The best place to buy pearls in Beijing is the pearl market at Hong Qiao, located right outside the East gate of the Temple of Heaven. Hong Qiao is a multi-story building that sells everything, from Chinese arts and craft, ladies’ handbags, clothes and shoes, to most importantly, pearls. The entire third and fourth floor of Hong Qiao are devoted to pearls—freshwater, seawater, Tahitian, South Sea pearls—essentially every type of pearl grown under the sun, and then some. As you step onto the third floor, a cloud of whiteness immediately surrounds you. At first, all vendors appear identical, as do the pearls. But as you slowly wander down the stalls, you’ll soon settle down at a table, drawn in by the lustre or style of a particular necklace.
There are a few key things to keep in mind when buying pearls. First of all, lustre, lustre, lustre! No matter what kind of pearl, freshwater or seawater, lustre is the most important judging factor when buying good pearls. Lustre refers to the shine of the pearl, which also implies the thickness of the nacre underneath (pearl layer). The more lustrous the pearl, the better quality it is. When buying seawater pearls, lustre is extremely important because it indicates the thickness of the nacre. Continue reading