Photo: My translator and Brigitte! Excuse the photo...the only one I have!

The Pearl Eater: My Unforgettable Adventure in Shenzhen

How I ended up trading pearls in Cantonese!

A mission to Asia and an unexpected discovery

In 2007, while working as an industrial designer for a children's e-book company, I was sent to Hong Kong on a mission. The goal: to find new suppliers for those famous books that sing and make animal sounds. But this mission took me far beyond electronics trade shows... to an unexpected encounter with the world of beads.

Crossing the border from Hong Kong to China

Toward the end of my trip, I crossed the border into Shenzhen, China. There, I met a Cantonese-speaking Chinese interpreter who was tasked with helping me navigate a massive trade fair. We walked to our hotel, crossing a neighborhood with deserted streets and—I would later learn—infamous for its organ trafficking ring.

A man in a police uniform on a moped approached, trying to surround us. My translator, knowing the dangers of the area, told me to hold his hand and look down: "They like blue eyes, don't look at him." We eventually made it out, but that moment remains etched in my memory.

A magical encounter with the world of pearls

After this scare, the Shenzhen Trade Fair had a much more pleasant surprise in store for me. At the very back of the show, almost hidden, were booths filled with pearls—a pearly sea as far as the eye could see. I had never seen so many pearls of all sizes and colors!

The women who ran these kiosks had a very unique way of testing the authenticity of pearls: they bit into them! Intrigued, I learned that biting a pearl allowed you to detect its authenticity. A real pearl resists under the bite, while a fake one crumbles. That day, I tested and bargained for my first pearls... in Cantonese! My clumsy attempts provoked laughter and applause among the delighted merchants.

Return to Hong Kong and meeting the future

Back in Hong Kong, during dinner with a supplier from Taiwan, I recounted my adventure in Shenzhen. He was amazed, even furious, to learn that I had taken such a risk. During the meal, he took a strange device out of his pocket and showed us how he could slide his finger across a screen to scroll through images... and zoom in by spreading his fingers! This was in 2007, and without knowing it, I was seeing for the first time an iPhone prototype before its official release. He assured us that this device would change the world. He was right.

Pearls and Vox & Oz: a no-brainer

This trip left an indelible mark on me. I gave pearls to all the women in my family when I returned home, and today, with Vox & Oz , it was obvious that pearls had to be part of my collections. For me, they symbolize luck, femininity, and the precious adventure of life.

How to recognize a real pearl?

After my experience as a pearl eater, here are some tips to distinguish an authentic pearl:

The bite test is a classic technique for verifying the authenticity of a pearl. When you gently rub a genuine pearl between your teeth, you will feel a slightly gritty sensation, like the effect of very fine sandpaper. This texture comes from the overlapping layers of nacre that make up the pearl, giving that subtle "gritty" feeling under the tooth enamel.

In contrast, a fake pearl, often made of plastic or glass coated with a pearlescent coating, will have a perfectly smooth surface and will slide smoothly against your teeth. If you apply light pressure, a fake pearl may even show signs of chipping or wear, which betrays its artificial composition.

This sensory test is quick and effective, but it's best to do it carefully so as not to damage the pearl... or your teeth!

Why are pearls timeless?

Pearls have stood the test of time, symbolizing purity and elegance. They're perfect for special occasions as well as for a modern, minimalist look. At Vox & Oz , we've incorporated pearls into some of our creations, reinterpreting this classic with a contemporary twist.

Pearls at Vox & Oz

Our collection showcases pearls in innovative ways. With bold, modern designs, we're giving this precious stone a new lease on life, perfect for those who want to combine tradition with avant-garde style.

Have you ever tried the "pearl test"? Share your experience in the comments!