Alukkas Jewellery

Alukkas Jewellery is also respected in the Gulf. While the sky is the limit with regard to the price of a pearl, a pair of cluster earrings starts at US$150, a gold-and-pearl bangle from US$200 and a set (necklace plus earrings) costs around US$400 to US$800. A discount of 15% may be negotiable, but prices for pearl jewellery are more or less fixed. An oyster shell with a growing pearl makes a fine souvenir from US$50.

Bahrain is the only country in the world to sell almost exclusively natural pearls. While the odd imported, artificial pearl creeps in, shop owners are very quick to tell you which ones are and which ones are not genuine, natural Bahraini pearls; when it comes to Bahrain's most famous heritage item, it is more than their license is worth to mislead the customer.