Chinese pearls

Around 4000 years ago Chinese people discovered a most delicate gem which had brilliant shine, Pearl. China has the oldest pearl production tradition than anywhere in the world. It has been one of the important parts of Chinese culture.

Southern region of China has ideal breeding conditions so most of pearls produced in China come from southern part. 96% percent of peals in worldwide market are from China. China also exporting pearls to Japan and large quantity of Chinese pearls are used for Japanese pearl jewelry.

Pearl oyster require some unique living conditions like; diversity of water areas, less polluted river and sea water, cheap and rich feed for pearl oysters, compared to Japan there very few earthquake prone areas and most important very advanced pearl breeding techniques. China fulfills all these conditions very well.

Chinese pearls come in a wide range of lustrous iridescent colors ranging from white, cream, pale pink, purple, black and many more. Chinese Pearls are usually priced low mainly due to low pearl-breeding cost and low labor cost. Chinese people initiated nucleation of their freshwater pearls, which resulted into even round pearls. Rejected freshwater pearls are reshaped into spheres and those are used as nucleus.

Most pearls cultivated in China are freshwater pearls; these pearls are usually harvested from mollusk living in lakes and rivers. Their shapes can be anything from elongated, round, oval, potato, baroque and they have unusual milky translucent appearance. Few decades ago many Chinese people used to dye pearls to bright red, blue, yellow, lavender and black also. Now china offers a selection of beautiful natural colors.

Chinese Akoya pearls having size less than 8mm have better quality than Japanese Akoya pearls. Chinese pearls are nearly white or mottled are usually treated by bleaching agents or bright fluorescent lights and also heat treatment also used. Chinese pearls are as valuable as Japanese pearls. Click here for more information on pearls http://www.orientalpearls.net/freshwater_pearls.php