Chapter 398: Huge Profits in the Pearl Fishing Industry

"Do you know anything about the pearl fishing industry here?" Tomorrow is the negotiation, and Li Zitao, who has nothing to do, goes to the pier to see the recent development of the pearl fishing industry here.

"I don't know very well, maybe you can ask them." The rough port is full of wooden fishing boats moored everywhere, and there are also frogmen ready to go into the water.

A pair of yellowed underwear full of holes was wrapped around the waist, and the body was white and black. Some people had red spots on their bodies, and large areas of skin peeled off, revealing the red meat inside.

After long-term erosion by sea water and exposure to the hot sun, the skin peels and heals, soaks and then peels, and then heals.

Because of the formation of calluses, the skin of the old frogman looks like some kind of "hard shell." Occasionally, after being in the sea for too long, it will show the white skin underneath, which is why they look white and black.

For the people here, the sea is the mother who gives them life, because too many families rely on the products salvaged from the sea to live.

It is not uncommon for a family of a dozen or even a small tribe to be all frogmen. After all, abundant marine life is also one of their rations.

Of course, the favorite food in these countries is roasted camels, but as the most important means of transportation.

Except for the emir (big chief) who controls the country, few tribes are willing to kill them to eat, unless they die of exhaustion or disease.

"Friend, do you have time to chat?" Li Zitao asked an old man on a boat.

"If you want to go to sea, I have a lot of time." The old man responded immediately.

It seemed that it was impossible to chat for free, so Lu Qiang and Shen Dong were asked to wait on the shore, while Li Zitao took the monk on board.

"Is the production rate of pearls high here?" Leaving the shore, Li Zitao took out a cigar from the sealed cigarette holder and handed it to the other party.

"Thank you." The old man took a look at the cigar, took out a waterproof leather bag from under the seat, and wrapped the cigar carefully, for fear that it would be stained with moisture.

Such a cigar, which can be exchanged for a week's worth of food in a 'second-hand store', is worth more than his life.

"Doha is the place where oyster breeding is most concentrated in the Persian Gulf. Even Dalma Island and Manama are not as many as here. People can always find surprises here."

Dalma Island is the pearling place of Abu Dhabi, Manama is the capital of Bahrain, plus Doha, these three places are the core of pearling where oysters breed most.

Frogmen can often find surprises in these places. Last week, a frogman found a black pearl, which was finally bought by a British businessman for 50 pounds.

"It's so big." The old man made a circle with his thumb and index finger, about 7mm, and said enviously.

"50 pounds?" Li Zitao was speechless, this is really a huge profit.

The price of 8mm black pearl is 50 pounds. When this pearl arrives in the British boutique, Li Zitao can bet that its price will not be lower than 10,000 pounds.

Among natural pearls, 8mm is already regarded as the top grade. Except for the naturally ‘big’ Nanyang pearls, their diameter is generally 8-15mm.

The largest diameter found so far is the 18mm perfect round black pearl. It is a collection of a duchess, and someone once bid $700,000 for it.

1mm pearls are sold by the pound, 2mm pearls are 20 cents each, and 3mm pearls are really valuable. According to the color and quality of the pearl layer, the price is about 1 US dollar.

4mm doubles, 5mm doubles again, about 4 US dollars, 6mm can reach 10 US dollars, 7mm is about 20 US dollars, 8mm is rare.

For example, the black pearl that was sold for 50 pounds only came out in five or six years.

Turning around along the river bank, countless frogmen were ups and downs in the water, and the most powerful middle-aged frogman could even hold his breath underwater for 8 minutes.

This is a very dangerous approach. If people find out that he has not come up in 8 minutes, it will be too late to rescue him.

So every time he goes into the water,

He took great risks, but he always gained the most.

Having said that, which frogman here is not risking his life!

Occasional undercurrents in the water will kill them if they are not careful. Every year, more than 500 people die from shell bead collection. Every family has experienced the same sadness and will continue to bear it.

After returning to the shore, he gave the old man $5. After the other party kept bowing and thanking him, he walked quickly to the town holding the waterproof leather bag that wrapped the cigar.

"It's a huge profiteering industry." As long as those 1mm pearls are perfectly round and worn into necklaces for simple matching, they can sell for several dollars.

And they are often used to embellish expensive accessories, crowns, clothes, etc., and their prices can be doubled dozens of times.

Not to mention other specifications, 7mm is purchased at a price of 20 dollars? ? ?

A pearl necklace made of platinum starts at $500 at boutiques.

It is undeniable that brands inject new value and different meanings into them.

But it is impossible to deny its own value. The huge profits contained in it are based on dozens or even hundreds of times.

"Help me ask who is doing the pearl acquisition here, and what's the history!" Li Zitao planned to intervene in it.

Schiaparelli-Dior used pearls a lot. As the property his wife cares most about, he should do proper care.

At night, the monk had already found out.

There are two companies buying pearls here, both of which are jewelers from Bond Street in London. Both of them have created rare pearl accessories for the royal family.

"Did you see a suitable storefront?" Li Zitao, the royal jeweler on Bond Street, didn't care about it.

How much money George V took from him, not to mention a few jewelers, even if it offended the duke's business, His Royal Highness had to take care of him.

"There's a lot of options out there." Apart from 'second-hand stores' and pearl buyers, a few grocers and fur traders, the high street is pretty much deserted.

"Ava, choose a suitable store after the meeting tomorrow. I need you to stay here for a few days to investigate the market of pearls. The monk will help you."

After explaining the matter, Li Zitao, Ava, the monk and Lilith had a simple dinner in the only restaurant on the commercial street.

"Maybe we can build a bar here, and more and more foreigners will come here in the future."

After dinner, the few people who had no entertainment items walked towards the hotel along the dirt road.

"Business will definitely be booming, but we need to take care of the emotions of the local people." Lilith agreed, she was almost bored to death.

"How about not being a front door, but only promoting and opening to foreigners?" Considering the influence of religion, Li Zitao felt that it would be better to make it a private club.