For centuries the Persian Gulf was the world's richest source of natural pearls, and Bahrain sat at the center of the trade. Every summer, fleets of wooden boats carried divers out to the oyster banks, where they worked from dawn to dusk on a single breath at a time. The trade collapsed in the early 20th century when cultured pearls arrived. Bahrain still keeps strict rules that favor natural pearls.
Why the Gulf was so rich in pearls
The Gulf is shallow, warm and salty, with large banks of hard seabed where pearl oysters grow well. The main species was Pinctada radiata, a small oyster with fine nacre, along with the larger Pinctada margaritifera in some areas. Fresh water from springs on the seabed near Bahrain mixed with the salty Gulf water. Divers and merchants long believed this helped the pearls, though the main reason for the rich beds was the extent of good oyster habitat.
Gulf pearls were known for their luster and their warm cream to white colors. The page on pearl composition explains why fine, tightly layered nacre gives that kind of glow.
A very old trade
Pearls from the Gulf appear in the archaeological record thousands of years ago. Excavations in the region, including on Bahrain, have turned up pearls in very early settlement sites and graves. Bahrain is often identified with Dilmun, a trading civilization of the Bronze Age, and Mesopotamian texts mention "fish eyes" from Dilmun, which many scholars read as pearls. Classical writers knew of pearls from the Gulf, and medieval Arab geographers described the pearl banks and fisheries.
By the 18th and 19th centuries, the trade was organized on a large scale. Pearls from the Gulf traveled to Bombay (Mumbai), the main hub where they were sorted, drilled and sold on to buyers in India, the Middle East and Europe. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Paris jewelers and dealers also bought heavily from the Gulf.
Life on a pearling boat
The main diving season, called al-ghaus al-kabir or the great dive, ran through the hot summer months, roughly from late May or June to September. Boats stayed at sea for weeks or months at a time. A typical crew included:
- The nakhuda, or captain, who owned or commanded the boat and knew the oyster banks.
- Divers (ghasa), who went down to the seabed.
- Haulers (saib), who stayed on deck and pulled the divers up by rope.
- Apprentices and boys who helped with cooking and other jobs.
- A singer (nahham) on many boats, who led work songs.
A diver wore a nose clip made of turtle shell or bone, leather finger guards and a basket around his neck. A stone weight on a rope took him quickly to the bottom, often about 10 to 15 m deep. He gathered as many oysters as he could in a minute or two, then tugged the rope so the hauler would pull him up. After a short rest he went down again, many times a day.
The work was hard and dangerous. Divers suffered ear damage, eye problems, skin conditions and attacks by jellyfish and other sea life. Pay came as a share of the season's catch, often through advances against future earnings. Many divers fell into debt to captains and merchants, and debts could pass from father to son. Colonial-era reforms in Bahrain in the 1920s tried to regulate this system.
How pearls were opened and sold
Crews opened the oysters on deck, usually the morning after a day's diving. The captain kept the pearls. Back on land, pearl merchants known as tawawish bought from the captains and sold on to larger traders. Merchants graded pearls with sets of brass sieves for size, small scales for weight, and a trained eye for shape, color and luster. Pearls were weighed in units such as the chow and the mithqal. The broader pearl grading page shows how modern graders assess the same qualities.
The collapse of the trade
The Gulf pearl trade fell quickly between the late 1920s and the 1950s. Several blows came close together:
- Japanese cultured pearls reached Western markets in the 1920s. They were genuine pearls and looked much the same to most buyers but cost far less.
- The Great Depression from 1929 cut demand for luxury goods.
- Oil was discovered in Bahrain in 1932, and later across the Gulf, giving workers better paid and safer jobs.
The number of boats and divers dropped sharply. By the mid-20th century, pearling had shrunk to a fraction of its former size, and oil revenue had replaced it as the foundation of the Gulf economies. The general story of how this affected the natural pearl market is told on its own page.
Bahrain's ban on cultured pearls
Bahrain responded to the arrival of cultured pearls by banning them. From the 1930s, Bahrain prohibited the import and trade of cultured pearls to protect the reputation of its natural pearls. Bahrain later eased the ban and allowed cultured pearls to be traded under rules that require testing and clear disclosure.
Pearl farming has long been prohibited in Bahrain's waters. Today a Bahraini gem testing laboratory examines and certifies pearls, separating natural from cultured. Licensed pearl diving still takes place, both as a cultural activity and as organized trips for visitors.
The pearling path: a UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 2012, UNESCO added "Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy" to the World Heritage List. It covers a group of sites in and around Muharraq, Bahrain's old capital and pearling center. The property includes:
- Several offshore oyster beds in Bahraini waters.
- Part of the seashore and the Qal'at Bu Mahir fort at the southern tip of Muharraq Island, where boats set out.
- Seventeen buildings in Muharraq, including the houses of wealthy merchants, shops, storehouses and a mosque.
The buildings are linked by a walking route known as the Pearling Path, which runs through the old town. It shows how pearling shaped the island's architecture, society and economy. Restoration work has opened several merchant houses to visitors, and a visitor center explains the history.
Pearls in Gulf culture today
Pearls remain an important symbol across the Gulf. Pearl and dhow motifs appear in architecture, public art and national celebrations. Several Gulf states hold heritage diving events and festivals. Buyers from the Gulf have long been major collectors of fine natural pearls at international auction, as described on the natural pearls page. The jewelry history section covers the role of pearls in older jewelry traditions.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of oyster produced Persian Gulf pearls?
Most Gulf pearls came from the small pearl oyster Pinctada radiata. It produces pearls with fine nacre and a warm luster.
Why did the Persian Gulf pearl trade end?
Cultured pearls from Japan undercut prices in the 1920s, the Great Depression cut demand, and the discovery of oil in Bahrain in 1932 drew workers to better jobs.
Can you still dive for pearls in Bahrain?
Yes, under licenses and rules set by the government. Some divers still fish for natural pearls, and visitors can join organized pearl diving trips.
Is pearl farming allowed in Bahrain?
Bahrain has long prohibited pearl farming in its waters to protect its natural pearl beds. Cultured pearls can be traded under disclosure and testing rules.