Just a short message for now. I've also just returned from Shanghai - for all kinds of shopping, not just pearl. I regret not going to the Hongqiao market earlier! It's a full-blown mall with almost everything you can imagine including imitation bags (not interested in those - they've got big posters banning specific brands and still the vendors from the previous Xiangyang market follow you around). The pearl wholesale area is on the second floor. The big players - Ling Ling, Ru Pei Pei are all there. I didn't have enough time or cash to go through all the stores, but I did browse about a third of them. Most had the generic stuff, some owners didn't even know about the nucleated freshwaters. I did make friends with a young pair of sisters who owned two shops there. The elder sister owns Lenny. She has a lot of nice costume jewellery from pearls to Swarovski crystal to ceramic and other semi-precious stones that were quite cheap. The designs were quite fashionable, a big leap from last year's and ebay's crop.
I snagged a 7-7.5 mm (supposedly 8 but I could tell it was smaller than Jeremy's strand) yikes exotic for RMB280 - the colors are not quite as saturated at Jeremy's, but I got a uniform colored strand and the luster was amazing. It's kind pinkish gold. Will have a better look in indirect light tomorrow. Not complaining for the price and a free 14K mini white gold ball clasp. I got her to pick out all the lustrous pearls from 3 different strands and put them together. I must be the most difficult customer ever. There wasn't enough to match a bracelet, which would've been nice.
I don't think I got an exceptionally good deal, but I did manage to get a 14 mm lavender freshwater round made into a solitaire with 14K white gold set with 0.04 carats of diamonds. The pearl quality is probably just AA - shape, color and luster are actually quite good, but with moderate surface blemishing. The chain, setting and pearl came up to RMB1800 in total. I think I was too soft on the bargaining.
I didn't get anything at Nanjing Rd's pearl city - too few stores and the stock was very limited. Yuyuan's pearl circle/village was a surprise. I got an AAA (at least that's what I think it is) 8-9 mm lavender strand with saturated coloration and excellent luster - almost exotic oil-slick like but not quite there. There wasn't enough good quality in the 9-10 mm. This cost me RMB1700 - I didn't even have to bargain. Wasn't quite that interested in buying, asking price was 2800, she cut it down to 1800, then added 120 for the clasp. When I wanted to walk away she just cut it down herself as there was just no business. I don't think I did too badly. It's not eggplant, but it's almost pure dark lavender. There's even one odd pearl which looks kinda reddish.
All strands/chains are 18" unless otherwise stated.
Photos and more detail tomorrow. Still hunting for that elusive cotton candy pink.
