It may be surprising for some people to note that there was other industry in Bahrain before oil was struck. In fact, the pearl industry was huge before oil was found and Bahrain is still world renowned to this day for its natural pearls. Enthusiasts always think of Bahrain when discussing the best pearls and likewise think of pearls whenever Bahrain is mentioned. You can always be sure, if the pearl originated in Bahrain it is one of the best in the world because of the uniqueness of the pearls found in the waters around that island.
History of Pearls
Pearl enthusiasts all agree that the world’s best pearls throughout history have come from the Persian Gulf and most notably around the island of Bahrain. This is probably due to their abundance and ability to form naturally without being cultured. Today, India is probably the host of the largest stock of pearls. But, many of those pearls were originally collected from the waters around Bahrain. However, India still practices traditional pearl fishing around their own country where the tradition in Bahrain has dwindled considerably.
Unique Pearls of Bahrain
The pearls collected in the waters of Bahrain are very unique. They tend to have a special lustre which many argue comes from the mixture of salt and fresh water around the island due to fresh water springs on the sea bed. Pearls are also unique in Bahrain largely due to the fact that Bahrain does not allow cultured pearls. They will not circulate them If they are brought into the country and they will pay special attention to any pearls that come from traders of regions outside of the island. This is done to preserve the natural creation of the pearl.
Dangers of Pearl Fishing
Pearl fishing is and always has been a very dangerous business. Divers of the 19th century often found themselves falling victim to the many perils of the sea that also created their livelihood. During those days, they did not have the advanced gear divers are accustomed to using today, and instead dived out in the summer months to look for pearls until they ran out of breath. At that point, they were pulled up by a rope to start the process over. They had to be very careful of the reefs, sharks, and jelly fish while diving.
Striking Oil
In the 1930s large deposits of oil were discovered around the island of Bahrain. Sadly, this discovery put an abrupt end to the natural pearl industry of the Persian Gulf. While much of the island’s wealth comes from this discovery of oil, many people would still like to have seen the pearl industry continue. Instead, those who had so often dove for pearls to create their income, switched to the oil industry for the promise of prosperity.
Today, the small island country of Bahrain is well known for more than pearls. In addition to oil, they are fast becoming known for motorsport racing due to the timeliness of the building of the Bahrain International Circuit. However, the pearl market will continue in Bahrain, although it may be small, as some families have passed their knowledge of pearl diving down through the generations and still make a living selling jewellery.