Dubai’s Pearl Museum hosts a priceless collection

The museum contains one of the world’s largest and finest collections of salt-water pearls from the Gulf. It was donated by Sultan Al Owais, a descendant of a family of pearl merchants.

A nose peg on display at the Pearl Museum. The pearl collection was donated by Sultan Al Owais, a descendant of a family of pearl merchants.

An old photograph of the pearl merchants on display at the museum.

Wooden boxes used by the merchants on display at the Pearl Museum.

The pearls in the collection are displayed against red silk cloth, traditionally used by pearl merchants because they say it offers the best opportunity of viewing the gems without changing their color.

The colours vary a great deal - silver, pinkish, golden, grey and black. While the color of cultured pearls is more obvious, the colour of the natural ones can be determined after a few seconds of observation.

Sieves on display at the Pearl Museum.

A knife used for opening oyster shells on display.

A wooden box used by pearl merchants on display at the museum.

Pearl jewellery on display at the museum.

The museum welcomes guests through appointment and more information is available on their website.

When it comes to distinguishing the value of a pearl, a variety of factors play a part. Size is important and so is colour.

Most of the jewellery in the collection follows either European or Indian fashions since prior to the discovery of oil, the UAE people preferred to sell the precious gemstones rather than wear them.

In 1917, when pearl harvesting was at its height in the UAE, a gram of Gulf pearls traded for 320 grams of gold in the markets of India where the Gulf traders would usually bring their wares.

Pearl jewellery on display at the museum.

In the years before Dubai’s property boom, tourists would flock to the headquarters of the then National Bank of Dubai, photographing the reflection of the Dubai Creek over its glass facade.

The building is still a highlight of the city’s skyline, but few know of the Pearl Museum on the 15th floor. It contains one of the world’s largest and finest collections of saltwater pearls from the Gulf. It was donated by Sultan Al Owais, a descendant of a family of pearl merchants.

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In pictures: A quick tour of The Pearl Museum

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A former chairman of the National Bank of Dubai, now Emirates NBD after a 2010 merger, the late Al Owais was a distinguished poet and philanthropist.

His collection contains maps, diving paraphernalia and equipment used by pearl merchants such as weighing scales made from precious stones, imported from as far as Yemen, and wooden boxes where traders would keep their wares when travelling on business. There are, of course, pearls – more than 50 kilos of them.

Ibrahim Sowaidan, head of group corporate affairs at the bank, is hesitant to talk about monetary value.

“We say it is priceless because how do you measure its value to our heritage?” he said.

When it comes to distinguishing the value of a pearl, a variety of factors plays a part. Size is important and so is colour, said Mr Sowaidan.

A silvery white as well as golden hue are prized colours and so is symmetry. Teardrop or pear-shaped pearls are also valued, while when it comes to a pearl’s lustre, a sharp mirror-like reflection brings in higher prices.

Most of the jewellery in the collection follows either European or Indian fashions since prior to the discovery of oil, people preferred to sell the gemstones rather than wear them.

The museum welcomes guests by appointment. See www.pearlmuseum.ae.