"It is better to buy gold than gold"
Following the "golden fever",
Pearl prices have also skyrocketed.
Recently, the reporter visited Jinan brand jewelry stores, Shandong International Jewelry Exchange Center and other places, and found that the price of pearls has increased to varying degrees, whether retail or wholesale.
In addition to the popularity of offline purchases, online transactions are also lively, and pearl jewelry ranging from hundreds to thousands of yuan is delivered to countless people through the link in the live broadcast room. Pearls are no longer exclusive to mothers, but have become popular items that young people are also looking for.
One price per month
Freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls rose in unison
In a jewelry store in Jinan High-tech Wanda Plaza, jewelry sales Ms. Zhang said that since March this year, the price of pearls has increased by 30%-40%, and the pearl jewelry in the store has basically changed the price tag, "like some high-end products, such as Akoya pearl necklaces, from more than 9,000 directly to more than 15,000 yuan."
The reporter walked into the Shandong International Jewelry Exchange Center and saw that many jewelry stalls were placed with pearls of different quality and different points, made into necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches and other types of jewelry, with prices ranging from a few hundred yuan to several thousand yuan.
The price of saltwater pearls has soared, and the price of freshwater pearls has also been multiplied by the "rocket". "The wholesale price of a freshwater seedless pearl necklace, 2,000 yuan at the beginning of the year, rose to more than 4,000 yuan a month ago, and is now close to 5,000 yuan." When asked about the price comparison, a jewelry clerk said.
"The wholesale price of this millet bead necklace that young people like more now was 50 to 60 yuan a piece last year, and now we take the price to more than 100 yuan a piece." Ms. Hu, who has been engaged in the jewelry business for more than ten years, said that in addition to ordinary freshwater pearls, seawater pearls have also been rising in price since last year, among which Australian white pearls have risen significantly, and the price has soared to about 10 times the original price.
In the interview, the reporter found that although many consumers know that the price of pearls has been rising, they all said that the price has risen a bit outrageously. "In the past, it was only two hundred yuan to buy a bunch of ordinary freshwater pearls, but now you can't buy four hundred yuan." Ms. Liu, who is picking out jewelry necklaces, said the price she bought at the beginning of the year is no longer available.
"Pearl fever" has become a new trend
Young people flock to pearl buying circles
"It's better to match clothes and show temperament. Pearls are not as expensive as gold, and can be bought for a few hundred dollars. And customers are no longer of any age, with young girls making up the majority. ”
Regarding the reason for the explosion of pearls, the clerk of the jewelry store explained that many TV dramas and female stars are now wearing pearl jewelry. This year, the number of customers buying pearl jewelry has indeed increased significantly.
E-commerce platforms have also added a fire to the pearl boom, allowing pearls to come to more people's eyes.
"Slow hand can't grab" "Look at the point, what do you want" "Yes, this is a simple model, very versatile..." Search for keywords related to "pearls" on the video platform, thousands of anchors quickly introduce a variety of pearl jewelry in their hands, and interact with the audience in the comment area from time to time, even on weekday mornings, there are still more than 1,000 viewers in some live broadcast rooms snapping up pearls in front of the mobile phone screen.
Increased demand and reduced production
Become an important factor in the increase in the price of pearls
The biggest factor affecting commodity prices is market supply and demand, and pearls are no exception. But why is pearl's rise so "exaggerated"? At present, the scale of domestic pearl cultivation is the main reason for the soaring price of freshwater pearls. In addition, in recent years, seawater pollution and global warming are among the reasons.
Compared to the high market, pearl production is declining. According to data from the Zhejiang Pearl Industry Association, the national freshwater pearl production in 2020 was 1 million kilograms, which dropped to 800,000 kilograms in 2021 and about 700,000 kilograms in 2022, and the production is declining year by year.
Consumer demand has increased, but production has decreased, and prices have naturally risen.
During the visit, pearl merchants said that the saltwater pearls in their hands were still stockpiled before being discharged into the sea. "After this batch of goods is sold, the price is estimated to rise even more." Talking about the price trend of pearls in the future, many pearl merchants said that the price should rise again.
Source: Qilu Evening News