Manufacturing district
Wuzhou synthetic gem cutting
Wuzhou, China
A city in Guangxi that grew, over four decades, into a major centre for cutting laboratory-made and imitation stones for the fashion jewellery trade. Useful to know when checking where calibrated synthetic stones come from.
Wuzhou, in Guangxi near the Guangdong border, has grown over four decades into one of the world's main centres for cutting laboratory-made and imitation stones. Much of the cubic zirconia used in fashion jewellery worldwide is cut here.
What you find
Cutting factories for cubic zirconia, synthetic corundum and spinel, laboratory-grown stones and glass, from tiny calibrated stones to larger sizes; a gem market and trading companies.
How it works
Stones are sold in calibrated parcels to jewellery makers worldwide. Wuzhou is a manufacturing and trading centre rather than a destination for visitors.
Why it matters
Knowing where calibrated synthetic stones come from helps when checking parcels: synthetic and imitation stones must always be disclosed when sold.
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