Hainan oysters yield lustrous pearls

Gu Zhifeng, a professor at Hainan University, has been researching Pinctada maxima for over a decade. He explained that the artificial breeding of these oysters is a complex process that takes at least three years before they can produce pearls.

"From the moment the oysters are just 2 mm in shell height, we conduct various experiments on feeding and water quality," Gu said, adding that research and experimentation on breeding methods are still ongoing.

"Currently, the Pinctada maxima oysters cultivated in this water area are thriving, with most growing from 8 centimeters to over 14 cm in shell height," an on-site staff member said. "The pearls they produce come in two colors — white and gold — and the largest pearl has reached a diameter of 14.04 mm."

The Hainan pearl market reflects the booming growth of China's pearl industry.

In 2023, China's pearl market sales hit 35 billion yuan ($4.88 billion), up 45.83 percent year-on-year. Over the past five years, the market has sustained robust growth, averaging an annual increase of 18.09 percent, according to a report released by the Gems and Jewelry Trade Association of China.

XINHUA