The cave pearl of Puerto Princesa is the most famous natural pearl in the world. The pearl of Puerto Princesa was discovered by a Filipino Fisherman who discovered it in a clam during an attempt to free his anchor from the sea bed.
It has a measured weight of 34 kilograms with an estimated value of close of 100 million US dollars.
The fisherman kept the pearl for almost a decade, believing it to be a good luck charm. He eventually presented it to Aileen Cynthia Maggay-Amurao, a tourism official for the city of Puerto Princesa in 2016.
The previous record holder was the Pearl of Lao Tzu, which weighed 6.4 kilograms in weight. The Pearl of Lao Tzu was discovered in the 1930s and, unfortunately, cost the life of the diver who retrieved it.
1. Pearl of Puerto Princesa
“I know my words are not enough, but i would always say Thank you so much, everyone for the likes, shares, and comments…Hope we can get the official recognition for the Pearl of Puerto Princesa as the World’s Biggest Giant Pearl from a Giant Clam.
So far as of this moment, no other pearls have surfaced to beat the size and weight of this giant pearl” By Aileen Cynthia Maggay-Amurao.
| Name of pearl | Location | Size | Type of Pearl | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl of Puerto Princesa | Philippines | 34kg | White pearl | 100 million USD |
| The Giga Pearl | Philippines | 27.65kg | White and cream baroque non-nacreous pearl | 60-90 million USD |
| Pearl of Lao Tzu | Philippines | 6.4kg | White pearl | 300,000 to 400,000 USD. |
| Palawan Princess | Philippines (off the coast of Palawan) | 2.27kg | White, baroque pearl | |
| Centaur Pearl | 171.316g | White pearl | ||
| Burma Pearl | 169.0g | White pearl | ||
| Abalone Pearl | 143.7g | White pearl | ||
| Pearl of Asia | 121.0g | White pearl | ||
| Sleeping Lion | China | 119g | White pearl | |
| Arco Valley Pearl | 115g | White pearl | ||
| Hope Pearl | 90g | White pearl | ||
| La Peregrina pearl | 10.112g | White pearl |
2. The Giga Pearl
The Giga pearl, a family heirloom of Abraham Reyes, was acquired in the Philippines in the late 1950s, by Mr Reyes’ grandfather. It is said that the pearl was sold to his grandfather by a Filipino fisherman.
The pearl currently is encased within a beautiful 22carat gold octopus which was commissioned by its owner. It has been showcased around the world in various museums and galleries(1). Visit the official website of the Giga Pearl, commissioned by its owner, to see future displays in your part of the world.
3. Pearl of Allah (Pearl of Lao Tzu)
The Pearl of Lao Tzu was discovered under very bizarre circumstances. A native diver of the Dyak people of the Philippine islands lost his life during a routine underwater fishing expedition.
A giant clam slammed its jaws shut on the arm of the unfortunate diver, leading to his untimely death by drowning.
After recovering his mortal remains, his kin attempted to free his arm from the tenacious grasp of the clam on land. They discovered a huge white pearl embeded in the viscera of the giant clam(2).
4. Palawan princess
The Palawan princess was found in a giant bivalve mollusk typically native to the Micronesia region of Philippines.
This family of mollusks known as Tridacna gigas which can grow up to 4.5 feet in length(3).
5. Centaur Pearl
It is a baroque pearl weighing 171.3 gram in size. It is stored in the torso of a gold centaur commissioned by its owner (United Arab Emirates).
It is also known as Danat Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation.
References (selected)
1. Man Reveals 27 Kg Pearl, Possibly World’s Biggest. It Is Worth… [Internet]. NDTV.com. [cited 2022 Oct 15]. Available from: https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/giga-pearl-man-reveals-27-kg-pearl-possibly-worlds-biggest-2035054
2. The Pearl of Allah | Natural History Magazine [Internet]. [cited 2022 Oct 15]. Available from: https://www.naturalhistorymag.com/editors_pick/1939_11_pick.html?page=3
3. Palawan Princess – 5 Pound Pearl – Up for Auction [Internet]. [cited 2022 Oct 15]. Available from: https://www.karipearls.com/palawan-princess-5-pound-pearl-up-for-auction.html
