With the international gold price trending upward, many gold shops in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen have seen a surge in sales of plain gold rings, leading to stock shortages. "Cost-effective" gold jewelry is more favored by consumers. A staff member from LAOPU GOLD in Guangzhou confirmed to reporters, "The rings have been out of stock for a while; they ran out just a few days after the international gold price increased." CHOW TAI FOOK's Beijing store is facing the same situation, with staff stating, "We don't have a complete range of sizes now; we currently have a size 24, but the others are gone." A staff member from CHOW TAI SENG's Shanghai store also mentioned that the largest plain gold ring available is only size 15 and admitted that they are unsure when the next batch of stock will arrive