Why China Is the Next Big Market for Authentic Meteorites — And How to Be Ready
By: Founder of Oriental Meteorite, 20-Year Veteran in the Meteorite Industry
Fragments of the Cosmos, Treasures of Earth
Since ancient times, humanity has revered meteorites — the mysterious visitors from the stars. These celestial fragments, once roaming the vastness of space, have traveled billions of years before landing on Earth. Each meteorite carries within it the secrets of the solar system’s birth, making it one of the rarest and most awe-inspiring natural resources on the planet.
Magnificent 'Shenying' Iron Meteorite Spotted in China's Xinjiang! Uncanny resemblance to a soaring raptor caught mid-flight
The “Iron Cross Papal Ring” – Forged from Altay Meteorite & Sterling Silver】🌌 A Ring Born of Stars, Styled in Power.
Designed by Oriental Meteorite
From Scientific Curiosity to National Craze
While meteorite collecting became a regulated and respected practice in the West as early as the 1960s, China’s journey began more modestly — limited to research institutions, museums, and amateur astronomers. But everything changed in the 21st century.
Driven by massive achievements in China’s space programs — from Chang’e lunar missions to Zhurong on Mars and the Tiangong Space Station — public interest in "visitors from the stars" has exploded. Meteorite jewelry and collectibles, particularly iron meteorites and pallasites, have entered mainstream consciousness and consumer markets.
Basalt particles from the Chang'e-5 lunar soil sample. (Image provided by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
The Dark Side: Fake Meteorites and a Marketplace of Illusion
However, the booming demand has attracted a wave of counterfeits. From ultramafic rocks and volcanic glass to industrial slag, many sellers are disguising Earth materials as meteorites to unsuspecting buyers.
【Image: The Viral “Turpan Red Yiding Meteorite” from Xinjiang】
💎China’s “Cosmic Ruby” or Just a Pretty Rock in Disguise?
To make matters worse, some have developed entire pseudoscientific systems to justify their fakes — much like the Church’s elaborate defense of indulgences in the 16th century. In this chaotic market, knowledge is your only armor.
That’s why Oriental Meteorite has dedicated years to public education, product authentication, and building trust with a growing community of collectors and professionals.
A Turning Point: NGTC Meteorite Training and Scientific Exchange
From July 7 to 11, 2025, we participated in the "Meteorite Identification & Commerce" Training Program hosted by NGTC (National Gemstone Testing Center), China’s leading authority on gem and mineral testing.
There, we had the privilege of learning from Professor Xu Weibiao, a globally recognized planetary chemist who has:
- Earned a Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis (Planetary Chemistry)
- Worked at Caltech and returned to China as a chief researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Served as a member of the Meteorite Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society
- Led major studies on lunar, Martian, and asteroid meteorites
Professor Xu (center) and the staff of Oriental Meteorite
Under Professor Xu's guidance, we examined meteorite classification in depth — from famous types like Alin, Fukang, Esquel, Campo, to 8 major categories, 18 subtypes, and 88 specific varieties. We learned how to assess origin, composition, and pricing factors, training our commercial sensitivity and scientific literacy — both critical for sustainable business in this field.
China’s Meteorite Market: Quality Is Rising
Five years ago, only 20% of meteorites sold on Taobao were authentic. Today, thanks to efforts from science influencers, collectors, and institutions, that number has reached 40%.
This is a game-changer.
If your meteorites are real, there has never been a better time to enter the Chinese market.
We also visited a new meteorite museum near Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, where a massive 200kg Alin meteorite is on display. The story of a Fukang pallasite sold at the Tucson gem show reminded us that only capital and public awareness can bring rare cosmic treasures back into the spotlight.
A 49.6kg Alin Meteorite
Celestial Thumbprints（Regmaglypts）
Cosmic Sculptures
The Aesthetic Dilemma — and the Road Ahead
According to Mr. Shen Chonghui, a senior official at NGTC, meteorites still fall short in mass-market appeal:
“Unlike crystals or gems, meteorites look like bricks and rubble. They're hard to sell to consumers with high aesthetic expectations.”
Indeed, the median spending on crystal and gemstone jewelry in China is over ¥500. For meteorites to compete, we must reimagine them — not just as scientific specimens, but as meaningful, wearable, and mystical objects.
This is where our vision lies: developing new product lines that blend energy symbolism, space narrative, and modern design.
🌠【Image: “Fallen Star | 清明纪念陨石珠宝” – A Tribute from the Cosmos】
💫 When a star falls, a soul is remembered.
This concept piece from Oriental Meteorite uses authentic Gibeon or Muonionalusta meteorite, believed to have traveled billions of years before falling to Earth — now paired with a brilliant-cut diamond, symbolizing the starlight that once was.
Released in honor of Qingming Festival, China’s traditional day of remembrance (akin to All Souls’ Day or Halloween in the West), this wearable relic transforms grief into awe, and memory into matter.
Reconnecting with the Cosmos — Spiritually and Commercially
One unforgettable moment during the training was led by a classical philosophy teacher. Using a simple Libyan desert glass tektite, he guided participants to “connect with celestial energy.”
It wasn't pseudo-science — it was about rediscovering our spiritual relationship with the universe.
It reminded us of Isaac Newton’s final reflections:
“At the end of science, lies metaphysics.”
This moment sparked a wave of inspiration: meteorites are more than collectibles. They are bridges between Earth and the cosmos, between evidence and belief, between commodity and sacred relic.
Mystical Libyan Desert Glass – Ancient Egyptian Secret from the Sahara
(Designed by Oriental Meteorite)
To All Fellow Star Chasers: The Time Is Now
Dear friends in the meteorite circle — we may be a niche community today, but the circle is growing. And the bigger it becomes, the more value flows to those of us who built it from the start.
We invite you to share your thoughts, concepts, and visions in the comments.
Let’s co-create a new era of meteorite commerce — one built on truth, beauty, and cosmic wonder.
Thank you for supporting Oriental Meteorite. We will continue to develop meaningful products, educate our audience, and bring the stars closer to Earth — one authentic meteorite at a time.
We gaze at the stars, but our feet remain on solid ground.
The future is written in stone — cosmic stone.