Manama: Bahraini pearls, renowned for their unmatched quality and craftsmanship, are taking centre stage at Jewellery Arabia, showcasing the Kingdom's legacy in the global jewellery industry. Speaking to Bahrain News Agency (BNA), Mohamed Abdulrazzaq Al Mahmood, CEO of Al Mahmood Pearls, emphasised that Bahrain has maintained its position as a global leader in natural pearl quality and craftsmanship. He highlighted that international brands, including leading brands like Cartier, continue to recognise Bahraini pearls as unparalleled in quality. According to Bahrain News Agency, Al Mahmood elaborated on Bahrain's enduring prominence in the pearl industry, noting that the Kingdom has historically been a leader in pearl diving, trading, and quality craftsmanship. He explained that Bahraini Tawash, or pearl traders, supplied the finest pearls to the global market. Many of the pearl necklaces that found their way to India originated from Bahrain's merchants, cementing Bahrain's reputation as a premier source of h igh-quality pearls. A key highlight at the exhibition is a nine-row pearl necklace displayed by Al Mahmood Pearls. 'As a seventh-generation member of the Al Mahmood family, keeping the family pearl business alive,' he said. 'The necklace on display at the Jewellery Arabia is the nine-row necklace, which was previously a seven-row necklace. The seven-row necklace took us 27 years to finish, and it was my father's wish to make this seven-row necklace into a nine-row.' 'It was just three weeks before the exhibition that we considered the collection of pearls we had, and by God's grace, we could make an additional two-row necklace which matched this necklace. With these additions of pearls added to the necklace we can say that in total it took nearly 31 years for this nine-row pearl necklace to be ready,' he explained. He explained an old Arabic saying associated with Tawash: 'Al-Ghaniyya Al-Faqeer,' which translates to "the richest but the poorest." This phrase encapsulates the paradox of pearl merchants, who are rich in their collection of pearls but often lack liquid wealth due to reinvestment in their trade. Al Mahmood noted that the intricate process of sourcing, matching, and crafting pearls into such pieces requires immense patience, expertise, and resources, further enhancing the necklace's intangible value. Bahrain's pearl heritage extends back 7,000 years, underscoring its historical and cultural significance. The pearls have been celebrated globally, including by the late Queen Elizabeth II, who expressed pride in her three-row Bahraini pearl necklace during an interview. Al Mahmood Pearls remains committed to preserving the Kingdom's legacy through its multigenerational family business. Al Mahmood, representing the seventh generation of his family, detailed the devotion required for pearl trading, which involves investing heavily in raw pearls, crafting them with precision, and creating enduring masterpieces. The necklace displayed at Jewellery Arabia reflects this dedication, with each pearl meticul ously matched in lustre and quality. Unlike many necklaces in the global market, which often comprise a mixture of different pearls, Bahraini necklaces feature consistent quality and craftsmanship, making them unique.
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