Chinese Pearls Take Center Stage

When you think of a string of pearls, you probably picture a beautiful strand of Japanese akoyas, which most traditional necklaces are made from.

But did you know that China's pearls now rival those that come out of Japan in terms of quality, beauty and luminosity? It's true, thanks to improvements in culturing techniques; and thanks to relatively inexpensive labor, the gems are also a bargain.

According to Royston Chan, reporting in Reuters, the eastern city of Zhuji, China is turning into a global trading hub for freshwater pearls. That's because the rivers and ponds of Zhujo are protected from agricultural and industrial wastes that affect much of China's other waterways.

China's success has pulled global pearl prices to records lows, Chan writes, while making them more affordable for average consumers.

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