Giga Pearl
The Giga Pearl[1] holds the record as the largest certified non-nacreous pearl in the world.[2] The pearl weighs in at 27.65 kg (61.0 lb; 975 oz) and measures 39.37 cm × 22.86 cm × 20.95 cm (15.50 in × 9.00 in × 8.25 in),[3] which is four times larger than the Pearl of Lao Tzu (formerly the Pearl of Allah) which weighs 6.4 kg.[4] There have been claims of "the world's largest pearl" in recent years,[5] however, only the Giga Pearl holds the title on record as the world's largest GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certified natural blister pearl, making it indisputably the largest in the world.
Origin
[edit]The Giga Pearl is owned by Abraham Reyes, a natural pearl and antiquities collector in Canada.[6] Reyes comes from the rank of avid collectors. His great aunt, who is in her late 90s, is a major collector of Asian artifacts in the Philippines. The pearl was given to his great aunt by his grandfather who came to visit her in Manila and brought a giant clam as a gift or pasalubong, a custom in Filipino culture.
The Giga Pearl was formed by a Tridacna gigas which is the largest extant bivalve. These giant clams can grow up to approximately four and a half feet (1.4 m) wide and can weigh up to approximately 550 pounds (250 kg).[7] They are found in the eastern Indian Ocean and west Pacific Ocean, from Thailand and western Australia eastward to Micronesia.[8]
Value
[edit]The Giga Pearl is reported to be worth $60–$200 million USD.[9][10][11][12] The pearl is currently being displayed in an octopus sculpture gilded in 22k gold by artist Bethany Krull.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Giga Pearl". the giga pearl. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ "Largest natural non-nacreous pearl". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ "GIA - Report Check". www.gia.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ Wu, Anthony (2019-06-29). "Introducing the Giga Pearl - the World's Largest Natural Pearl!". anthony-wu-art. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ Naas, Roberta. "This $100 Million Pearl Is the Largest and Most Expensive in the World". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ "The World's Largest Pearl Is Owned By This Filipino". MEGA. 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ "Giant Clam". Oceana. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ Fatherree, James W. (15 November 2010). "A Look at the Giant Clam Tridacna gigas". Reefs.com. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ "A pearl as you've never seen it before". BBC News. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ "Mississauga, Ont., man's been hiding what could be the world's largest pearl — now he wants to show it off". CBC.
- ^ "Heirloom surprise: Fil-Canadian finds out he owns multi-million dollar pearl". ABS-CBN News. 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ "Canadian Man Inherits 61-Pound 'Giga Pearl' — One of the Largest in the World". Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store. 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ "The Giga Pearl". the giga pearl. Retrieved 2021-05-26.