What Are Ohrid Pearls - History of North Macedonia

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One of the best places to visit in North Macedonia is a charming lakeside town in the southwest called Ohrid. In fact, this is the most popular place in the country for locals who want to enjoy a little rest and relaxation from city life. I was just there last week and it's a super easy location to get to. Just take a bus from Skopje to Ohrid for around $15 round trip.

Ohrid has a long history. From being a fortified town in ancient Macedonia, to the first seat of the Kingdom of Bulgaria, to its current iteration as a summer hot-spot.

The lake for which the town is named is unique as well! Not only is it the oldest lake in North Macedonia, but the oldest in Europe. It is also one of the deepest lakes in the world, only beaten by Baikal in Russia and a few in the Philippines.

The history of the Ohrid pearl goes back to 1924, when a Russian aristocrat in Ohrid sold the recipe for faux pearls to the patriarch of the Talev family. Even now only two families know the secret to making true Ohrid pearls. In this video I actually do a short interview with the current head of the Talevi family, and buy a nice souvenir of pearls from Lake Ohrid.

To learn about Ohrid pearls is to learn about the history of North Macedonia. It may sound silly that jewelry is such an important part of their culture, but it is very true. In fact, the people of Ohrid (and North Macedonia to an extent) are so proud of their pearls they are the top gift that diplomats give to foreign dignitaries on state visits.

Now, with all this information there is one more bit of knowledge you need to know. Ohrid pearls are not true pearls, rather a unique type of faux pearl. They are made from a base of mother of pearl which is repeatedly dipped into a secret slurry. The only key ingredient we know is that the slurry contains the scales of the plashica, a fish endemic to Lake Ohrid.

I personally think that Ohrid pearls look quite a bit different than real pearls. The Ohrid ones are more luminous and refract more of a rainbow of colors. These pearls are so world famous that the Talev family sold a few strands that belong to Queen Elizabeth!