Natural Pearls, a Timeless Legacy: The Alfardan Collection

The first high-end volume ever published on natural pearls, this beautiful book offers lavish and unique documentation of the finest collection of Persian Gulf pearls.

This stunning, elegantly designed review is the first to highlight the unique collection of natural pearls belonging to the Alfardan family—one of the oldest and most successful traditional pearl merchants in the Gulf.

Divided into seven chapters, this book covers the history, development, and flourishing of the pearl industry over the centuries in unprecedented detail. From the history of pearl diving to extracting pearls as a gift for loved ones to their appearance in trade, natural pearls have been present in and deeply connected to the society of the Persian Gulf, with a cultural emphasis in the Quran, poetry, and old legends and beliefs.

This lavishly illustrated volume brings together an international team of scientists, specialists in natural history, and jewelry experts under the editorial supervision of Dr. Hubert Bari to explore the origins and diversity of natural pearls.

Superbly photographed, a handpicked and never-before-published selection of the most iconic and rarest pieces takes readers on an exclusive journey into this magnificent and timeless collection. This beautifully packaged book will also feature a sophisticated clothbound cover in an elegant slipcase. 

Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan is the driving force behind one of the most successful family-owned conglomerates in the Persian Gulf. He loves precious gems, watches, clocks, antique books, and rugs. Abdelouadoud El Omrani is an international translation expert specializing in arts, museums, and history, and is visiting professor at the University of Turin. Dr. Hubert Bari is a French gemologist and jewelry specialist based in Paris, director and curator of Qatar Museums’ jewelry collection, and renowned author of many texts and exhibitions on the world of pearls.