[Photo provided to China Daily]

"Both the maritime and land Silk Roads ended in the Gulf for one reason only... so that pearls could be shipped to China, and so that China could sell Chinese ceramics to the Islamic world," says Bari.

After being taken out from the water, quality pearls are set with metals and gems in various combinations.

The objects at the Beijing show celebrate jewelry design－from traditional to high-end avant-garde styles.

Many of the jewelry pieces were once worn by celebrities.

A tiara featuring pearls from the Gulf made around 1890 formerly belonged to Raine, Countess Spencer.

Her stepdaughter, Princess Diana, also wore it on several occasions.

A pair of natural pearl earrings on display were once owned by Elizabeth Taylor－the late Hollywood star known for her fascination with jewelry.

An impressive example of contemporary design is also on show at the exhibition－a necklace by Sam Tho Duong, a Vietnamese artist living in Germany.

He fixed hundreds of small pearls, cultivated in Chinese freshwater, on silver balls and oxidized silver sticks, to show ice crystals on tree branches.