Page 518 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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The i’earl Trade ana the Living
Industry.

cultured i-carls. In viewing the luture
with the raost optimistic eye lb is aiilicult
to see any likelihood df the pearl industry

reverting tc its former stste cl prosperity.
As the improvement ana increased production
of culturea pearls continues so the demand
for real pearls decreases, When the public
find that they can buy cultured pearls, which

to the ordinary eye are indistinguishable from
real pearls, for one thirtieth the price of
genuine pearls of similar weight and appearance

it is natural that they spend their money on
cultured pearls, In the- days when only real
pearls ana artificial pearls existed a pearl
necklace had a certain significance, now onxy

the owner of the necklace knows whether it is
genuine or cultured.

2. The success of the cultured pearl is not
oniy deplored among the diving community in
Bahrain, and the Gulf, but also by the impor­
tant jev/el merchants in durope. Last summer

I hed the opportunity of discussing tiie ' pearl
industry with several leading. London jewellers
v/hc all complained that they had been severely

hit by the cultured pearl. ill though the
important firms do not display cultured pearls
in their shops yet they told me that they were
reluctantly compelled 10 keep cultured pearls

in stock as so many of their clients demanded
them. London jewellers used to ra*:e good