Everyone knows about the main wealth of the United Arab Emirates - oil or black gold, as it is often called. Sometimes the main wealth of the UAE is deservedly called the inhabitants of this Arabian country. But there is another treasure that I will tell you about today.
In addition to the unique inhabitants, the United Arab Emirates has another treasure. It enriched fishing towns long before oil. Mention of him can be found in myths and legends. It is mentioned in the Holy Quran, the New Testament and in the collection of the most ancient sacred scriptures of Hinduism - the Vedas. Locals still pay tribute to this jewel - in 2009, a waterfall with divers for pearls was opened in the Dubai Mall.
Pearls have been associated for centuries with beauty, longevity and perfection. The Holy Quran promises pearls in paradise. The Epic of Gilgamesh described how the hero dived into the depths of the sea with a load tied to his feet, behind the "flower of immortality." Of course, this magic treasure was the pearl. He was appreciated by the ruler of Egypt Cleopatra, who wore a ring with a pearl on her little finger. In ancient Rome, pearls were the most valuable commodity, and the most coveted were the pearl jewels of the Persian Gulf.
In these warm waters it was possible to find colorful pearls with a unique brilliance and in a unique palette. Where the Emirates shine today, pearl mining was once the most important occupation on which the economy of individual settlements was built. Only in one sink out of a hundred hides this tiny masterpiece of nature. On wooden boats, pearl hunters embarked on a dangerous journey to give the world an unusual mother-of-pearl beauty.
The uniqueness of the pearls of the Persian Gulf lies in the richness of the palette. Local waters create a better environment for shellfish and the pearls collected here are difficult to find a replacement. For example, the oyster Pinctada radiata "produces" pearls of classic white, pink and beige colors, as well as rarer ones - blue, green, purple and earth.
The pearl business in the Persian Gulf crashed in the 1920s with the invention of artificial pearls. Today in the UAE it is difficult to find a professional diver, only traditions, memory and museums remain. However, until now, one of the emirates - Ras Al Khaimah - produces pearls, which are valued even higher than the famous Japanese. Modern Ras Al Khaimah was formerly known as the city of Julfar and the capital of the pearls. In those days when oil was not discovered, pearls were the main wealth of the United Arab Emirates. The pearls of Bahrain and Julfar were the most expensive and desirable for the aristocracy.
The UAE's rich heritage has attracted MaximiliaN London jewelry house to Dubai. It is located in the prestigious Zabeel Saray hotel, but soon it will open its doors in one of the most famous resorts in Dubai - Madinat Jumeirah.
Unique shop windows are blinding with a scattering of wonderful jewelry and amaze the imagination with the wealth of collections. Sketches of large jewelry are made by the owner of the jewelry house, Maxim Artsinovich. But, like any brand, he has as many as 13 artists around the world. These are Italians, French, Germans, Swiss, Russians, Japanese, Koreans and Arabs. Each is good in his own, each has his own direction.
In the collections of the jewelry house you can find incredibly elegant bracelets and pearl necklaces. Once at an exhibition in Japan, Maxim Artsinovich noticed the strings of the smallest pearls 1 mm in diameter. The jewelry authors told how reverently they approach the matter and manually drill holes in small pearls with special needles that are thinner than human hair. After that, the jewelry house created its own line of similar jewelry.
According to legends, the search for the perfect pearl lasted for centuries. Daredevils risked their lives and went down to the depths of the waters, hoping to get rich and become famous. Fortunately, today the most exquisite treasures are much closer and becoming their owner is much easier.
