The Hidden Pearls of Dubai Revived

by sara star | October 2, 2009 at 02:40 pm

323 views | 36 Recommendations | 13 comments

3000 years ago, in the Arabian Gulf, divers greased their skin to keep the cold out before taking a deep breath of air and diving more than 100 feet to reach their treasure at the bottom of the sea. They were diving for PEARLS, at a time when pearls were worth more than gold. Sometimes they would dive 100 times before finding that one pearl.

Not much changed over the years until the 1930's when Japanese "technology" stepped in. Most pearl necklaces you are buying in stores now are not a pure pearl, but a "technologically altered" pearl known as the cultured pearl.

When the Japanese stepped in the 30's, the Gulf pearl trade crashed.

But change is in the air these days, as a revival for natural pearls is in the plans, partially American funded.

With only an average of one oyster in every 1000 shells containing a precious prize, many divers were required to make hundreds of dives for a single pearl.

Dubai is known for its oil riches and spectacular architecture, but it craves a return to its old glory, and the origin of its prosperity as the major producer of natural pearls.

‘Pearls of Dubai’, the name of the new project, will be coordinated using Dubai investment and major figures from the Australia pearl industry who will transfer their modern know-how to the Arabian Peninsula.

A fine cultured pearl worth hundreds of thousands, would cost a few million dollars with the same quality if it was natural pearls.

“Unlike the Japanese industry that artificially produces all its shells, we’ll be dealing with the natural shell that is very robust.”

Behrain had attempted to prohibit the trade of cultured pearls, but no one really controls that now.

Culturing pearls affected the historical reputation of the natural pearl, “it interferes with the heritage of this trade, and some countries like Bahrain attempted for a period of time to protect the rights of the natural pearl, prohibiting the trade of cultured pearls, but nowadays nobody really controls that.” Bahrain issued a legislative decree in 1991 that contained an article prohibiting cultured pearl trade with a one year jail penalty.

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Add a comment

sara star

at 16:00 on October 2nd, 2009

Does this mean the price of oysters will go up too?

Pythiian1

at 17:43 on October 2nd, 2009

Thanks for this post, Sara, I did not know about pearls were Dubai's legacy.

It's good to know Dubai is reviving its "Pearl of Dubai."

Paschen

at 19:08 on October 2nd, 2009

The Japanese Pearls are no more artificial then a pig raised in a Barn rather then a wild one in the Forest.

It is called Farming and for the Oysters in the wild a much welcomed practice since they would have faced extinction by now had this practice continued with modern diving equipment till today.

sara star

at 05:37 on October 3rd, 2009

You are right about the danger of oysters and pearls facing extinction, as it states in the video.

I guess marketing Dubai pearls as "authentic" will drive the price up tenfold.

In the 1930s that industry was turned upside down overnight, leaving the country desperate, when cultured (technologically altered) pearls were introduced by the Japanese, meaning they were no longer rare.

J2B (not verified)

at 19:39 on October 2nd, 2009

Kobe City is the "Pearl Capital of Japan!" Cultured pearls are not artificial. They are removed from the shells, treated and put back to grow in a natural way.People want pearls of a standard size, color and best price, go and figure!

Rory Cripps

at 19:42 on October 2nd, 2009

Not much changed over the years until the 1930's when Japanese "technology" stepped in. Pearl necklaces you are not buying in stores now are not a pure pearl, but a "technologically altered" pearl known as the cultured pearl.

I don't understand . . . did you mean steeped in Pearl necklaces? And I don't understand "necklaces you are not buying [italics used for emphasis] in stores now . . . ."

I like pearls. I like Oysters too. I eat Oysters (raw) every chance that I get. Haven't gotten sick once from a raw Oyster.

sara star

at 20:26 on October 2nd, 2009

Thanks, spelling error...

Raw oysters? Does it go down better with beer?

Babel-Fish

at 22:13 on October 2nd, 2009

Actually I find a glass dry red wine washes the oyster down a treat, however beer is fine as well. I normally have them prepared the Filipino way boiled in a spring onion based broth itsbecome one of my favorite dishes. But I miss the large juicy Oysters back in UK.

Rory Cripps

at 13:00 on October 3rd, 2009

sara: Sorry . . . I honestly didn't understand. My father-in-law owned a large and very popular restaurant in New York City for many years. The site is now an historic landmark. I think that some Russians now own it! LOL! At the restaurant, I used to eat three dozen raw oysters (of various varieties) in one sitting at least twice a week. I never put anything on them in the way of condiments (cocktail sauce, etc.) with the exception of a bit of lemon juice at times. In those days, my accompanying drink would typically be a traditional Martini (99.5% Gin and .5% dry Vermouth). As John Gotti said, 'a Martini is the only kick that I need . . .the other stuff ain't natural.'

sara star

at 20:40 on October 2nd, 2009

It takes 6 years to grow the pearls, and only 10 percent are marketable.

israeli.agent

at 20:45 on October 2nd, 2009

A tip I got from one pearl merchant, how to identify natural pearl from artificial one..rub it on your teeth..!

Wonder how one can test this on a coconut sized pearl..!

.Agent.

J2B (not verified)

at 21:38 on October 2nd, 2009

In Kobe City, you can buy a very beautiful cultured pearl neckless for around $10,000. One with natural pearls would cost 10x more.Oyster shells placed on river bottoms will clean the water and the pollution.