World’s largest pearl? 34kg giant pearl found in Palawan

The world’s largest natural giant pearl may have just been found in Palawan if the Puerto Princesa Tourism Office gets it certified as the biggest in the world.

 

PERLAS NG PUERTO. Dubbed by the Puerto Princesa as “Perlas ng Puerto” (Pearl of Puerto), could this really be the largest natural giant pearl in the world? (Photo by Aileen Amurao via her Facebook account)

 

Dubbed by the tourism office as “Perlas ng Puerto,” the giant clam shell-shaped pearl weighs in at a staggering 34 kilograms. According to City Tourism Officer Aileen Cynthia Amurao, the pearl was owned by a relative and was considered a “lucky charm.” Her relative, a fisherman, found the gem about 10 years ago and was kept hidden under their bed.

She posted the image of the pearl on Facebook last August 20, where she sought help from gemologists to analyze the pearl. The giant pearl is currently on display at the Puerto Princesa Tourism Office.

The pearl has an estimated value of $100 million according to a report from the Sydney Morning Herald. This was the second time a giant pearl was found in Palawan. The first was the 6.4-kilogram “Pearl of Lao Tzu” or “Pearl of Allah,” found in Brooke’s Point, Palawan. Another contender for the world’s largest, the “Pearl of the King,” can be found in Boracay but is said to have also come from Palawan.

Only the Pearl of Lao Tzu has been verified as the largest in the world.

 

Source: ABS-CBN News, Rappler, GMA News Online, Daily Mail Online, BBC