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Pearls For centuries Bahrain was the world’s main marketplace for natural pearls, and up until the 1930s the pearling industry was Bahrain’s main source of income. Because the country is an archipelago, Bahrain is surrounded by oyster banks and once ran half the pearl fishing fleets in the Gulf. In yesteryear, thousands of people lived off the pearl industry: sailors and divers, ship captains and merchants. Pearl fishermen would go out to sea four-month spell, usually from June to October, when the water was warm enough for the divers to work. The shells were opened the day after, because they were easier to open. When pearls were discovered, the men placed them between their toes until the captain collected them. These merchants were often from India, where many of Bahrain’s pearls were sold.
Until today, it is against the law to sell cultured pearls on Bahraini territory; the government forbids it. Bahrain’s natural pearls are still considered the finest in the world. Experts claim that they have a special luster and an exquisite range of colors. Bahraini pearl merchants proudly display them on ruby-red cloths to highlight their beauty; and many say it is no coincidence that the Bahrain state flag is red and pearl-white. |
In
1930, the value of natural pearls crashed with the arrival of
Japanese cultured pearls on the world markets. Bahrain was fortunate
to discover oil at just about the same time that the pearl industry
declined.