We found an Edison pearl necklace on Amazon for $69. But just from the photo, it’s hard to say if it’s actually good quality. In a small town in China, a nice Edison pearl costs around $20–$30. This amazing town produces 73% of the world’s freshwater pearls.
Let our sourcing agent Joe take you on a journey to Zhuji, a charming city in Zhejiang, China—the world’s largest freshwater pearl production area. The pearl industry is based in the 42-square-kilometer town of Shanxiawu.
Here, you can witness the entire journey of a pearl—from a baby oyster to its stunning, shiny final form.
Now, come along with Joe to dive deeper into the pearl industry at a local pearl farm. Pick oysters on the boat and open them up! Each oyster is just $5, but the pearls inside these “Blind Boxes” are totally random. The owner told us a customer found a pearl worth several hundred dollars just last week. So, excited by the possibilities, Joe spent a full day searching, picked two oysters, and hit the jackpot—a perfectly round Edison pearl and several baroque pearls.
Next up, Joe’s bringing this Edison pearl to the Zhuji Pearl Market to make a beautiful necklace for his wife. As the world’s largest pearl market, it covers over 1.2 million square meters and offers thousands of accessory options—like sterling silver, gold, and more. Here, you can dive into the full DIY experience: picking out pearl accessories, processing pearls, and packaging in a gift box. It’s a one-stop shop for creating your own unique DIY pearl jewelry.
After pearl grading, pearls not fit for jewelry are sold in bulk by pounds or made into pearl powder.
Beyond freshwater pearls, you’ll also find all kinds of saltwater options, like Akoya, Tahitian, South Sea, and Mabe—all at prices better than jewelry stores.
Joe’s necklace just came fresh out of the workshop. It looks just as exquisite as what you’d find in retail stores, but with all costs included, the price was only 10% of retail! Only here in Zhuji can you find pearl jewelry this stunning and budget-friendly.
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Subscribe to learn more about sourcing stories like this. We hope to inspire your product selection. Besides, we also share some of the best products we’ve customized, along with China sourcing tips, practical advice, and client case studies to help you navigate your entrepreneurial journey.
