Beijing Fine Jewelers
A favorite in the expat community, this is the place to go if you’re looking for custom-made
jewelry. They’re happy to accommodate your own designs and even have knockoffs of
Tiffany and Cartier designs. It’s great for gold and silver jewelry, though the quality of
platinum is shaky.
Beijing Caishikou Department Store (Caibai Jewelry, Caibai shoushi, Caibai
gongsi,
Beijing’s largest gold jewelry retailer, Caishikou Department Store (Caibai Jewelry), has
been in the top gold sale spot for the past seventeen years. It is voted as one of Beijing
Top Ten Franchised Brands in 2007. Caibai Jewelery includes Gold, 99.9% Gold
Accessories, 99.9% Gold Ornaments, Gold bar, Platinum, Diamond, Jade, Gold and Silver
Coins and Badges, Beijing Olympic products, K-gold Accessories. Caibai is also the
concessionary retailer of Beijing Olympic souvenirs and gold coins.
Beijing Arts and Crafts Central Store (Gong Mei Dasha)
At this large jade store, you’re guaranteed to get teh real thing rather than the colored
glass you might find elsewhere. Bargain down to a third of the market price. Jewellery
(gold, silver, jade and pearl) is on the ground floor, with glass, paintings, calligraphy and
fans on the 2nd floor. You can find woodcarvings, cloisonné, lacquerware and silks on the
3rd floor and jade carvings on the 4th floor.
Hongqiao Pearl Market
Pears are one of the many item sold at this market. Also available are Cultural Revolution
kitsch, typical brand-name clothing, luggage, and watches. The Pearls are a big draw,
however, and are sold in every size, shape, and color, with a similarly vast range in price.
Yin Shu + EA West
Unique industrial-looking jewelry by artist Man Kaihui, this boutique also sells locally-
designed sweaters and dresses.
Hong Julie
For something more traditionally Chinese, beautifully crafted and made using the finest
materials, Julie designs and oversees a range of jewelery sold from her three outlets in
the city. Created with jade from the southern Yunan Province, turquoise from Hubei
Province, pearls and lapis lazuli and ranging from RMB500 to RMB 20,000, it’s the perfect
place to come for something special.
Shard Box Store (Shendege Gongyipin
The shard boxes-sposedly made from fragments of porcelain vessels smashed during
the Cultural Revolution – are gorgeous. Birds, trees,pining lovers, and dragons decorate
these affordable ceramic-and-metal containers. Most notably customers are former First
Lady Rosalyn Carter and Senator Hillary Clinton.