Persian Gulf Pearls and Authentic Certificates

[Donzi32]

Hi Caitlin I spent the morning in the Gold souk with limited success in regards to finding a dedicated Natural pearl sellers - all shops had dribs and drabs.

But I did uncover something very interesting called Cultured UAE Pearls - off the shores of Ras al Khaimah, tens of thousands of pearls now grow in a farm near the village of al Rams. Apparently in 2004,Ras al Khaimah established the Emirates and Japan Pearl Cultivation and Trading Company to culture RAK peals in the Gulf. http://www.rakpearls.com/aboutus.html
I spoke to them on the phone just now and they have an interesting museum for pearls as well but unfortunately closed for Ramadan. I'll definietly try and get up there to their shop and look around in the near future as sounds like an interesting proposal.

Now the question is if I buy any clearly, as per your previous posts, I can't be posting the pic's in this thread

Best wishes

 

[Donzi32]

Liali Bahrain pearls - bracelet

Liali Bahrain pearls - bracelet

As promised I went down to Liali jewellers in Mercato Mall, Dubai to see the one remaining Bahraini pearl bracelet they had.
Apologies as the photos are low quality taken with my Blackberry but found it an interesting natural Gulf pearl piece.
Piece was 8" / 20.4cm long and made from 21ct Italian gold. You'll notice the style of the gold design is very typical to Middle Eastern consumers i.e. local EMARITIS and NRI's (Non Resident Indians who invest heavily in gold).
Price wise this piece was approx. USD$700.
Personally I was disappointed as I thought this piece was going to be lovely strand of 70-80 4mm - 5mm pearls (similar to what Kari has on her site with natural Gulf pearls).
Interesting piece all the same as Liali are currently, to my knowledge, one of the only Middle Eastern jewellers selling Bahrain naturals in their pieces.

 

[Caitlin]

That is all seed pearls? Interesting. Well you seem to be on the trail- I wish you luck!

Please post natural pearls in this thread and cultured pearls in "Show us your Pearls".

I am very interested in the cultured Gulf pearls! Have they come on the market yet? If so, where? I assume they are the local pinctada radiatas and not the p. fucatas of Japan, though I have heard they could be called the same species....

I have not heard of them before, but now that they are on my radar, I will continue to follow up. I hope they are successful!

Thank you SO much for that piece of original information!!! I hope you will continue to look around and make inquiries- and report back to us! What is going on on the Gulf region is largely unknown to us, but hopefully, no more.

I actually think that cultured "Gulf Pearls" is a fantastic idea!

 

[Donzi32]

That's correct all seed pearls so not my cup of tea personally but very nice to see them for the first time (that was the first time I've actually held natural Gulf pearls).

My pleasure on sharing the information on RAK Cultured pearls and surprised word of them has not already spread internationally yet but I suppose that is a matter of time.

I contacted their Sales and Marketing Manager directly via email and phone and they are not currently available yet on the market - their aim is launch a "brand" first as a jewellery brand with Mouawad, which was founded in Beirut in 1890 - ((which in my view might be a shame as their pieces are for the super wealthy and therefore unrealistic and not focusing on the natural beauty that pearls have).

A brief extract from the founder of RAK Pearls LLC below:
Mr Al Suwadi of RAK Pearls LLC
"There are now a huge number of tourists visiting the UAE and there's a history of pearling in the region that people will want to hear about and buy the pearls," says Abdulla Rashed Al Suwaidi, the vice chairman and managing director of RAK Pearls Holding, which is now producing 40,000 pearls a year at its farm outside Ras Al Khaimah.
http://www.mouawad.com/celebrity/default.aspx

Mr Al Suwaidi signed an agreement this week with Mouawad, the jeweller behind the world's most expensive handbag, to exclusively use the pearls to design, create and sell jewellery around the world.

Mouawad, which was founded in Beirut in 1890, last week unveiled a diamond watch in Doha worth US$6.8 million (Dh24.9m) and has previously exhibited a $3.8m handbag, which made the record books.

The jeweller aims to make up to 12 pieces from RAK Pearls in its Dubai factory in the next few months, with each worth up to Dh1m.
It will then take the pieces to exhibits around the world, showcasing the RAK Pearls brand.

When I spoke to RAK Pearls directly:?We currently have a jewellery brand to launch soon and I am keen on having more details on what exactly you are looking for?.

My short term view is that I would love to get up to the farm there and see what loose pearls they have before they start producing them into outlandish million dollar jewellery pieces.

I'm hoping to get up there in the next few weeks (not this weekend as it's the EID holiday here so roads will be sluiced with suicide-spec drivers packed more than usual so staying away from all things four wheeled.)

I'm actually really excited about the pearl farm opening there and will make sure when I go I will get plenty of photos and share here with you all in the future. The long terms goal is make a brand of RAK pearls and get them known globally which makes sense with the historical connection to pearls here.

Pearl fever is about to reach new levels here in Dubai.

 

[Donzi32]

Some more information on Gulf cultured pearls:

? Nacre is about .04 ? 2mm

? Ratio: 1:1 for each oyster

? Size range: 2mm ? 11mm

 

[Amanda]

thanks, that's absolutely fascinating!

 

[Caitlin]

They sound better and better!!! That is good nacre thickness.

Although these posts should go in the "Cultured Pearls" forum, where they will reside with other misc kinds of pearls like the incomparable Sea of Cortez pearls, I am leaving them here to mark the Persians Gulf's transition to cultured pearls.

I do think these Gulf pearls can come in a broad range of colors, so these pearls will be in their own niche in the world of pearls. I can't thank you enough for discovering this outfit of Pearl Growers.

 

[Donzi32]

My pleasure Caitlin and I'm really hoping they live up to the expectations.

I spoke again to the Sales and Marketing Manager up in RAK there (there's 7 emirates in the UAE and RAK - roughly translated means "top of the tent" is the most Northern and about 2hrs from Dubai) and next steps are she will send me a few pictures of what she has and I if chose to buy she will come direct to Dubai to show me.

Sounds exciting. Let's hope so.

Ironically RAK has been known for another form of white shiny (though no where near as precious material) and it was http://www.rakporcelain.com/ that gave RAK it's commercial claim to fame. My view is to see if RAK Ceramics might have some interesting presentation plates to keep RAK pearls on/in - interesting combination - RAK pearls on RAK ceramics from...err RAK.

Thanks again for your support through this forum - as mentioned it was a Google search late one evening when looking for an original 60th birthday present from my mum to bring home, that brought me here and now heading down the pearl trail quite steadily along with the great advice and adventurism from all on this forum so much appreciated.

Once I get the pictures I'll make sure to post in Cultured Pearls section and look forward to hearing all feedback then.

Best wishes.

 

[Donzi32]

Oh and the only thing I forgot to mention is that the best pearls are already set aside for the Sheikh's here but will try and get those on camera too.

 

[Caitlin]

I can hardly wait!