Beijing Bling: Stay Iced Out Year-round

Beijing’s jewelers have much to offer – pearls, jade, gold and silver, and precious gems including crystal, emerald, coral and diamonds. Prices range from a couple of kuai to the tens of thousands, so be ready to bargain hard for that special something for that special someone.

Beijing International Jewelry Exchange Center
Consists of 300 shops occupying over 10,000 square meters of retail space selling everything from crystal and white jade to gems and pearls.
Daily 9am-7pm. 2 Huixin Dongjie, Chaoyang District. (8464 6745, 8464 6707) www.bje.com.cn 北京国际珠宝交易中心, 朝阳区惠新东街2号

Beijing Fine Jewelers
Specialists in making jewelry to order, using all types of precious stones, set in gold or silver. Repair and duplicates are also available.
Daily 8.30am-9.30pm. Bldg 3, China View, 2C Gongti Donglu, Chaoyang District. (6592 7466, 6501 8046) 北京大方元珠宝行, 朝阳区工体东路丙2号红街大厦3号楼

Cool Jade Jewelry Studio
Sells beautiful jewelry as well as second-hand pearls, handbags and hip home wares produced by the owner. Accepts custom orders.
Daily 1pm-8pm. 2 Dashibei Hutong (near Yandai Xiejie), Xicheng District. (132 4198 9177) 翡冷翠, 西城区大石碑胡同2号(烟袋斜街附近)

Friend
Run by a vivacious, amiable woman, this shop sells funky footwear and beautiful, reasonably-priced silver jewelry handmade in Beijing.
Daily noon-late. 12 Yandai Xiejie, Houhai, Xicheng District. (6401 1836, 139 1060 1511) 朋源, 西城区后海烟袋斜街12号

Nicolas Favard
Jeweler Nicolas Favard’s space in Sanlitun showcases his chic, avant-garde creations. Drop by and pick up whatever takes your fancy, or arrange a visit when Favard himself is in the store.
Daily 11.30am-7pm. A303B, 3/F, South Bldg, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Beilu, Chaoyang Dis¬trict. (5208 6020) www.nicolasfavard.com 朝阳区三里屯北路81号那里花园南楼3层A308B

Pearl Market
The largest of its kind in Asia, the Hongqiao market is the mother of all pearl markets, located east of the Temple of Heaven. Stall after stall span three floors and sell pearls, jade, jewelry, arts and crafts, antiques and clothing. Prices for pearls range for under RMB 100 (third floor) to RMB 1 million (fourth and fifth floors).
Daily 8.30am-7pm. 3/F Hongqiao Market, Tiantan Donglu, Chongwen District. (6713 3354) 珍珠市场, 崇文区天坛东路红桥市场3层

Qeelin
The only Chinese luxury jewelry brand with an international reputation has opened a small boutique in the deluxe Park Hyatt Hotel.
Daily 10am-9.30pm. Store 224, 2/F, Park Hyatt, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (8517 1153) 朝阳区建国门外大街2号银泰中心224店

Shard Box
Specialty jewelry boxes are the centerpiece of this store, where craftsmen take porcelain fragments – many from vases smashed during the Cultural Revolution – and affix them to wooden, silver and ivory boxes ranging in price from RMB 20 for a ring-sized container, to large chests for RMB 2,000.
Daily 9am-7pm. 1) 1 Ritan Beilu, Chaoyang District. (8561 3712); 2) 2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District. (5135 7638) 承乾阁, 1) 朝阳区日坛北路1号; 2) 朝阳区将台路2 号海润国际公寓商务4A座

Things of the Jing
Gabrielle Harris designs and makes her own Beijing-inspired silver jewelry at her two stores.
1) Daily 9am-2am. The Bookworm, Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District. (6586 9507); 2) Tue-Sun noon-9pm. The Orchard, From Jingshun Lu, exit at Sunhe Market (call for directions), Shunyi District. (6433 6270) 西东之东西, 1) 朝阳区工体北路4号院(在书虫书吧内); 2) 顺义区京顺路孙河市场出口,在果园饭店内(建议给餐馆打电话问详细地址)

Treasure House
The loot here includes jewelry made of gold, silver, pearls and various gems. Original pieces, custom designs and reproductions available.
Daily 10am-7pm. 1 Sanlitun Beixiaojie, Chaoyang District. (8451 6096, 139 1055 5372) 宝月斋珠宝店, 朝阳区三里屯北小街1号

tt creation
tt creation crystal jewelry combines the quality, beauty and uniqueness of pure crystal with materials like silver and Oriental woven threads. The style and setting of each piece of crystal is dependent on the original character of each individual stone. Every item of jewelry is individually handcrafted, and prices vary according to the individual stone and techniques involved.
Daily 10am-10.30pm. 216, 1/F, Lido Place, Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District (8456 2889) 朝阳区将台路丽都广场1楼216号

Yangrou Hutong
Almost every jewelry store on the eastern half of this hutong specializes in jade – both carv¬ings and set jewels – that are distinctly Chinese and very well-crafted. The Chinese Geological Museum at the east end of the street provides certificates of authentication for any piece you purchase.
Yangrou Hutong, Xicheng District. 羊肉胡同, 西城区羊肉胡同

Yinshu Jewelry Studio
Boldly distinctive designs incorporate silver, semi-precious stones, shells and even plastic.
Daily 10.30am-6.30pm. Next to the Hart Art Salon, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (6437 3432) 银殊首饰, 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号,哈特艺术沙龙旁边