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 negotiating 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 these famous books that sing and make animal sounds. But this mission took me far beyond electronics fairs... 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 China, in Shenzhen. There I met a Chinese interpreter who spoke Cantonese and was assigned to help me navigate a huge trade fair. We walked to our hotel, through a neighborhood with deserted streets and—I would later learn—notorious 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 escaped, 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 special way of testing the authenticity of pearls: they bit them! Intrigued, I learned that biting a pearl allowed you to detect its veracity. A real pearl resists under the tooth, while a fake one crumbles. That day, I tested and negotiated my first pearls... in Cantonese! My clumsy attempts provoked laughter and applause among the delighted merchants.

Back to Hong Kong and meeting the future

Back in Hong Kong, at a dinner with a supplier from Taiwan, I told my story in Shenzhen. He was stunned, even furious, that I had taken such a risk. During the meal, he pulled 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 unbeknownst to me, I was seeing a prototype iPhone for the first time before it was even officially released. He told us that this device would change the world. He was right.

Pearls and Vox & Oz: an obvious choice

This trip left an indelible mark on me. I gave pearls to all the women in my family when I returned, and today, with Vox & Oz , it was obvious that pearls had to be part of my collections. To 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:

1. The bite test : A real pearl resists under the tooth and has a granular texture, while a fake one crumbles.

2. Texture to the touch : Genuine pearls are never perfectly smooth, they have slight irregularities.

3. The Rubbing Test : Rub two pearls together, a fine powder will appear if they are real.

4. Natural Luster : A genuine pearl reflects light with depth, unlike plastic or glass imitations.

Why are pearls timeless?

Pearls have stood the test of time, symbolizing purity and elegance. They are perfect for special occasions but also for a modern and minimalist look. At Vox & Oz , we have incorporated pearls into some of our creations, reinterpreting this classic with a contemporary touch.

Pearls at Vox & Oz

Our collection showcases pearls in an innovative way. With modern and bold designs, we give this precious stone a new lease of life, perfect for those who want to combine tradition and avant-garde.

And you, have you ever tried the "pearl test"? Share your experience in the comments!