Persian (Basra) Pearls
Persian (Basra) Pearls are the world’s oldest, largest and rarest Natural Pearls. No other place on earth do oysters grow more Natural Pearls with such high quality and radiance, than in the Persian Gulf where the unique mix of fresh and saltwater, is one of the secrets behind their special luster and brilliance. With the coming together of the two oceans, the most beautiful Natural Pearls are born. From the east to the west, royalty, celebrities, Indian princes, famous people like Elizabeth Taylor and her priceless, La Peregrina Pearl are smitten by the allure of these natural pearls. These pearls were collected by divers who weighted themselves down with heavy stones, diving from small wooden boats called Dhows… a successful pearl diver may have been lucky to find only a few large pearls in his life time. It was a hard life for them, but their efforts gave us the priceless Natural Basra pearls we have today…
The majority of natural pearls discovered in history have been small pearls, tiny pearls, pearls weighing less than a grain, pearls the size of a poppy seed, called dust, or seed pearls. In pearl jewelry, from hundreds of years ago to the turn of the twentieth century, the majority of fine natural pearl jewelry would have been hand-worked, gold or silver adorned, with natural pearls from less than 1mm to 4mm. A fine large natural pearl is a very extraordinary phenomenon of nature. The phrase “one in a million,” comes to mind – a very rare occurrence. The natural pearl is a pearl of supreme value. A rare and unique pearl is a natural pearl – one resulting through absolutely no human intervention.
Upon close observation, natural pearls have re-emerged as an extremely viable entity of the jewelry industry. In April of 2007 at a Christies Magnificent Jewels Auction a collector from Asia paid a record price, a bit over seven million dollars for 68 matched natural pearls – almost two hundred years old. These 68 pearls, strung into a two line necklace, were part of a grand seven line necklace known as the Baroda pearls. Part of the Baroda Royal Treasury, described by George Kunz, the famed Tiffany gemologist, as “the greatest jeweled treasure of India.” The previous record for natural pearls was set in Geneva in November 2004 at $3.1 million dollars, also for a two line necklace.
The advent of the 21st century ushered in revitalized interest in natural pearls from all worldwide sources. Vigorous market indicators – notably in Europe, the Arab Emirates, New York and the Orient – show that record prices are being paid for important Oriental pearls from earlier centuries… Natural pearls, as a store house of value, have not gone unrealized by the traders of the world. Their preciousness and value realized by more people every day, and actually, when all the considerations required for natural pearl formation are seriously analyzed, any natural gem quality pearl of substantial size is truly the rarest of gems. This rarity, with the rising world awareness of the history and importance of natural pearls will be one of the factors influencing the future value of natural pearls. As curious as this may sound, I think natural pearls are once again rediscovered treasure, especially so, as there is an extremely limited supply, and besides, their universal, historic nature marks all natural pearls extremely important gems.
When thinking of a precious gem hidden within a rough defensive outer shell, it is an easy leap to understand a natural pearl symbolizing the soul of man.
This is one of the many items for sale, that a private collector has commissioned an agent to sell. They are selling Diamonds & Jewelry items, Barsa Pearls, Safire’s, traditional ancient paintings and a collection of exotic works of art.
Please contact us for more information, or for an introduction to the owners agent.
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