Natural, Uncultured Basra Pearl Earrings in Rose Gold

These earrings are a dream come true! Here are, natural, uncultured, Arabian Gulf pearls in rose gold. I used Rose gold filled stardust accent beads, wire, and lever backs. Rose gold is complimentary to all skin tones. The vintage pearls are off round with good luster and a creamy white color. The pearls measure 6.1 to 7.5 mm, and the earrings measure 1 1/2" in total length.

I am a Pearl Girl. I collect and buy pearls of all kinds, the more rare…the better. It is my pleasure to offer you some of these fabulous pearls. Here is a short list of some of my pearls… American Tennessee River Pearls, Abalone, Venezuelan, South Sea, Japanese Lake Biwa and Lake Kasumigaura, Saltwater Akoya, Sea of Cortez, Arabian Gulf and a variety of other mollusks. Contact me if you are looking for some amazing pearl jewelry.

US dime (18 mm) for scale. Pearl info below.

Pearls are one of the most beloved gems, used for millennia in jewelry and decoration, and are the only gems grown inside a living organism. The first recorded mention of pearls is 7,500 years old. They are one of a few organic gemstones, including ivory, amber, and coral.

Pearls are one of the birthstones of June, along with color-changing alexandrite, and moonstone. It is also the 3rd and 30th wedding anniversary gem.

Basra pearls are rare, natural, uncultured pearls from the Arabian Gulf, prized for millennia as the standard of natural pearls. While the term encompasses natural pearls from the Arabian Gulf, "Basra" refers to the city which was a trading hub for the pearls in the past. They are grown by the Pinctada radiata oyster, yet overfishing and pollution due to the region's oil production has only increased their rarity. While a small amount is still harvested, the majority of Arabian Gulf pearls on the market are vintage.

The combination of fresh and saltwater, warm and shallow waters, and nutrient levels of the Arabian Gulf directly affects the colors and iridescent luster of Basra pearls. The crystalline layers of nacre scatters light creating a silky luster in white, cream, silver, pink, and golden colors. Most are baroque in shape, making round Basra pearls more rare in comparison. They are also lighter in weight than other natural pearl counterparts.

The nation of Bahrain, known as The Island of Pearls, thrived as a pearling center for over 4,000 years, and it was even mentioned in the writings of Pliny the Elder, considered by some to be the first gemologist. Pearl divers in the Gulf used to go out on boats for months at a time, diving for pearls while holding their breath, while their families would sing and pray for their safe return in the dangerous industry. 70-80% of all pearls originated from the gulf area until the 1950s, and represented up to 95% of local incomes and 75% of the Gulf's total exports during the peak. The Bahrain pearl beds were designated a World Heritage Site in 2012.

The invention of cultured pearls, world wars, and oil discovery crashed the natural pearl market in the mid-20th century, yet the prestige of natural pearls remains uncontested. Natural pearls make up only 2-5% of pearls available on the market today, and Basra pearls only claim a fraction of that amount. Only about one in 10,000 wild oysters will yield a natural pearl, and not all of those pearls are gem quality.

Basra pearls have been a feature in crown jewels and jewelry of the ultra-wealthy for many centuries, adorning royalty, clothing, palaces, thrones, screens, pillars, doorways, and even a carpet called the Baroda Pearl Canopy. Notable examples of Basra pearls include the jewelry of Empress Eugenie, Queens Elizabeth I and II, Nizams and Maharajas of India, and countless others. The Maharaja of Baroda, Khande Rao Gaekwar, commissioned an incredible seven-strand necklace worn for generations, of which only two strands survived to be sold by Christie's in 2007 for $7.1 million USD.