[Valeria101]

Wow! Thanks

One word more about pearl colors: would you say that the range of shades in this necklace (LINK to SJP) could be from Gulf pearls? Just curious

[NaturalPearls]

Originally Posted by Valeria101

Wow! Thanks

One word more about pearl colors: would you say that the range of shades in this necklace (LINK to SJP) could be from Gulf pearls? Just curious

Valeria: looking at the picture, they dont look natural. It has a very high luster, natural pearls dont come in such a high luster. But you can get simillar colors from the gulf region, I have a 2 row multicolored necklace. I will post a picture of it tomorrow along with its report!

[NaturalPearls]

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

Hi Natural
We have a person on this board who thinks the new batch of Bahraini naturals showing up on the market, are from Borneo. What is your word on that?

Caitlin: totally disagree. I was telling you about the lovely pearl we found 2 months ago here in Bahrain, perfect round shape with a very nice luster. Finding perfect round ones is very rare these days, but you can definitely find baroques, not as much as before though.
By the way, Bahrain is the only country in the gulf region, or maybe the world, that doesn’t allow selling cultured pearls. It is forbidden by law. We get inspectors from the ministry of commerce every once in a while checking all the pearls we have on display and their certificates.


And it’s quite easy to tell the difference between pearls from our region and pearls from different countries/regions. The layers of the pearl itself say it all, if they come in circles, then you can be 90% or maybe 95% sure that’s its from the gulf region.

[NaturalPearls]

Valeria: This is the multi-colored pearl necklace I was telling you about. Going up from the centre, each pair has the same color. The first pair of the bigger necklace is has a pinkish shade, the next pair is yellow, and so on. We were able to complete the 2nd row last april, it really took too long to find perfect round ones (we call Dana) in different colors.

I have also attached the report which is issued and sealed by the gem & pearl testing laboratory of Bahrain. Theres a picture of the neckalce at the bottom. And I will re-type the details just incase they aren't clear.

Item: A graduated two-row pearl necklace consisting of larger pearls interspaced by smaller pearls.

Weight of item: 266.92 carats

Number of pearls: 97 and 101

Color: Various

Shape: Mostly round and rounded.

Dimension: the largest pearl measures approximately 10.0 X 10.1 mm

Result: Samples were found to be NATURAL PEARLS

Even the lock at the back of the necklace has 2 pearls each (total of 4 pearls in both locks) but those pearls are not included in the number of pearls mentioned above)

[Valeria101]

Wow! Those are great! Thanks for showing them

Originally Posted by NaturalPearls

Valeria: looking at the picture, they don't look natural.

Ok... but I cannot suspect this source for foul play. Perhaps an overly-optimistic picture.

[NaturalPearls]

I think there’s a lot to explain about this picture.

Let me start with the book on the left, that’s what we call a conversion book. Calculating the weight of a baroque is totally different than the way we calculate the weight of a G1*.
We use Chaw (which is an Indian word) when weighting the G1 pearls. And there is a formula used to convert the carat to chaw. Methqal is used for baroques.


And the bowls you see on the right are used to divide the pearls according to their sizes. I think they are a set of 9 or 10, and are still being used nowadays.

* G1 is divided to 3 groups, G1 pearls are the rarest and hardest to find.
a) Dana: which is the perfect round pearl
b) Sejny: the drop shape pearl
c) Button: which looks like a button, round from the top and flat at the bottom?

[Valeria101]

Good grief! Whatever does not need to be explained in your picture makes for some Cheshire smiles...

That isn't just one seazon's harvest on the red cloth, is it?

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by NaturalPearls

Caitlin: totally disagree.
And it’s quite easy to tell the difference between pearls from our region and pearls from different countries/regions.

Caitlin, do you remember where that statement you are citing came up? I've tried to find it, but couldn't - only that some natural pearls from Borneo are sold in Bahrain, which seems to be a milder, reasonable claim.

[NaturalPearls]

Originally Posted by Valeria101

Good grief! Whatever does not need to be explained in your picture makes for some Cheshire smiles...

That isn't just one seazon's harvest on the red cloth, is it?

It would be if we were still living in the 1930s. The pearls in the red cloth are old pearls, from my grandfathers collection.

[NaturalPearls]

Originally Posted by Valeria101

Caitlin, do you remember where that statement you are citing came up? I've tried to find it, but couldn't - only that some natural pearls from Borneo are sold in Bahrain, which seems to be a milder, reasonable claim.

If thats what was said, it can be true!

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by NaturalPearls

* G1 is divided to 3 groups, G1 pearls are the rarest and hardest to find.
a) Dana: which is the perfect round pearl
b) Sejny: the drop shape pearl
c) Button: which looks like a button, round from the top and flat at the bottom?

Hi NaturalPearls,

Thank you very much for the info. Is there an Arabic word for G1, or is it just G1? What does the "G" mean? Group? Gem? What makes them the rarest and hardest to find? In the categories, do you actually use the word "button" or is there an Arabic word for that also?

Slraep

[pattye]

That is a perfectly glorious double strand of pearls! I love the color variation, and the alternating sizes. Oh, to see it in person!!! And the pearls in the red cloth--I immediately set that photo as my computer background! So interesting! Thank you!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Caitlin]

I may have worded that in an incorect way, but if pearls from Borneo are showing up in Bahrain they appear to be trying to pass as Bahraini.

I believe I read that in one of the prince of Sabar's posts......

One way of disputing that claim is an essay on the pearling end of it. Who is procuring the pearls and what techniques of pearl diving are currently being used? Even amateur photos would be extremely enlightening.

Your grandfather's picture is a treasure!

[smetzler]

Your grandfather's pearls from the 1930s are incredibly lustrous, pure pleasure to see.

[Slraep]

Here is the quote from the other thread, Caitlin. It clearly says "significant numbers" or in other words a remarkable amount.

So NaturalPearls is saying NO, it is not so except for maybe a trickle. And I think I believe NaturalPearls. I don't think it would be such a well kept secret, the naturals from PNGuinea and Borneo being foisted on unsuspecting buyers as Gulf pearls. Would be quite a scandal.


"While natural pearl production amounts to but a fraction of decades past, sigificant numbers of fantastic wild ocean pearls currently come from Papua New Guinea and Borneo. With increasing development and oil exploration of these areas, before long these grounds, too, may cease to produce."