On March 20, 2026, GUILD Gem Laboratories (Zhuji) officially celebrated the grand reopening of its newly upgraded facility at B0419–B0421, East China International Jewelry City, Shanxiahu. Since the establishment of the Zhuji laboratory in 2023, GUILD has continued to deepen and expand its global brand strategy, steadily advancing its international market presence.
The grand opening ceremony kicked off with the dynamic Lion Dance. The lively lion appeared majestically to the music of "Dancing with Light and Shadow." Ms. Ruby Liu, President of GUILD Gem Laboratories, and Andrew Lucas, President of GUILD Institute of Gemology and a globally renowned gemologist, together performed the ceremonial touch to bring vitality and blessings to GUILD Gem Laboratories Zhuji through this cultural ritual.
Bilateral Empowerment: A Global Hub of Industrial ClustersThe total output value of the entire industrial chain in Shanxiahu, Zhuji has surpassed 50 billion RMB, making it a key center for pearl farming, processing, and trade in China and globally. This hub covers various sectors, including farming, processing, sales, and derivatives.
In recent years, Shanxiahu has enhanced its industrial competitiveness through technological innovation, brand building, and the expansion of cross-border e-commerce, leading the pearl industry toward international markets. By implementing the "Go Global" initiative and developing specialized policies, international platforms like Amazon and TikTok have been introduced, and enterprises have showcased their products at major global exhibitions in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Dubai.
This has guided companies to expand internationally, enlarging the market reach and influence. Producing high-quality freshwater pearls remains a key direction for the industry's future upgrades and development, and is a crucial step for us in competing in the global market.
Aligning with the Pearl Industry, Shaping a Bright Future
Since its establishment, GUILD has been deeply engaged in the industry for over 40 years. In the areas of colored gemstone, pearl, and jadeite identification and grading, we have been pioneers in technological innovation and standard setting across multiple fields. As the creators of the pearl quality standards, brands such as Aurora have become benchmarks for driving the quality upgrade of the freshwater pearl market and the industry. Moving forward, we will continue to promote deep cooperation and collaboration within the industry chain.
A Grand Opening to Celebrate, Pearls Shining Brightly for the FutureIn the festive and jubilant atmosphere, Ms. Ruby Liu Lihong, President of GUILD Gem Laboratories, Mr. Andrew Lucas, Presidentof GUILD Institute of Gemology, globally renowned field gemologist, Mr. He Tieyuan, Secretary-General of the Zhejiang Pearl Industry Association, Mr. Chen Bowan, Committee Member of Shanxiahu Town Party and Deputy Mayor of Zhuji, and Mr. He Jianliang, Chairman of East China International Jewelry City of Zhuji, together held the golden scissors. Amidst the attention of all, they officially cut the ribbon for GUILD Gem Laboratories Zhuji, marking the grand opening of the laboratory.
In Zhejiang, where the industrial cluster has rapidly developed, the Shanxiahu pearl industry has transformed into a nationally recognized pearl live-streaming e-commerce hub. Its primary platform, East China International Jewelry City, sends off buyers from across the country during the day and welcomes the "golden hours" of live-streaming sales at 8 PM.
This location not only brings together a full range of pearl products but also attracts consumer attention, turning traditional block economies into a driving force for the entire industry’s upgrade.
The contribution of every industry practitioner is key to the flourishing development of the pearl industry. At the opening ceremony of GUILD Gem Laboratories (Zhuji), GUILD Gem Laboratories, in partnership with GUILD Institute of Gemology, recognized and expressed gratitude to outstanding industry peers, awarding the "Pearl Industry Contributor" title and the "GUILD Institute of Gemology Pearl Authorized Teaching Base" plaque.
Pearl Grading Quality Standards Define the Direction for Market DevelopmentFinally, the event concluded with a tour led by Director Xu of the GUILD Gem Laboratories (Zhuji) gemologist team, where leaders visited the GUILD pearl testing process.
In the GUILD Pearl Grading System, pearl quality is primarily determined by size, shape, color (body color and overtones), luster, surface characteristic, and nacre thickness. The nacre thickness is measured using specialized instruments, such as X-ray microscopic equipment. The visit provided a clear understanding of the process behind the authoritative GUILD Pearl Testing Report.
The establishment and promotion of the pearl grading standards not only set a new benchmark for the industry but also provided consumers with more authoritative and credible quality assurance.
ConclusionThe grand opening of GUILD Gem Laboratories Zhuji marks a significant achievement in the deep integration of professional testing institutions with the core pearl industry cluster. It is also a vivid example of the collaborative efforts between government, enterprises, and research institutions to drive industrial development.
In the future, GUILD Gem Laboratories Zhuji will be based in Shanxiahu and rooted in East China International Jewelry City, focusing on professional testing technologies and scientific grading standards. It will deeply integrate into the development of the entire pearl industry chain, providing efficient, accurate testing services and professional support to the industry.
