Unique Designs acquires China Pearl, expands global pearl sourcing mix

The most immediate effect of Unique Designs’ purchase of China Pearl is not a new logo, but a tighter grip on pearl supply. By bringing Chinese freshwater, Japanese Akoya, white and golden South Sea, and Tahitian Black pearls into one distribution network, the Secaucus, New Jersey company can offer retailers a broader ladder of availability, from entry-level strands to the most difficult-to-match luxury goods.

Unique Designs announced on April 16, 2024 that it had acquired all the assets and business of China Pearl, the California-based distributor founded in 1983 by Harold Jabarian. China Pearl built its reputation with department stores, chain stores and independent retailers, and it also sold pearl jewelry under several brand labels, a reminder that in pearls presentation is part of the product, not an afterthought.

That matters because pearls are not interchangeable inventory. Freshwater goods can be replenished more easily than top-grade South Sea or Tahitian material, and Japanese Akoya depends on the kind of luster and roundness that make matching a strand or earring pair a precision exercise. With custom packaging and private-label services staying in house, Unique Designs can control not only sourcing but also the finish and consistency of the sale, which should help retailers protect margins and reduce mismatched lots.

Albert Franco said the acquisition would diversify Unique Designs’ jewelry offerings and move the company closer to being a one-stop supplier. That positioning is credible: Unique Designs already says it is the largest jewelry manufacturer in the United States and owns Mercury Ring and Tanya Creations. Folding China Pearl into that structure gives the company a wider span across price points, from Chinese freshwater pearls that anchor more accessible cases to South Sea and Tahitian black pearls, where color, size and surface quality drive far sharper premiums.

The sale also closed a difficult chapter for China Pearl’s parent, CPI Luxury Group, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2023. Harold Jabarian said he was pleased to see China Pearl move into the hands of a dynamic company like Unique Designs. For pearl buyers, the shift to watch is simple: steadier inventory, tighter matching and clearer grading could make the market easier to trust, but the most prized categories will still reward the sellers who can prove origin, luster and consistency strand by strand.