As long as pearls have been known to people, they have been a highly sought commodity for their beauty. It’s only in recent times however that the industry has taken the hunt for the perfect pearl to a whole different level. Today, the shiny orbs that we see on in display in jewelry stores have actually almost always been grown in farms.
It wasn’t always like that though. Once, pearl diving was one of the most dangerous activities you could possible do. Imagine grabbing hold of a heavy rock and then jumping in the water to let yourself sink 100 feet onto the seabed. Then having to use a knife to cut free ouysters before returning tot he surface – and doing all of this on one breath of air. While it may sound as a fascinating story, you certainly wouldn’t want to do it yourself. Which is also why it was mainly performed by slaves or the desperately poor.
Today, this method of pearl hunting is almost gone. The use of slaves has fortunately been abandoned and there are better ways to make a living for most people, even the poor. Cultured pearls have become the norm and there is no risk in producing and selling them. They have an almost equal quality, although the natural variant is still said to be more excuisite and beautiful.
Still, there are a few places in the world, where the hunt for the natural pearl still goes on. One of these places is in Bahrain, a small gulf state with crystal clear waters. Bahrain is one of the centers for trade with natural pearls as cultured specimens are simply banned from trade. The state has made an conscious effort to keep waters clean and habitats preserved, even with the oil trade taking its heavy toll.
Does it make a pearl of higher quality or more beauty, that it has been retrieved from the depths of the ocean? It’s certainly a fascinating story.
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