I recently got back from a trip to Shanghai where I did some pearl shopping, and this forum was so helpful I thought I'd post some updated info as most of the other threads were at least a few years old.
I went to the Hongqiao Jewelry City market at 3721 Hongmei Road just after 10AM on a Monday. Only about one in three of the shops were open, I guess partly because it was early and partly because it was a weekday. But Ling Ling's was open so I was happy! I had a browse in the other shop windows and stalls on the way there to see what was around, but ultimately the recommendations from this forum and the stock Ling Ling had on display meant I was happy to stop at their shop.
There were two staff in the shop and they were very accommodating, bringing out multiple ropes of different pearls for me to look at. I had really wanted a lavender string but unfortunately they didn't have any, the only lavender they had were earrings. So I looked over their white freshwater pearls instead - I'm definitely not an expert but they seemed good quality and very lustrous. The larger sizes (+8.0 mm) did have more blemishes and scratches, but the smaller sizes were better.
I wanted a 6.0-6.5 mm strand for my sister's birthday and also a 4.5-5.0 mm strand for myself for everyday wear. After looking through their stock and picking out the two I wanted, the staff initially quoted me 1500 RMB (€192) for the 6.0-6.5 mm and 450 RMB (€57) for the 4.5-5.0 mm. After some good-natured bargaining, we settled on 1000 RMB (€128) for both, including the gold-plated clasps and a few extra pearls to lengthen each strand. I was happy with the price and the quality, although I would have preferred the solid gold clasps the price was much higher and the staff weren't willing to negotiate on the gold price as much as the pearls, understandably.
You can see the strands in the pictures below: the 4.5-5.0 mm, 6.0-6.5 mm, and then an 8.5-9.0 mm Freshadama strand from PP for comparison. I never noticed how creamy the PP strand was until seeing it next to the whiter new strands!
One thing I was wondering - is it normal not to knot between the pearls for the smaller sizes? Ling Ling only knotted between the pearls at the end of the 6.0-6.5 mm strand, but should I get them both restrung with knots to prevent the pearls rubbing against each other?
I went to the Hongqiao Jewelry City market at 3721 Hongmei Road just after 10AM on a Monday. Only about one in three of the shops were open, I guess partly because it was early and partly because it was a weekday. But Ling Ling's was open so I was happy! I had a browse in the other shop windows and stalls on the way there to see what was around, but ultimately the recommendations from this forum and the stock Ling Ling had on display meant I was happy to stop at their shop.
There were two staff in the shop and they were very accommodating, bringing out multiple ropes of different pearls for me to look at. I had really wanted a lavender string but unfortunately they didn't have any, the only lavender they had were earrings. So I looked over their white freshwater pearls instead - I'm definitely not an expert but they seemed good quality and very lustrous. The larger sizes (+8.0 mm) did have more blemishes and scratches, but the smaller sizes were better.
I wanted a 6.0-6.5 mm strand for my sister's birthday and also a 4.5-5.0 mm strand for myself for everyday wear. After looking through their stock and picking out the two I wanted, the staff initially quoted me 1500 RMB (€192) for the 6.0-6.5 mm and 450 RMB (€57) for the 4.5-5.0 mm. After some good-natured bargaining, we settled on 1000 RMB (€128) for both, including the gold-plated clasps and a few extra pearls to lengthen each strand. I was happy with the price and the quality, although I would have preferred the solid gold clasps the price was much higher and the staff weren't willing to negotiate on the gold price as much as the pearls, understandably.
You can see the strands in the pictures below: the 4.5-5.0 mm, 6.0-6.5 mm, and then an 8.5-9.0 mm Freshadama strand from PP for comparison. I never noticed how creamy the PP strand was until seeing it next to the whiter new strands!
One thing I was wondering - is it normal not to knot between the pearls for the smaller sizes? Ling Ling only knotted between the pearls at the end of the 6.0-6.5 mm strand, but should I get them both restrung with knots to prevent the pearls rubbing against each other?
