregular size and shapes are termed as baroque.
Color: Cultured pearls come in a variety of colors from rose to black. While the color of a pearl is really a matter of the wearer's preference, usually rose or silver/white pearls tend to look best on fair skins while cream and gold toned pearls are flattering to darker complexions.
Size: Cultured pearls are measured by their diameter in millimeters. They can be smaller than one millimeter in the case of tiny seed pearls, or as large as twenty millimeters for a big south sea pearl. The larger the pearl, other factors being equal, the more valuable it will be. The average sized pearl sold today is between 7 and 7-1/2 millimeters.
Necklace Terminology
Choker: 14" to 15" in length. Should nestle around the base of the neck.
Princess: 18" in length. Halfway between the choker and the matinee length.
Matinee: 22" to 23" in length. Should fall to the top of the cleavage.
Opera: 30" to 36" in length. Should fall to the breast bone.
Rope: Anything longer than the opera length.
Dog collar: Multiple strands of pearls fitting closely around the neck.
Bib: Multiple strands of pearls, each shorter than the one below
nested together in one necklace.
Graduated: A necklace composed of pearls which taper down in size from the large ones in the center.
Uniform: A necklace which appears to be composed entirely of pearls of the same size, though there generally is a slight difference in size between the center and the end pearls for a more proportionate look.
PEARL CARE
Pearls can scratch, so store them where they won’t come against hard edges or against harder stones. Place them in a chamois bag or wrap them in tissue when putting them away.
Hair sprays, cosmetics, and perfumes are acid based and can harm your pearls. Put on pearls only after applying them.
Clean pearls with mild soap (not dish soap) and water. You can do this after each wearing to remove any traces of perfumes, hair sprays, or cosmetics.
Ordinary wear will weaken the threads the pearls are strung with. Be sure to get them restrung yearly if you wear them often.
