Before 1990, China has been accused of weakening the market with poor quality gems. Over the past twenty years, China started large-scale business processes and invests heavily in research and development to remove the pearl-related diseases. As a result, China now makes better quality pearls at affordable prices, reviving the market competitors. High-end manufacturers in China are known for breeding and making freshwater pearl jewellery with more automated processes, allowing them to produce their pearl jewellery at much lower prices.

Although freshwater pearls from China are not the same as the salt forms, they are certainly more affordable to the average consumer. The price difference reflects the differences in color and luster between saltwater pearls and freshwater pearls. It is easy for a jeweler to identify these differences by comparing the fresh water pearl with saltwater pearl.

A white South Sea Pearl is shiny silver-white, while a similar-sized freshwater pearl is a little pinky or creamy. This is largely due to the species of mussels used. Freshwater mussels are generally pinkish or orangy, resulting in less white pearls. But pearl necklace with freshwater pearls cost so much less than South Sea pearl necklace, or Tahitian pearl necklace, sometimes about 10 times less or more.

Pricing aside, freshwater pearls are of solid nacre, which makes them very hard-wearing, resistance to chipping, and degeneration of normal wear.

Therefore, using freshwater pearls from China to make pearl jewellery are becoming more affordable for working women without compromising on quality. In short, China has been to refine their farming techniques to improve the quality of pearls, reducing the differences between saltwater pearls and freshwater pearls. In China, some farmers invent pearl with tone and shine that can compete with their counterparts in saline.