Editor’s Note
We report with sadness the passing of Bai Rufang, the celebrated “Pearl Queen” and founder of Fanghua Jewelry. Her contributions to pearl art and design were significant, and her legacy in the industry will be remembered. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and colleagues.
Bai Rufang, a renowned pearl art designer known as the “Pearl Queen” and founder of the Fanghua Jewelry brand at Beijing’s Hongqiao Market, passed away on April 23, 2025, at the age of 55, according to a report by The Paper on April 27.
Public records show that Bai Rufang started her business in Beijing in 1987 and began selling pearls at the Hongqiao Market in 1990. Over nearly 40 years in business, she dedicated herself to the pearl industry, earning widespread acclaim and the title “Pearl Queen.”
In 1987, unwilling to lead an ordinary life in her hometown, the 17-year-old Bai Rufang took a train north to Beijing with relatives, taking her first step into the wider world.
Upon arriving in Beijing, she rented a dilapidated, drafty bungalow without heating. To survive the harsh winters, she relied on sheer willpower. At that time,
In the 1980s, a street market was established along the wall of the Temple of Heaven Park. Bai Rufang rented a small counter there, specializing in selling pearls wholesale from her hometown, Wenling.
A pearl necklace sold for a few yuan, with a profit margin sometimes as low as a few cents. However, with her quick wit, hard work, and high-volume, low-margin strategy, Bai Rufang soon built a loyal customer base. Some foreign wholesalers even bought thousands or tens of thousands of pearl necklaces from her small counter at once.
In 1995, when the new Hongqiao Market building officially opened, street vendors moved indoors. Bai Rufang ended her small-time stall business by the temple wall and secured her own stall in what foreigners called the “Pearl Market.”
According to reports, Bai Rufang’s fame at the Hongqiao Market skyrocketed after she served former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
In 1995, during Thatcher’s visit to China, the embassy arranged for her to spend an hour visiting the internationally renowned “Pearl Market.”
When Thatcher arrived at her pearl counter, the 25-year-old Bai Rufang was not intimidated. She introduced herself gracefully: “I am a farmer’s child who came from the countryside to Beijing to sell jewelry.” Hearing this, Thatcher looked at her with an expression of disbelief.
However, when Bai Rufang began recommending Chinese pearl necklaces, progress seemed slow. She presented several necklaces, but Thatcher rejected them one by one. The “Iron Lady” said in an unmistakable tone, “No, I don’t like small pearls.”
As the atmosphere grew awkward, Bai Rufang had a quick idea and boldly said to Thatcher:
Bai Rufang’s words astonished everyone present.
But Bai Rufang had only one thought: she must introduce the best “Chinese gift” to Thatcher.
She deftly took out 10 strings of pearls of varying sizes and began weaving on the spot. With twists and turns, as the new piece—a mix of multiple pearl necklaces—took shape, Thatcher’s eyes widened, and she nodded frequently.
When the pearl necklace, symbolizing “perfection in every aspect,” was presented to Thatcher, she was delighted and immediately purchased it, along with several other necklaces.
Later, when Thatcher visited Beijing again, she specifically reserved lunchtime and requested that Bai Rufang bring pearl necklaces for her to choose from. The bond between the “Iron Lady” and “Madame Bai” over pearls became a much-told story.
In the store of the Fanghua Jewelry brand founded by Bai Rufang, the walls are covered with nostalgic group photos. Over the decades,
She became friends with former Finnish President Tarja Halonen. In 2010, her entire family was invited to Finland to have lunch with the former president’s family.
In May 2017,
During the 2022 Winter Olympics, she opened a pearl store at the Beijing Yanqi Lake International Convention Center,
During interviews, reporters were surprised to find that when facing customers from different countries, Bai Rufang could fluently switch between Chinese, English, and Italian to introduce products. “Many of our store assistants are graduates specifically recruited from foreign language schools,” she revealed with a smile. As her business expanded in recent years, the jewelry brand and services she founded have also continuously innovated and upgraded.
In the past, pearls in Bai Rufang’s store were most favored by foreign customers. She designed various bold and personalized products tailored to their preferences. Noticing an increasing number of domestic customers buying pearl jewelry in recent years, she has continuously developed new products to suit Chinese aesthetics, improved quality, and experimented with live-streaming sales, launching affordable, accessory-style jewelry priced around a hundred yuan suitable for a broader audience in her直播间. When facing customers of different nationalities, she always prioritizes recommending “Chinese gifts” made from distinctive Chinese freshwater pearls, hoping to use the small pearl as a window to spread Chinese culture, showcase China’s image, and tell China’s stories well.
