Arabian Pearls

[star47]

This website has been an incredible source of pearl knowledge. I'm amazed at how much information I've come across in the few days that I've come in as a new member. However, I don't think I've read anything or seen anyone ask/write about "Arabian Pearls"...natural pearls from the Persian Sea. Will any of our pearl experts share their knowledge of this type of pearl (as opposed to Akoyas, Tahitians...etc..). The website I stumbled on that sells this, custom made, puts a hefty price tag on orders (I think its Zhong's or Zhang's.com.

Thanks for sharing information!

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Star47,

What you call Arabian pearls are sold as Basra pearls in India and are natural pearls mostly from pinctada radiata although some other shells are also fished there. Nowadays, these "Arabian" pearls come from Bahrain although some radiatas are also being harvested in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Polynesia, East Africa, Indochina, and China. The Australian radiatas used to be famous for their color variety from baby pink to dark green but have recently been rebaptized to akoya (pinctada fucata martensii) or even pinctada imbricata (the Atlantic ordinary pinctada).

Zeide

 

[star47]

Arabian Pearls

As always, I sincerely appreciate your time and the wealth of knowledge you pearl experts are so willing to share!!!

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Star47
The pearl beds in the Persian Gulf are among the oldest and most prolific ever known, though they have been fairly retired for almost 100 years.

If you search the term "Bahraini pearls" on this site you will find a number of posts and pictures of my small collection of such.

Also the banks and museums in the Persian Gulf have unbeliievable collections- baskets and baskets (very large baskets) of pearls and lots of historic necklaces and there are some links and pictures of them also.

This truly is the mother lode of pearls.

 

[Rosomane]

Here's an article on Hyderabad that mentions Basra pearls (I found it Googling basra pearl):

http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199805/city.of.pearls.htm

 

[star47]

Bahraini Pearls

Bahraini Pearls

Hi Caitlin!

Thank you for the additional input on Arabian pearls. I did find the thread where you wrote your very poignant story of your grandfather, his pearls and stay in the ME and saw the picture you posted for readers to see/enjoy.. It actually took me back to my early days with a ME airline where I worked for 2 decades and managed to meet and make good Bahraini friends...ladies who adorned themselves with with beautiful pearl/gemstone jewelry.(Bahraini jewelry is still the most intricately beautiful of all ME jewelry designs!). It's proably safe to assume I saw those ladies actually wearing arabian/Bahraini pearls (as you describe them) as they claimed the were actually wearing family heirlooms...they were not that big, but beautiful and lustrous pearls!

Thank you for adding more valuable information into my growing cache of pearl knowledge!!!

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Rosomane
Here is another article from that Aramco magazine titled "servants of the pearl". I am going to list both of them in the Pearl books and resources forum. Thanks for the input.
https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1074&highlight=pearl+stories+persian+gulf

 

[star47]

Arabian/Basra/Bahraini Pearl

Arabian/Basra/Bahraini Pearl

Hi Rosomane,

Many thanks for the article on Hyderabad and Basra pearls!