Pearl Personality: Noora Jamsheer, CEO of Danat Institute in Bahrain
Apr 27, 2021
Written by Jennifer Heebner
Filed under Bahraini pearls, natural pearls, pearl, pearl jewelry, pearls

Pearl Personality: Noora Jamsheer, CEO of Danat Institute in Bahrain

From the April 2021 issue of #thisispearl digital magazine

The seasoned jewelry industry expert digs into her lustrous role, which requires her to spread the message of beautiful and rare Bahraini natural pearls.

Noora Jamsheer joined Danat Institute in Bahrain as CEO in 2019, eager to share her country’s own storied treasure trove of natural pearls and history. To wit, she immersed herself in the world of pearl oysters, divers, and dealers, making new friends with Bahraini families like the Al Mahmoods, who have a long history of buying natural pearls from the country’s many divers. Below, the trained diamond expert (she is an IGI Belgium- and GIA-trained grader) sheds light on gemological laboratory Danat, the natural pearl industry in Bahrain, and “bolstering the reputation of the Kingdom as a leading center for gemstone expertise,” she explains.

Why is Danat important to Bahraini natural pearls?

In 2017, the Government of Bahrain launched the National Plan to Revive the Pearl Sector. The plan consisted of initiatives such as the enlisting of the pearl beds in Bahrain as a protected zone, the enlisting of the pearl path in Muharraq as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the formation of a leading international pearl testing laboratory.

To the trade, Danat is important because it is close to the pearl markets and it provides testing services for all types, shapes, and sizes of pearls. It provides sorting services, certification services, and grading services for pearls. Moreover, the lab has access to a huge database of pearls from different origins, and this allows the lab to differentiate between different types of pearls, origins, and treatments.

What is the name of the oyster in which Bahraini natural pearls grow?

The majority and the most beautiful pearls in Bahrain come from an oyster species called Pinctada radiata. Of course, there are other oysters found in Bahraini waters, such as Pinctada margaritifera, Pteria, and Pinna species, which all produce pearls, but Bahrain is mainly known for pearls from the Pinctada radiata species. The most common colors of Bahraini pearls are white, light cream, cream, light yellow, and yellow, with some pink and green overtones. Some other colors can be produced, such as brown, black, and grey. The luster of Bahraini pearls is incomparable, and pearls from Bahrain have been highly sought after for centuries, a fact documented by visits of merchants like Jacques Cartier.

What makes Bahrain and its surrounding waters so special and robust for pearl growth?

Pearl formation is a result of an irritation and/or infection within a pearl oyster. In general, Bahraini waters are characterized for being shallow, with high temperatures (located in the hottest sea on the planet), and are amongst the most saline worldwide. This combination of shallow water, high temperatures, and high salinity creates the ideal condition for pearl oysters to produce pearls. High salinity and temperatures are well-known stress influencers for marine organisms, thereby reducing their natural defense capacity (lowers their immunity), making them more prone/susceptible to pathogenic parasites which cause infections within oysters. In addition, pearl oyster populations in Bahrain exist in a safe haven that allows them to reproduce and thrive due to the low presence of natural competition and predators.

The formation rate of pearls in Bahraini waters is thought to be higher relative to other seas/oceans and mollusk species yet Bahraini pearls are still very scarce.

Cultured pearls are grown and collected by farmers worldwide, but how are Bahraini natural pearls found?

Pearl diving is an active market and an activity regulated by the Department of Fisheries and monitored in collaboration with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Coast Guard. Divers are required to be licensed and to complete an educational program that is organized by the Supreme Council for the Environment about sustainable pearling practices. Pearl divers’ licenses are valid for one year. Tourists can even partake in pearl diving trips through regulated dive centers and are limited to collecting 60 oysters per trip.

Bahraini pearls can be bought from the licensed pearl divers, from merchants within the country, or through estate sources.

[Editor’s Note: See “Bahrain Looks to Put Natural Pearls on the Map” in the January 2020 issue of Rapaport for more information.]

Noora Jamsheer, CEO of Danat Institute in Bahrain

natural Bahraini pearls

Natural Bahraini pearls

Diving for natural Bahraini pearls

Pearl Personalities: Liza Urla of Gemologue in London
Apr 02, 2021
Written by Jennifer Heebner
Filed under Gemologue, Gemologue.com, Liza Urla, pearl jewelry, pearls

Pearl Personalities: Liza Urla of Gemologue in London

From the February 2021 issue of #thisispearl digital magazine

Pearl Personalities

Liza Urla of Gemologue in London

The model, blogger, and gemologist wears many hats, all of which touch on a love of pearls.

Russian-born Liza Urla debuted her Gemologue.com platform in 2009 while still a student at GIA in New York City, and its popularity has mushroomed alongside her love of pearls. “It was still early days for bloggers—‘influencers’ weren’t yet a thing,” she explains. Still, the digital jewelry platform took root as a place to celebrate fine jewelry of all kinds, including pearls.

“I absolutely adore pearls, because they are one of nature's most beautiful embellishments,” she continues. “I often incorporate them into my looks—be it either a pearl face, a pearl-encrusted kokoshnik, pearl shoulders, pearl corset, or a headdress made entirely of pearls!”

Below, the busy creative opens up about her love of the organic gem and some of her most innovative pearl projects.

Why do you love pearls?

Pearls excite me because of my upbringing in Russia: they are in my DNA. I feel pearls are for women everywhere a celebration of self-love that can instantly put a confident smile and a luminescent glow of delight on their faces! Since I launched Gemologue.com, my aim has always been to raise awareness about pearls, change the perception about pearl designer jewelry, and help pearl farms worldwide, particularly the pearl farms’ ongoing struggle to keep water clean, as oysters require clean water to produce pearls.

In what year was your “Pearl Face” idea born?

My first pearl makeup look, created by me and applied by Julia Flit, an artist and a London-based professional jewelry photographer, was born in 2015 during London Fashion Week. The look was inspired by ancient Egypt and was my way of self-expression and paying homage to one of my favorite gems. I love to show that pearls are not old-fashioned. On the contrary! Pearls are a highlight of contemporary jewelry design! My #jewelleryface pearl makeup went viral and was included in several best-dressed lists by Elle Italia, Le21eme, Glamour, and others.

Then at a JCK Luxury show, I wore pearl headwear inspired by Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was a continuity of my London Fashion Week pearl makeup and was followed by a pearl kokoshnik (traditional Russian headwear), pearl gloves, and pearl hair during an edition of Jewellery Arabia Bahrain.

You can watch the pearl face process online.

What are your favorite types of pearls and why?

Natural pearls. During my work trips to the Middle East, I learned that the pearl has always been a symbol of luxury, but for Bahrain it has always had a much deeper meaning. Representing the tradition, cultures, and heritage of the Kingdom, the natural pearl holds a special place in the fabric of Bahrain’s history.

I also admire and collect South Sea and Tahitian cultured pearls. Personally, my concern is what types of pearls are here to stay? I would love to see more of the South Sea and Tahitian pearls become more en vogue.

What are some of your other favorite pearl projects?

I created a gem and pearl crossword series as a gift to my followers (download it here), and run occasional jewelry and pearl giveaways, such as when I partnered up with Bahraini jewelry designer Azza Fine Jewellery, for a natural pearl jewel giveaway during an edition of Jewellery Arabia Bahrain. I also opened a Gem Photo School with my good friend and professional jewelry photographer Julia Flit. We debuted it in 2020 during the global pandemic lockdown as the jewelry industry shifted to a more online retail focus. Now more than ever, pearl jewelry photography needs to be unique, eye-catching, and above all, creative.

Tell us about your book, Gemologue: Street Jewellery Styles & Styling Tips.

Gemologue Jewellery Street Styles & Styling Tips is a unique book, because it focuses solely on jewelry street style. When I started Gemologue, it was the only digital platform focusing on jewelry street style rather than fashion. The book features eye-catching and inspirational photographs, including costume, tribal, and fine pearl jewelry, and of course, my pearl face. Find it on Amazon.

Liza Urla of Gemologue.com loves pearls

Liza Urla of Gemologue.com loves pearls and wrote a book about street style

Crossword puzzle from Liza Urla of Gemologue.com

Q&A with Laura Barringer of Ben Bridge About Her Love of Pearls
May 08, 2019
Written by Jennifer Heebner
Filed under Ben Bridge, jewelry buyer, jewelry store, pearl buyer, pearl jewellery, pearl jewelry, pearls
Discussion 5 comments

Q&A with Laura Barringer of Ben Bridge About Her Love of Pearls

New York City, May 8, 2019. Over her 39 years as the senior jewelry buyer for Ben Bridge, Laura Barringer has stocked many a diamond, gemstone, and gold bracelet across the retail chain’s 48 stores, but it is the category of pearls that has captured a special place in her heart.